We need to support Kansas farmers as they adapt to a hotter, drier future

This summer was the hottest on record, and September was warmer than the average July temperatures from 2001-2010. Kansas farms are on the frontlines of these changes.

Persistent drought gripped a large portion of the Midwest, Kansas included, and significantly lowered this year’s winter wheat yields. Farmers also are reporting lower than expected soybean and corn harvests.

If this growing season is a preview of years to come, Kansas farmers will face increasing water scarcity and hotter temperatures. They will need support in accelerating the efforts they’re already undertaking to make their farms more resilient to these changes.

A new study from Environmental Defense Fund pulls from interviews with farmers across Kansas to identify what adaptation efforts are already underway and what additional changes would help farmers keep farming for generations to come.

Diversifying crop production to include crops with lower water requirements is one pathway toward a resilient future for Kansas agriculture.

Wheat, corn and soybeans currently comprise the majority of Kansas’ row crops. These crops are going to require more water to grow as temperatures continue to rise. Current irrigation practices are already rapidly depleting groundwater resources, and present rates of groundwater withdrawal will be increasingly unsustainable in a drier, hotter future.

By swapping out some acres of wheat, corn and soybeans for sorghum, rye, oats and millet, farmers can reduce crop water demand by 12% while boosting nutritional output and sustaining livelihoods.

Some farmers have already started the critical work of integrating more drought-resistant species into their crop rotations.

According to JohnElla Holmes, executive director of the Kansas Black Farmers Association, climate-smart growing practices have been a topic of discussion for farmers in the organization’s network since the early aughts.

In Northwest Kansas, association members grow winter wheat and sorghum, followed by a summer fallow period. The group credits the inclusion of sorghum in their crop rotations as a key step to maintaining soil health and resilience, especially during dry spells.

More farmers can make these changes — and even early adopters can go farther with additional support and investment — with backing from the public and private sectors.

Agricultural policy and markets must incentivize crop diversification for it to be feasible for farmers. Policymakers must ensure that the 2023 farm bill invests in adaptation, including financial and technical assistance for adoption of alternative crops.

To enhance supply chain resilience, food companies should consider investing in new markets for more diverse crops, and provide financial support for farmers within their supply chains to grow them.

Assistance from agricultural lenders will also be crucial to help farmers manage the short-term financial costs of changing crops and farming methods as producers work to increase the long-term resilience of their operations.

Actions across the food system will be essential to support Kansas farmers in making this large-scale shift in the crop mix. Change can’t wait.

There is an urgent need to support farmers in keeping agriculture productive in a changing climate. Kansas, a critical breadbasket for the U.S. and the world, is an important case study for how to do so with limited water resources. The promise of crop diversification demonstrates that sustainable and resilient crop production that feeds a growing population and supports rural economies is within our reach.

Eileen McLellan is a lead senior scientist at Environmental Defense Fund and one of the authors of a report titled "Kansas in 2050: A pathway for climate-resilient crop production."