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agriculture

Dec 13, 2023

AZ farming, ranching is measure of productivity, not GDP

To put this in perspective, our economic impact rivals mining and tourism in terms of “economic output” on an annual basis. Thus, keeping farming and ranching so productive becomes good for the public focused on saving money during this inflationary era and good for the state’s economy.  

Biden, heat, Arizona, workers, farms, construction sites
Jul 27, 2023

Biden looks to provide relief from extreme heat as record high temperatures persist

With heat waves spreading across the United States, President Joe Biden today plans to unveil new steps to protect workers, improve weather forecasts and make drinking water more accessible, the White House says.

Colorado River, Lake Mead, Arizona, water cuts, drought
Jun 16, 2023

Feds announce start of public process to reshape key rules on Colorado River water use by 2027

A public process started Thursday to reshape the way Colorado River water is distributed, with federal officials promising to collect comments about updating and enacting rules in 2027 to continue providing hydropower, drinking water and irrigation to farms, cities and tribes in seven Western U.S. states and Mexico.

child labor laws, Arkansas, Progressive Era, Child Labor Amendment, agriculture
May 26, 2023

Children – the next ones in the meat grinder

Much of what the states are doing violates federal law under the Fair Labor Standards Act that sets the floor on wages, hours and child labor.

farmers, Colorado River, Yuma, drought, cauliflower
May 19, 2023

How one Yuma farmer sees Arizona’s water future

The agricultural industry in Arizona is reliant on water flowing from the Colorado River. And as the Biden administration and federal agencies rush to remedy a looming water crisis in the Southwest, farmers in the state are concerned that directives from authorities could have an outsized effect on an integral part of the economy. 

snowpack, Colorado River, drought, Arizona, Colorado, California, Rocky Mountains
Jan 30, 2023

Rain, snow won’t be enough to end West’s drought

The West has been slammed by wet weather this winter: An “atmospheric river” has pummeled California with weeks of heavy rain and the Rocky Mountains are getting buried with snow. That’s good news for the Colorado River, but climate scientists say the 40 million people who use the river’s water should take the good news with a grain of salt.

drought, alfalfa, Colorado River, Arizona Farm Bureau
Jan 23, 2023

Arizona’s alfalfa is essential, water crisis solution that leads to food supply issue is no fix

Concerns over the Colorado River have led the everyday Arizonan to think about water in ways they haven’t before. As a result, much has been made as of late about growing “thirsty crops” in Arizona’s desert climate. It doesn’t take long to find an opinion or editorial about how farming alfalfa is the embodiment of everything that is wrong with the water system in Arizona, but this rhetor[...]

drought, Yuma, farming, alfalfa, Colorado River, water cuts
Sep 20, 2022

Water needed to farm in desert, ensure residents’ health, safety

Farming in the desert ensures the health, safety, and well-being of each and every person who relies on an affordable, abundant food supply.

drought, Colorado River, Lake Mead, crisis, water, Arizona State University, groundwater depletion
Aug 16, 2022

Arizona faces more water cuts under stepped-up Colorado River shortage 

Arizona will lose an additional 80,000 acre-feet from its federally allotted Colorado River water rights next year, on top of a 512,000 acre-foot reduction already in place this year. 

Nov 4, 2021

AZ relationship with water changed forever

Arizona promotes itself as a world leader in water management. Yet rural wells and rivers are drying up since sustainable water management plans are hindered by laws no longer appropriate for these times. Our relationship with desert water has changed, and our water laws must change too. 

Nov 4, 2021

Agribusiness focuses on drought, not climate change

The Colorado River water shortages should not define Arizona agriculture as much as they should trigger changes toward a more resilient food system that we have needed all along. Let’s now jumpstart them in a bold manner. 

Oct 8, 2021

Can agriculture use less water?

The time has come to start asking the hard questions. Does an industry that adds 1% to the state GDP have the right to mine our groundwater, destroy our flowing rivers, and take water that can never be replaced? Can this industry be reformed or modernized to use less water? How do we better protect Arizona's water resources so that flowing streams and rivers are not dried out by thirsty groundwate[...]

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