Ogallala Water

M. R. Byrd said:
I would say the decision was made that there was not enough water, either physically in the well, or the water allocation to produce a crop of grain, so it will go for silage.

What is happening right now with the irrigated corn is all across the board, some being abandoned, some being chopped for silage, some wiping back and forth on half the circle and abandoning the other half, some renozzling systems and watering only the inner part of the circle. I had one farmer tell me in the barber shop the other day that he has to keep running full circle even though it does not keep up with water use, or his crop insurance will be void.

The center pivot irrigation system was kind of the beginning of the end. With it, acres you would have never imagined being irrigated came into being, irrigation brought corn, corn brought feedyards, feedyards brought packing houses, and corn recently brought ethanol plants. Now the whole economy of this area revolves around the ability of huge quantities of water being mined(mined, taken out and nothing put back). Now for the politicians and city fathers and other leaders, "It is the economy stupid". In other words, should the ability to extract water from the Ogallala be reduced or stopped this whole economy crumbles. Well this drought is giving us a taste of what is ahead of us. Anyone can see that there is a brick wall in front of us and it appears that rather than back off, slow down, or maybe even step on the brakes, it is full throttle ahead. Terrible crash a coming, just don't know when.
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thanks for posting that- I have been contiplating a purchase out here-
couple old timers sort of said what you said- sort of scarry actually
 
Shadow said:
thanks for posting that- I have been contiplating a purchase out here-
couple old timers sort of said what you said- sort of scarry actually
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There was an opportunity to purchase here at Dodge last week. A quarter section just SW of town. Good water(1000gpm well and 210AF water right with 1968 date). Center pivot and gear head(engine belongs to tenant). All minerals intact and included, no production, no lease at moment.

Sold at auction for $3,460/acre.
 
M. R. Byrd said:
There was an opportunity to purchase here at Dodge last week. A quarter section just SW of town. Good water(1000gpm well and 210AF water right with 1968 date). Center pivot and gear head(engine belongs to tenant). All minerals intact and included, no production, no lease at moment.

Sold at auction for $3,460/acre.
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I'd rather be a seller than a buyer at those prices!!!! Probably a fight between two competing neighbors but I've seen stranger sales. Water depletion is a real scare, I know of ranchers as far away as SW Kansas, and the Texas panhandle who have been approached with offers to buy water rights from Municipal authorities in Denver and Albuquerqe.
 
Actually, if I had a half mil laying in the bank drawing nothing for interest, I would have been the buyer at that price for the water rights alone. I don't know how high the buyer would have gone. But, alas, no nest egg to buy land, water and minerals.

A couple years ago a similar property brought $3,800. The water was about the same, except it was twenty-five miles from Dodge, so the water rights would have less value.
 
Bilbo Baggins said:
I thought you had two or three mils socked away someplace.
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Will you think less of me because I don't?

If I did, I would be buying land somewhere. In Kansas, I really like the Flint Hills(Cottonwood Falls), the Red Hills(Medicine Lodge), the Chautauqua Hills(Sedan). Could be happy owning some New Mexico ranch country or a Colorado ranch. Because of my anti-social nature would need to be in a remote area.

Would much rather have a dollar's worth of land, than a dollar in the bank.
 
M. R. Byrd said:
Will you think less of me because I don't?

If I did, I would be buying land somewhere. In Kansas, I really like the Flint Hills(Cottonwood Falls), the Red Hills(Medicine Lodge), the Chautauqua Hills(Sedan). Could be happy owning some New Mexico ranch country or a Colorado ranch. Because of my anti-social nature would need to be in a remote area.

Would much rather have a dollar's worth of land, than a dollar in the bank.
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Don't you guys leave me behind! I actually have looked at ground in New Mexico, the quail hunting area, I would get more specific in a PM, but might be the last great quail area left. We ought to be able to be each others closest neighbor and still a mile or so apart.
 
I don't know, a mile is pretty close, but might be able to make it work. ;)

I know of a quail paradise I would love to have, but more than few dollars separates me.:(
 
M. R. Byrd said:
Because of my anti-social nature would need to be in a remote area.
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I suppose that means we will not be having breakfast together, not that I am some sort of socialite. Maybe we could eat but just not talk. You were just trying to give me the easy let down so my tender feelings would not get hurt.

Anyhow, I will call when I am in the area next time.
 
Maynard make sure you take the camera, could provide to be an interesting thread.:D
 
M. R. Byrd said:
Needs to be a video cam to catch all the action. You are invited also.
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I took screen arts in High School and I believe this production would have all the "essential elements" of film, to qualify for a youtube sensation. Sell the advertising, and use the money to buy that quail honey hole. Just remember who your friends are!
 
oldandnew;88780 Sell the advertising said:
It is going to have to be quite a dance to muster enough funds for the quail honey hole I have in mind.;)

Terrible wind here today and some fields blowing. Need rain to bring the wheat along and get some cover on the ground.
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