irrigation
Read more about the article ‘Uncharted waters:’ Illinois water use issues exacerbated by irrigation, lack of water supply planningDarrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess.org
Mark Pflugmacher with irrigation equipment at his farm just outside of Gifford, Ill., on November 29.

‘Uncharted waters:’ Illinois water use issues exacerbated by irrigation, lack of water supply planning

In our “Uncharted Waters” series, The Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting took at look at what’s behind the recent spike in irrigation, the lack of regulations around groundwater and stalled water supply planning efforts and the impact this will have on Illinois in the future.

Continue Reading‘Uncharted waters:’ Illinois water use issues exacerbated by irrigation, lack of water supply planning
Read more about the article Lack of irrigation reporting leaves uncertain future for Illinois groundwaterDarrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess.org
Mark Pflugmacher with irrigation equipment at his farm just outside of Gifford, Ill., on November 29.

Lack of irrigation reporting leaves uncertain future for Illinois groundwater

Almost 1,000 pivots have been installed in counties statewide in the past four years as a result of higher crop prices and the demand of seed corn companies, an almost 20 percent increase in overall irrigation that equals the use of more than half a million people each year.

Continue ReadingLack of irrigation reporting leaves uncertain future for Illinois groundwater
Read more about the article Irrigation playing role in water issues across IllinoisDarrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess.org
Irrigation equipment at Mark Pflugmacher's farm just outside of Gifford, Ill., on November 29.

Irrigation playing role in water issues across Illinois

While Illinois is not currently facing a water crisis, highly populated areas with high growth — namely Chicagoland and Champaign County — are undergoing…

Continue ReadingIrrigation playing role in water issues across Illinois
Read more about the article Irrigation’s impact on agriculture during the drought of 2012Darrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess.org
Irrigation equipment at Mark Pflugmacher’s farm just outside of Gifford, Ill., on November 29.

Irrigation’s impact on agriculture during the drought of 2012

The drought of 2012 was the worst since at least 1988, spanning the entire Corn Belt, from Ohio to Wyoming, and costing the agribusiness industry billions of dollars.

Continue ReadingIrrigation’s impact on agriculture during the drought of 2012