Exploring the impacts of drought on farmers, farmworkers and food. https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/agriculture/rss en Agriculture American West Climate & Weather Environment & Wildlife Law & Policy Management & Supply Wed, 31 Oct 2018 08:00:00 +0000 Brent Gardner-Smith https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/10/31/battle-ahead-in-colorado-on-water-conserved-for-lake-powell-storage https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/10/31/battle-ahead-in-colorado-on-water-conserved-for-lake-powell-storage With shortages looming, Colorado interests are struggling to finalize a drought contingency plan. The state is split between East and West over whether water saved to boost Lake Powell storage should be required or voluntary. Agriculture American West Climate & Weather Law & Policy Management & Supply Wed, 24 Oct 2018 10:30:00 +0000 Matt Weiser https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/10/24/oregon-already-struggling-with-drought-may-have-still-more-to-come https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/10/24/oregon-already-struggling-with-drought-may-have-still-more-to-come Record heat and low rainfall have prompted drought emergency declarations in nearly a third of Oregon’s counties. Predicted El Niño conditions may mean there’s no relief in store this winter. Agriculture American West Economics Energy Law & Policy Management & Supply Tue, 23 Oct 2018 08:00:00 +0000 Angus M. Thuermer Jr., Wyofile.com https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/10/23/wyoming-is-missing-out-on-a-wrinkle-in-water-law-worth-millions https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/10/23/wyoming-is-missing-out-on-a-wrinkle-in-water-law-worth-millions Agricultural interests are getting rich off temporary transfers of water to serve oil fracking wells. Even though water is considered a public resource in the state, Wyoming receives only tiny fees for each transfer. Agriculture American West Climate & Weather Economics Innovation Law & Policy Management & Supply Solutions Mon, 22 Oct 2018 08:00:00 +0000 Hannah Holm https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/10/22/colorado-river-crisis-demands-focus-on-farm-conservation-programs https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/10/22/colorado-river-crisis-demands-focus-on-farm-conservation-programs Small programs can go a long way to save water and help farmers survive the coming shortages on the Colorado River. These should be the next focus for policymakers now wrestling with drought contingency plans. Agriculture Economics Environment & Wildlife Innovation Law & Policy Management & Supply Solutions Fri, 19 Oct 2018 08:00:00 +0000 Eliza Roberts, Lindsay Bass https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/10/19/big-food-brands-commit-to-conserve-water-soil-and-the-climate https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/10/19/big-food-brands-commit-to-conserve-water-soil-and-the-climate Major food growers and retailers are looking hard at their growing and distribution practices to conserve soil nutrients and protect water quality. It’s an effort to reduce impacts throughout the entire food supply chain. Agriculture American West Environment & Wildlife Innovation Law & Policy Management & Supply Solutions Thu, 18 Oct 2018 08:00:00 +0000 Matt Weiser https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/10/18/why-california-law-requires-a-clear-benefit-for-groundwater-recharge https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/10/18/why-california-law-requires-a-clear-benefit-for-groundwater-recharge Aquifer recharge by itself isn’t enough to win a water diversion permit in California, says Erik Ekdahl of the State Water Resources Control Board. A more specific benefit is required, and the board is working to ease the process. Agriculture Economics Environment & Wildlife Innovation Management & Supply Solutions Tue, 16 Oct 2018 08:00:00 +0000 Daniel Beaulieu https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/10/16/almond-farms-keep-growing-and-keep-moving-on-water-conservation https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/10/16/almond-farms-keep-growing-and-keep-moving-on-water-conservation California grows 80 percent of the world’s almonds, generating $11 billion annually for the state’s economy. Richard Waycott of the Almond Board of California explains what the industry is doing to use less water and stretch every drop. Agriculture Economics Innovation Law & Policy Management & Supply Mon, 15 Oct 2018 08:00:00 +0000 Jerry Meral https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/10/15/in-california-prop-3-is-a-billion-dollar-fix-for-stubborn-water-woes https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/10/15/in-california-prop-3-is-a-billion-dollar-fix-for-stubborn-water-woes The $8.9 billion bond measure on the November ballot would solve groundwater contamination in disadvantaged communities, restore wetlands, protect the Salton Sea and much more, says the measure’s author, Jerry Meral. Agriculture Climate & Weather Economics Energy Environment & Wildlife Innovation Solutions Fri, 12 Oct 2018 08:00:00 +0000 Kirsten James https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/10/12/farms-food-producers-taking-strides-to-save-water-and-the-climate https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/10/12/farms-food-producers-taking-strides-to-save-water-and-the-climate Farming and food production use most of the world’s water and produce 13 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. A number of major growers and processors are taking steps to reduce those impacts, writes Ceres’ Kirsten James. Agriculture American West Climate & Weather Thu, 11 Oct 2018 08:00:00 +0000 Matt Weiser https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/10/11/why-you-shouldnt-get-your-hopes-up-about-an-el-nio-this-winter https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/10/11/why-you-shouldnt-get-your-hopes-up-about-an-el-nio-this-winter It’s become almost common currency that El Niño conditions in the