Water shapes every decision on Bestifor Farms in Belleville, Kansas, a small community in the north-central region of the state that receives about 28 inches of rainfall annually. For decades, irrigation wells in Kansas have had meters that measure water use, and farmers receive permits or water rights for specific amounts. This helps protect groundwater supplies but also makes growing crops a complicated puzzle as farmers must stay below their allocation — or face fines. Chase Larson, CEO of Bestifor Farms, knows he won’t get more water for his hay, forage and grain crops. Instead, his focus is on using the same or less water to irrigate more acres.

Frontier Farm Credit