California Weather Forecasts
Home: News: Ag Today 2008 : June 2008 : Water Special Section

Agriculture Today - June 2008
Special Section: Water

WATER: The Life Blood of the Valley

 

Water. It is THE lifeblood of the Valley. Living in the arid west, the importance of water should be an everyday realization for all of its residents. Farmers and ranchers know the value of water; their very success depends on having an adequate water supply to raise food and fiber crops consumers around the world require.

At a time when much of the world is struggling to feed itself, U.S. consumers today enter grocery stores knowing they will find an abundant variety of fruits and vegetables, meat and cheeses, grains and pastas and almost every type of food needed to sustain good health. Yes, it may cost more this year, but the bottom line is the choices are there. U.S. citizens are not rioting for their food supply, nor are they eating only one or two food choices.

What sets our agriculture apart from the world? Fertile soil, a long growing season and innovative agriculturalists contribute, but water is what makes this all possible. Federal, state and locally developed water supplies have made Fresno County bloom, quite literally, to help feed the world. Water from the Kings and San Joaquin rivers, the California Aqueduct and San Luis Reservoir, and from the groundwater aquifer fuels the agricultural engine that makes Fresno County the number one agricultural county in the nation.

Preserving and protecting this resource is an everyday battle for many involved in farming and water management. Most of the recent disruptions in water deliveries have not been caused solely by drought or the weather, but rather by ongoing political debates over state and national priorities, policies and court rulings related to environmental and endangered species protections, and the increased competition for developed water supplies.

Can you imagine where we would be today if Moses Church, Henry Miller and other water pioneers were required to complete an Environmental Impact Report before they built and developed the bases for our main water conveyance facilities today? What are we doing today to help ensure that our children’s and grandchildren’s futures will have adequate water -- and subsequently a locally produced food supply?

Because of the importance of water to our county, Fresno County Farm Bureau has produced this special section which examines a few of the major local issues in water. We welcome your feedback and urge you to become involved to protect and preserve this limited resource for our future.

Articles:

 

Fast Facts about Agricultural Water Use

  • An acre-foot of water is about 326,000 gallons, or enough water to supply two typical families for a year. But it takes 3.3 acre-feet of water to grow enough food for an average family for a year.
  • In terms of water use, the environment is the biggest user of water in California, using 46 percent which is dedicated to state and federal wild and scenic rivers, in-stream flow requirements and applied water demands of freshwater wildlife areas. Agriculture uses 43 percent of the available water, while urban users consume 11 percent of the water.
  • Farmers use less water today than they did 40 years ago, but they produce 67 percent more crops.
  • Farmers effectively recycle water, effectively use drip and sprinkler irrigation, and use conservation efforts to reduce water shortages, but the population growth will still outgrow California’s growing demand for water.
  • It takes over 700 gallons of water to make one four-ounce hamburger with a serving of lettuce, tomato and cheese.
  • It takes 49 gallons of water to make one 8-ounce cup of orange juice.
  • At least 20 varieties of food crops are grown with recycled water, including vegetables such as lettuce and celery. Eleven non-food crops, such as pasture and alfalfa for animals, as well as flowers and nursery products are irrigated with recycled water.

Sources: Association of California Water Agencies, California Farm Bureau Federation, California Farm Water Coalition, and Water Education Foundation.