Pacific Ocean mean wet winters in the West. But history shows that’s not necessarily so, partly because many other weather phenomena also play a role in precipitation. Agriculture American West Climate & Weather Environment & Wildlife Innovation Management & Supply Fri, 05 Oct 2018 08:00:00 +0000 Matt Weiser https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/10/05/deeply-talks-drought-on-the-colorado-can-we-adapt-to-changing-runoff https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/10/05/deeply-talks-drought-on-the-colorado-can-we-adapt-to-changing-runoff Shrinking snowpack in the Colorado River watershed is not just a water supply problem, but could also lead to a variety of water quality concerns. Listen to two experts describe these changes and how we might adapt. Agriculture American West Climate & Weather Law & Policy Management & Supply Toxic Taps Thu, 04 Oct 2018 08:00:00 +0000 Matt Weiser https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/10/04/is-groundwater-recharge-a-beneficial-use-california-law-says-no https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/10/04/is-groundwater-recharge-a-beneficial-use-california-law-says-no State law does not currently allow surface water to be used for groundwater recharge if the goal is managing pollution, reversing subsidence or controlling salinity. That could be a problem as local agencies begin trying to make their groundwater use more sustainable. Agriculture American West Environment & Wildlife Law & Policy Management & Supply Fri, 28 Sep 2018 08:00:00 +0000 Matt Weiser https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/09/28/on-wetland-regulation-we-may-define-away-nature-at-our-own-peril https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/09/28/on-wetland-regulation-we-may-define-away-nature-at-our-own-peril Efforts by the Trump administration to rewrite wetlands regulations could undermine natural functions that are crucial to clean drinking water, flood protection and wildlife habitat, says Jessica Kao. Agriculture Climate & Weather Economics Environment & Wildlife Law & Policy Management & Supply Wed, 26 Sep 2018 08:00:00 +0000 Matt Weiser https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/09/26/californias-largest-new-reservoir-likely-to-face-water-access-limits https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/09/26/californias-largest-new-reservoir-likely-to-face-water-access-limits The $5 billion Sites Reservoir project recently won by far the largest award in a state funding competition. But separate state regulatory actions could limit how much water it can tap from the Sacramento River. Agriculture American West Climate & Weather Environment & Wildlife Law & Policy Management & Supply Tue, 25 Sep 2018 08:00:00 +0000 Laura Paskus https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/09/25/as-new-mexico-reservoirs-hit-bottom-worries-grow-over-the-future https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/09/25/as-new-mexico-reservoirs-hit-bottom-worries-grow-over-the-future The state’s reservoirs have done their job to help water users survive record drought in 2018. Now they are almost totally dry, and tensions are building over the year ahead. ‘Climate change is really happening,’ one water official says. Agriculture American West Climate & Weather Environment & Wildlife Law & Policy Management & Supply Solutions Thu, 13 Sep 2018 08:00:00 +0000 Ted Kowalski https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/09/13/more-conservation-cooperation-vital-to-our-new-era-of-water-shortages https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/09/13/more-conservation-cooperation-vital-to-our-new-era-of-water-shortages New evidence tells us water shortages aren’t going away in the Colorado River Basin. They’ll likely just get worse. Survival requires new funding sources and a new commitment to conservation. Agriculture American West Environment & Wildlife Law & Policy Management & Supply Wed, 12 Sep 2018 08:00:00 +0000 Brent Gardner-Smith https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/09/12/for-colorado-candidates-new-water-storage-a-key-political-identifier https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/09/12/for-colorado-candidates-new-water-storage-a-key-political-identifier Size matters when the political debate turns to water storage in Colorado. Some candidates want as much as possible, some are only OK with small reservoirs. Either way, more Front Range water diversions are a touchy subject. Agriculture American West Climate & Weather Energy Environment & Wildlife Law & Policy Management & Supply Solutions Tue, 11 Sep 2018 08:00:00 +0000 Matt Weiser https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/09/11/crisis-at-lake-powell-looms-large-as-long-term-drought-reaches-upstream https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/09/11/crisis-at-lake-powell-looms-large-as-long-term-drought-reaches-upstream Water shortages at Lake Mead have drawn all the attention in recent years. Now water rationing has reached far into the Colorado River’s snowy headwaters, prompting concern about the long-term operation of Lake Powell. Agriculture American West Environment & Wildlife Law & Policy Solutions Fri, 07 Sep 2018 08:00:00 +0000 Matt Weiser https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/09/07/water-agencies-farmers-fret-over-californias-move-to-regulate-wetlands https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/09/07/water-agencies-farmers-fret-over-californias-move-to-regulate-wetlands Managing groundwater recharge basins and irrigation ponds could become more troublesome under California’s plan to counteract the Trump administration’s rollback of wetland protections, industry experts say. Agriculture Environment & Wildlife Law & Policy Thu, 30 Aug 2018 03:00:00 +0000 Patrick Koepele https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/08/30/groundwater-banking-a-likely-solution-to-achieve-greater-river-flows https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/08/30/groundwater-banking-a-likely-solution-to-achieve-greater-river-flows Rather