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Title: The Historically Evolving Impact of the Ogallala Aquifer: Agricultural Adaptation to Groundwater and Drought

Citation Type: Miscellaneous

Publication Year: 2013

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Abstract: Agriculture on the American Plains has been constrained historically by water scarcity. Post-WWII technologies enabled farmers over the Ogallala aquifer to extract groundwater for large-scale irrigation. Comparing counties over the Ogallala with nearby similar counties, groundwater access increased agricultural land values and initially reduced the impact of droughts. Over time, land-use adjusted toward water-intensive crops and drought-sensitivity increased. Viewed di erently, farmers in nearby water-scarce areas maintained lower-value drought-resistant practices that fully mitigate naturally-higher drought-sensitivity. The evolving impact of the Ogallala illustrates the importance of water for agricultural production, but also the large scope for agricultural adaptation to groundwater and drought.

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Authors: Keskin, Pinar; Hornbeck, Richard

Publisher: Harvard University

Data Collections: IPUMS NHGIS

Topics: Other

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