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New water taskforce in Kansas will safeguard supply

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has signed a new law creating a taskforce to address ongoing water issues impacting the state’s ag producers.

Kent Askren, public policy director with the Kansas Farm Bureau, says a long-term investment program is long overdue.  “The money and then the future planning and what those plans actually will hold once the committee does its work, will have significant impacts on agriculture, I have no doubts.”

Askren tells Brownfield the state’s water supply is at risk without comprehensive conservation programs. “Addressing these issues generally are going to take some significant resources, amongst other things, to help combat the need to both reduce groundwater usage and to recoup loss storage space for surface supplies.”

The task force will evaluate impact on current and future economic growth, create a dedicated funding source for the State Water Plan and identify Kansas’ current and future water infrastructure needs.

Kent Askren, Kansas Farm Bureau: