4 ms·

FWIU most of the ogalalla problems wouldn't be problems if we replaced just the non-human-feed corn with almost literally anything else.

russnewcomer 9y ago
My understanding is that it is only that simple if you are discussing consumption of the aquifer, but that there are other factors related to replacement, geographical size and distribution of the aquifer, that changing what we grow won't necessarily fix.
- ahartman00 9y ago
  Here is some recent news on replacement: "So far, among the many things Dahlke has found: Ninety percent of her floodwaters reach the groundwater table; in the right soil, alfalfa can handle the equivalent of 26 feet of rain; and pecan trees, which, she says, “naturally grow in riparian [riverbank] soils, are well-adapted to having wet feet in winter.”" https://www.popsci.com/how-california-is-saving-rainwater-for-sunny-day#page-2 https://www.popsci.com/how-california-is-saving-rainwater-fo...
ahartman00 9y ago
"corn averages roughly 15 million calories per acre" "wheat comes in at about 4 million calories per acre, soy at 6 million" What else would you have them feed their animals? Calories per acre matters when there are a limited number of acres of arable land. Unless you are advocating vegetarianism. Which is a valid point as far as the environment goes. But farmers produce what the market demands. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/in-defense-of-corn-the-worlds-most-important-food-crop/2015/07/12/78d86530-25a8-11e5-b77f-eb13a215f593_story.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/in-defense-of-...
- Avshalom 9y ago
  Hay, alfalfa, basically anything for stock feed, almost nothing for ethonal production. Corn is a particularly water thirsty crop, which while delicious is over produced. Calories per acre is important but for the Ogalalla Aquifer calories per gallon-water is more important.
  - ahartman00 9y ago
    Hay is alfalfa once it has been harvested. It is high in fiber, and cows are great at digesting fiber, but they also need sugars to convert into milk. Oats provide protein and fiber. Corn provides sugars and iirc, fiber(maybe protein? its getting late here). There has been quite a bit of research about optimum ratios. I could look for some if you are interested, I get most of my info from my dad's dead tree magazines. And I hear you about ethanol production. I for one can't wait for our new renewable energy sources. "Corn is a particularly water thirsty crop, which while delicious is over produced" Sweet corn, which we eat; and field corn are different things. According to the washington post article I posted earlier, there isn't that much sweet corn produced. "Calories per acre is important but for the Ogalalla Aquifer calories per gallon-water is more important" Yeah, but people want food today... Desalination, and other water related technologies can't come soon enough :(

russnewcomer 9y ago

My understanding is that it is only that simple if you are discussing consumption of the aquifer, but that there are other factors related to replacement, geographical size and distribution of the aquifer, that changing what we grow won't necessarily fix.

ahartman00 9y ago
Here is some recent news on replacement: "So far, among the many things Dahlke has found: Ninety percent of her floodwaters reach the groundwater table; in the right soil, alfalfa can handle the equivalent of 26 feet of rain; and pecan trees, which, she says, “naturally grow in riparian [riverbank] soils, are well-adapted to having wet feet in winter.”" https://www.popsci.com/how-california-is-saving-rainwater-for-sunny-day#page-2 https://www.popsci.com/how-california-is-saving-rainwater-fo...

ahartman00 9y ago

"corn averages roughly 15 million calories per acre" "wheat comes in at about 4 million calories per acre, soy at 6 million" What else would you have them feed their animals? Calories per acre matters when there are a limited number of acres of arable land. Unless you are advocating vegetarianism. Which is a valid point as far as the environment goes. But farmers produce what the market demands. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/in-defense-of-corn-the-worlds-most-important-food-crop/2015/07/12/78d86530-25a8-11e5-b77f-eb13a215f593_story.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/in-defense-of-...

Avshalom 9y ago
Hay, alfalfa, basically anything for stock feed, almost nothing for ethonal production. Corn is a particularly water thirsty crop, which while delicious is over produced. Calories per acre is important but for the Ogalalla Aquifer calories per gallon-water is more important.
- ahartman00 9y ago
  Hay is alfalfa once it has been harvested. It is high in fiber, and cows are great at digesting fiber, but they also need sugars to convert into milk. Oats provide protein and fiber. Corn provides sugars and iirc, fiber(maybe protein? its getting late here). There has been quite a bit of research about optimum ratios. I could look for some if you are interested, I get most of my info from my dad's dead tree magazines. And I hear you about ethanol production. I for one can't wait for our new renewable energy sources. "Corn is a particularly water thirsty crop, which while delicious is over produced" Sweet corn, which we eat; and field corn are different things. According to the washington post article I posted earlier, there isn't that much sweet corn produced. "Calories per acre is important but for the Ogalalla Aquifer calories per gallon-water is more important" Yeah, but people want food today... Desalination, and other water related technologies can't come soon enough :(