Why doesn't agriculture use the Great Lakes to irrigate their crops? (controversial, brainwash)

[wehotex]

I'll be the first to say that I know very little about the Great Lakes area. On a map, the amount of land covered by water looks HUGE. Why doesn't agriculture take advantage of this vast water source?

[Versatile]

Originally Posted by wehotex

I'll be the first to say that I know very little about the Great Lakes area. On a map, the amount of land covered by water looks HUGE. Why doesn't agriculture take advantage of this vast water source?

Pretty much is that they have had plenty of rain this year.

[theunbrainwashed]

Well, it rains enough in the Great Lakes region and the potential evaporation rate is well within the range of a humid climate. I don't get what your point is with this topic. This should be posted in the Weather forum, I don't see how this is in any way controversial or political

[rhawkins74]

Originally Posted by Versatile

Pretty much is that they have had plenty of rain this year.

yeah, okay... I think you would know better then that. the midwest and the crops here in the midwest is struggling due to the severe drought.

[theunbrainwashed]

Originally Posted by rhawkins74

yeah, okay... I think you would know better then that. the midwest and the crops here in the midwest is struggling due to the severe drought.

For one year. The other years were fine. The cost to pipe water from the Great Lakes out to the Midwest would greatly outweigh any benefit

[GregW]

Most of the time the grain and corn farmers get plenty of rain so investing in transfering by canals or pumping Great Lakes water to Iowa is not worth it. They just buy crop insurance for the times the rain stays away.

[buzzards27]

Originally Posted by theunbrainwashed

For one year. The other years were fine. The cost to pipe water from the Great Lakes out to the Midwest would greatly outweigh any benefit

Actually, water from the great lakes watershed cannot be piped out of the watershed. There has been talk about a pipeline for years but it will never happen. If you want to enjoy our water move here.

[Mathguy]

Originally Posted by theunbrainwashed

For one year. The other years were fine. The cost to pipe water from the Great Lakes out to the Midwest would greatly outweigh any benefit

There is plenty of water around in some of the hard-hit areas of Illinois so you wouldn't really even have to pipe water over. However, the cost of installing an irrigation system on a farm by farm basis is typically prohibitive.

[rhawkins74]

Originally Posted by theunbrainwashed

For one year. The other years were fine. The cost to pipe water from the Great Lakes out to the Midwest would greatly outweigh any benefit

I agree, the costs would make no sense at all, but the poster I replied to claimed the area has had plenty of rain this year.

[KUchief25]

Folks have been suing over who actually controls the lakes for years. By the time they figure it all out the lakes will be a desert and folks will have moved on.