Devastating Drought Drives Search for Water Efficiency in U.S. Farming
1 September 2021 With the worsening drought across the plains and western U.S., California regulators were planning to vote on an ‘emergency curtailment’ order in August that would stop thousands of farmers from taking water out of the state’s major rivers and streams. Combined with the fact that water is being pulled out of the Ogallala-High Plains Aquifer, one of the world’s largest groundwater resources, faster than rain and snow can recharge it, there is a massive storm brewing for farmers. Simply put, the current situation regarding water availability has become untenable.
As any farmer knows, water is the lifeblood for agriculture and one of the most significant issues they face. Without water, there will be precious little, if anything, that can be passed on to the next generation from an agricultural perspective. The drought in California from 2012 to 2016 forced farmers to ask themselves the hard questions around the sustainability of water practices. It opened their eyes to become more creative and embrace new ideas and technologies, including innovative chemistries, when striving to become more water efficient.
Drought Lessons
Hard lessons were learned during this time, especially for an agriculture community that sees farmers differing significantly in the best practices they adopt. Some are more progressive, while others are steadfast in thinking that old farming practices will prevail. But the five-year drought even pushed these farmers to start thinking differently and adopt small changes, often driven by technological advancement, to help conserve water where possible. Further inciting change is a new generation of agronomists who are beginning to take over the industry. Today, progressive farmers are leading the way, using technological advancements to best optimize their allotted water.
Contributing to this new state of the environment is the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) that was signed into California law in 2014. While the debate continues on how best to implement this, the real effects are likely to play out in the next four years. The stark reality is that the government will start telling farmers how much water they can pump out of the ground in a way that they hope will ensure water quality and land sustainability.
Unfortunately, growers have had little input in the legislation. Complicating matters is that it is tough for farmers to agree on what constitutes best practices and what should be done from a longevity perspective regarding water usage. The reality is that with the SGMA in place, potentially 30% of farmable acres will be left unsown. And while those farmers closer to the mountains will be slightly better off than those further away, water restrictions will result in the transformation of a sector that is critical for food production, both now and in the future.
Challenging Times
According to the National Integrated Drought Information Systems, as of July 27, 2021, 37% of the entire U.S. is experiencing drought. A drought this severe causes government agencies to balance restrictions on water usage by agriculture to protect the water basins from drying up. And for California, since the entire state is now officially in a drought, water diversions from other supplies are being restricted as well.
Those outside of the world of agriculture do not fully understand the issues at play. Many know just enough to sympathize with the struggle farmers face to get water, but others do not even know where their food comes from. Although the slow-burn impact of all this will not result in an immediate economic impact, sadly, it could result in more and more farms becoming unsustainable. Fewer farms will equal less food, slowly tapering to reach a point of no return, if things do not rapidly improve. This is where technology becomes a critical enabler to make a meaningful difference to the long-term success of these farms.
Hope Through Technology
As is often the case, challenges beget new solutions, including both new technologies and new ways to use existing technologies. For example, products like soil surfactants, previously used by only the most progressive farmers are now being considered by others, including farmers with high-value crops and large farming outfits. Agronomists, leading university experts, and some farmers continue to conduct their own research to understand how soil surfactants can help ensure the maximum uptake of water on hydrophobic soils by promoting uniform penetration and lateral movement of water and fertilizers through all soil types. Their testing has shown that soil surfactants provide more flexibility with sprinkler systems where farmers can now provide the exact amount of water that a crop requires instead of the more traditional flood system.
Another example is desalinization for water treatment, using highly advanced and water-efficient technology from Israel. While this technology is highly effective, it also carries a high price tag. Therefore, adoption will be a slow process, especially when considering cost efficiencies.
Much of the future of farming will come down to those who are passionate and want to see positive, sustainable change. There are farmers, agronomists, and even agriculture-focused companies who look at embracing innovation that while different, may sometimes still be built on the past. With acreage shrinking and additional pressure to produce more food for a growing population, innovating and adopting those innovations will be the cornerstone of the future of agriculture.
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