By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Sen. Ralph Ostmeyer, R-Grinnell, is a longtime farmer who serves on the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee in the Kansas Senate.

He expects water rights and the talk of transporting water from the Missouri River in eastern Kansas to western Kansas to be a hot topic this legislative session.

Ostmeyer talked with area farmers Friday in Grainfield.

“I actually worked for some of the guys’ families when I was a first married,” said Ostmeyer, “and they’re worried about the dwindling water supply:”

The 2012 Kansas Legislature gave groundwater management districts the authority to initiate a public hearing process to consider a specific conservation plan to meet local goals through Local Enhanced Management Areas.

Ostmeyer, who serves the newly expanded 40th Senate District, said no-till farming practices in western Kansas have helped slow the use of water.

You can see the entire interview with Sen. Ostmeyer today on the Eagle Community TV Legislative Forum and 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on ECTV Channel 14.