The Future of Southwest Kansas and the Beef Industry

David Condo, author of a 2021 two-part story about Garden City and how a beef packing plant caused a boom in jobs and a doubling of population. The first part of the story is here. The second, here. The stories brought the author an Edward R. Murrow award.

I'm chiming in because of the question about the water needed for the plant drying up. Right now, the water comes from the Ogallala Aquifer. The author says the water will run out in "decades." Perhaps. 

But, consider this: the long term precipitation trend in Finney County, Kansas, is up -- and, rather significantly -- at 0.19 inches per decade. 

While temperatures are also rising, at least in the short-term, this increase in precipitation may decrease the load on the aquifer and allow the water to last longer than might be thought. 

Let's hope.