The USDA announced $8 million in funds for the Ogallala Aquifer Initiative to conserve water in the eight states, from South Dakota to Texas, served by the aquifer. Nearly one-fifth of U.S. wheat, corn, cotton and cattle are produced in the 174,000-square-mile region. “Water levels are dropping at an unsustainable rate, making targeted conservation even more important,” said the department. Since 2011, the USDA has provided $74 million for projects to conserve water on 532 square miles of the basin. The funding for 2016 continues work on seven projects and added two new focus areas — the Middle Republican Natural Resource District in Nebraska and the Oklahoma Ogallala Aquifer Initiative. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates the aquifer’s overall water level fell 36 million acre-feet from 2011-13. An acre foot is enough water for one year for a suburban household.