Sign In
Free Newsletter
Tensions are bubbling up at thirsty Arizona alfalfa farms as foreign firms exploit unregulated water
Matthew Hancock's family has used groundwater to grow forage crops here for more than six decades. But concerns about future water supplies from the valley's ancient aquifers, which hold groundwater supplies, are bubbling up in Wenden, a town of around 700 people where the Hancock family farms.
Borrelli slams Griffin claiming she misrepresented his and Biasiucci’s water legislation
Upset with what he said are lies being told about his efforts to protect groundwater, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate is lashing out at a veteran House Republican who has for years bottled up various efforts to deal with the problem.
County supervisors criticize Kerr, Arizona Farm Bureau head for abandoning talks on water problems
Supervisors from several Arizona counties are criticizing a state senator and the head of the Arizona Farm Bureau for walking away from talks about how to deal with water quantity problems in rural areas.
Hobbs defends decision to strip Saudi company of right to lease land to farm alfalfa
Gov. Katie Hobbs on Tuesday defended the decision to strip a Saudi company of its right to lease state land to farm alfalfa for export -- and get the water underneath it free -- but had no answers to what will become of the nearly 3,500 acres after that.
Land department cancels controversial lease of state land to company growing alfalfa
The state Land Department on Monday canceled one of the controversial leases of state land to a company that has been growing alfalfa for export to Saudi Arabia.
State’s largest pension fund selling interest in company that owns farm growing alfalfa
The state's largest public pension fund is selling off its interest in a company that owns a 3,000-acre western Arizona farm that grows alfalfa to ship to the Middle East.
Getting Colorado River water from California farms will take more than just money
The Imperial Valley produces $2.9 billion in crops and livestock each year. That’s because the valley’s Imperial Irrigation District holds the largest single allocation of Colorado River water – bigger than any other farming district or city between Wyoming and Mexico. But now, that water allocation is under increasing scrutiny from water managers looking to cut back on water use and correct[...]
Hobbs should terminate the Saudi lease in Butler Valley
In recent months Kris Mayes, the newly elected Attorney General, has urged Governor Hobbs to deny Fondomonte’s application to renew a lease. All Arizonans should also urge Governor Hobbs to direct the State Land Commissioner to reject the lease application and to restore the Butler Valley as a designated groundwater reserve to be held in trust for Arizona’s future.
Fondomonte well rejection will have limited impact
The Arizona Department of Water Resources has revoked a pair of well-drilling permits it issued last year to a controversial Saudi-owned farming company that operates in western Arizona.
‘Where’s The River?’ event calls attention to Arizona’s depleted waterways
Environmental activist Lynda Person is inviting the public to bring kayaks and water toys to an informational event called “Where’s the River?” near 40th Street and University Drive today.
Mayes, lawmakers slam Saudi water deal
Officials on both sides of the aisle want to do something about the deal that’s letting a Saudi-based company pump Arizona groundwater for nothing more than the price of a cheap land lease in La Paz County.
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[...]
