Nebraska: 93% farms, running out of water fast

Nebraska is 93% farmland, with one in four jobs related to agriculture. While Nebraskans are nicknamed "Cornhuskers," beef production is actually the #1 agricultural activity in Nebraska and the state is #1 in beef and veal exports. But Nebraska is still the #3 corn producer in the US, and has a major ethanol industry to go with it. Together the cattle-corn-ethanol trio are known as the "Golden Triangle."

44% of Nebraska's farms are irrigated by the Ogallala Aquifer, which, unfortunately, is projected to start running out in some areas in 2045 and be 69% depleted by 2060. One more reason why ethanol and corn subsidies are ill-advised--besides the fact that there are hundreds of important crops besides the handful the US government government oversubsidizes: corn, wheat, cotton, sugar, rice, soy.

Even Without a Drought, We’re Depleting Groundwater at an Alarming Pace
http://modernfarmer.com/2015/07/ogallala-aquifer-depletion/