Water at risk
It's hard to believe in this part of the state, having recently finished a successful wheat harvest season and with corn, soybeans and sorghum still in the field, but agriculture is only the No. 2 industry in the state. Manufacturing and services have surpassed agriculture for income in the state.
And it might be a good thing.
Rising temperatures and reduced water supply could cost Kansas more than $1 billion in agriculture losses by 2017, according to a study released by the University of Maryland's Center for Integrative Environmental Research.
The report for Kansas said higher temperatures and lower rainfall amounts could affect the state's agriculture sector with flooding, more invasive plant species, and damage to crops and livestock.
Climate change would have the biggest effect on Kansas' water resources, from the Ogallala Aquifer, which supplies much of the western part of the state's water, to surface water and rainfall in the eastern half of the state.
University of Kansas geography professor Johannes Feddema's computer models of a "middle-of-the-road" scenario of global warming shows a 6-inch decline in moisture levels statewide by 2050. His research was part of the University of Maryland's study.
The scientist said state lawmakers' debate this year over whether to add new coal-fired power plants in Kansas fails to include the downsides of that in terms of agriculture. Coal plants are among the largest contributors of CO2 to the atmosphere.
House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, says the report was funded by "alarmist" environmental groups, including the Environmental Defense Fund.
Neufeld has said in the past year that climate change will be good for the Kansas economy by extending the growing season and that increased carbon dioxide would help crop growth.
Feddema said that after testifying to legislators earlier this year, "I left there thinking the farming economy doesn't matter to our Legislature any more."
He might be right.
Editorial by the Salina Journal
What was Feddema expecting the legislature to do? Stop the dozens of coal plants that were built in China last year, authorize dozens of wind farms to erratically power the glorious Kansas manufacturing plants? Maybe, outlaw corn and the water sucking ethanol? Or is it that the legislature knows that these models are a dime a dozen and we can't even accurately forecast the weather for two weeks much less 40 years. Personally, I liked the last few years, much more rain, much less wind. Maybe the earth will stop it's climate cycle just where I want it to.
(Posted by: Frank Sens)
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