Alva Review-Courier -

HOLCOMB, Kan. (AP) — On a 100-degree day in July, Dwane Roth could see his neighbors' irrigation pivots pumping water to the corn fields around him.

A handful of years ago, he had the same mentality. In a climate where rain comes sparingly, he translated his high-yielding corn and economic vitality to the need to continually water the crop. So rain or shine in the heat of summer, his irrigation systems would churn out water from the shrinking underground reserve by the gallons. He'd wake up some mornings and look out across the horizon and the lights on the pivots — knowing they were running....