Make Me Smart From "How We Survive": The Dry Line
Nov 27, 2025
As the climate shifts, farmers in Kansas face challenges adapting to the evolving dry line. Amy Scott explores innovative solutions, like the Emkes' use of triticale to conserve moisture. She delves into the troubling decline of the Ogallala Aquifer and discusses the impact of crop insurance on planting decisions. Insights from wheat breeders reveal promising new varieties that combine yield and disease resistance. The conversation extends to global implications of Kansas’s agricultural struggles, highlighting the interconnectedness of local and global food supplies.
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Dry Line Is Moving East
- The historical 100th meridian is shifting east as the plains get drier and hotter from human-driven climate change.
- Richard Seeger found the dry line moved ~140 miles east since 1980 and models project continued eastward movement.
Emkes Pivoted To Drought-Hardy Crops
- Vance and Louise Emke rebuilt their seed business over decades and expanded into drought-hardy crops like triticale to survive variable water supplies.
- They now manage 14,000 acres and sell certified seed across Kansas, relying on moisture-conserving practices.
Ogallala Depletion Reshapes Farming
- The Ogallala Aquifer has been heavily depleted, forcing shifts from irrigated to dryland farming across the plains.
- That long-term groundwater loss reshapes crop choice and farm economics for the region.