than fighting over flow allocation in the San Joaquin River, water users should collaborate on a groundwater banking system. That could let river restoration proceed while ensuring enough water for all concerned, says Patrick Koepele of the Tuolumne River Trust. Agriculture Environment & Wildlife Law & Policy Management & Supply Solutions Toxic Taps Mon, 27 Aug 2018 06:00:00 +0000 Kirsten James https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/08/27/californias-cant-miss-chance-to-provide-safe-drinking-water-for-all https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/08/27/californias-cant-miss-chance-to-provide-safe-drinking-water-for-all State legislators have until the end of the month to pass the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund. There is an urgent need to provide clean drinking water to the 1 million Californians who lack access to such supplies, says Kirsten James of Ceres. Agriculture American West Innovation Law & Policy Management & Supply Solutions Fri, 24 Aug 2018 08:00:00 +0000 Kirsten James https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/08/24/the-unanticipated-benefits-of-californias-water-policies https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/08/24/the-unanticipated-benefits-of-californias-water-policies From software to robots to technology originally designed to detect water on Mars, market-based policy approaches are spurring innovation, writes Ceres’ Kirsten James. Agriculture Environment & Wildlife Law & Policy Management & Supply Mon, 20 Aug 2018 07:00:00 +0000 Tara Lohan https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/08/20/why-the-environment-is-a-big-winner-in-californias-groundwater-law https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/08/20/why-the-environment-is-a-big-winner-in-californias-groundwater-law The state’s 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act takes a big step in protecting ecosystems that depend on groundwater, but now the hard work of incorporating that mandate into sustainability plans begins. Agriculture American West Climate & Weather Management & Supply Thu, 16 Aug 2018 03:00:00 +0000 Cassidy Johnston https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/08/16/how-ranchers-are-getting-by-with-less-water-across-the-west https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/08/16/how-ranchers-are-getting-by-with-less-water-across-the-west Most ranches depend on rain to ensure cattle have enough to eat, but arid conditions amplified by drought across much of the West means that ranchers are employing best practices to use water as efficiently as possible, writes New Mexico rancher Cassidy Johnston. Agriculture American West Economics Law & Policy Wed, 15 Aug 2018 07:00:00 +0000 Matt Weiser https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/08/15/why-one-arizona-county-could-upend-the-southwests-drought-plan https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/08/15/why-one-arizona-county-could-upend-the-southwests-drought-plan New federal estimates suggest serious water shortages on the Colorado River are closer than thought. While Arizona water users try to cooperate on a conservation fix, one group of farmers stands in the way of a compromise. Agriculture American West Law & Policy Management & Supply Tue, 14 Aug 2018 03:00:00 +0000 Laura Paskus https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/08/14/new-mexico-groundwater-diversion-plan-rejected-as-water-speculation https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/08/14/new-mexico-groundwater-diversion-plan-rejected-as-water-speculation Augustin Plains Ranch wanted to build 37 wells and a pipeline to deliver groundwater from remote Catron County to the Albuquerque metro area. For the third time, the state engineer found the plan would violate New Mexico law. Agriculture American West Climate & Weather Management & Supply Mon, 13 Aug 2018 03:00:00 +0000 Emma Penrod https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/08/13/drought-forces-hard-choices-for-farmers-and-ranchers-in-the-southwest https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/08/13/drought-forces-hard-choices-for-farmers-and-ranchers-in-the-southwest Large reservoirs have buffered urban areas in the Southwest from the worst of the year’s dry conditions, but rural farmers and ranchers are bearing the brunt of water shortages and the economic fallout. Agriculture American West Environment & Wildlife Law & Policy Management & Supply Thu, 09 Aug 2018 03:00:00 +0000 Tara Lohan https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/08/09/after-dam-removal-what-the-klamath-basin-needs-next https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/08/09/after-dam-removal-what-the-klamath-basin-needs-next With plans to remove four dams on the Klamath River in 2021 moving along, Trout Unlimited’s Brian Johnson and Chrysten Lambert talk about the broader picture of restoration efforts in the Klamath Basin. Agriculture Economics Environment & Wildlife Law & Policy Management & Supply Mon, 06 Aug 2018 03:00:00 +0000 Matt Weiser https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/08/06/california-groundwater-law-means-big-changes-above-ground-too https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/articles/2018/08/06/california-groundwater-law-means-big-changes-above-ground-too The state’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act is likely to result in fallowing thousands of acres of farmland. Local governments are just waking up to the big opportunities, and risks, in how that land gets reused. Agriculture Environment & Wildlife Law & Policy Fri, 27 Jul 2018 03:00:00 +0000 Kathleen Stone https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/07/27/why-californias-cannabis-regulations-could-have-indirect-water-benefits https://www.newsdeeply.com/water/community/2018/07/27/why-californias-cannabis-regulations-could-have-indirect-water-benefits New regulations that have come with state marijuana laws could spur more effective environmental management of California’s streams, writes Kathleen Stone of U.C. Davis.