California's massive drought declaration has many Golden State growers worried.
“There’s just not enough irrigation water,” said Kurt Nolte, Agriculture Agent at Arizona State University’s Yuma Agricultural Center. California produces nearly half of the nation’s fruits, veggies, and nuts.
The California Farm Water Coalition predicts the drought will cost the state five billion dollars in lost revenue.
But for growers in the Desert Southwest, the drought has a silver-lining.
“Yuma area growers are benefiting from some discouraging news that we’re hearing out of California right now,” said Nolte.
California growers are reducing their production of water-demanding crops including almonds, pomegranates, and olives.
Experts say you may start seeing some these pop up in the area.
“We’re seeing greater amounts of alternative crops,” said Nolte. “A lot of growers are beginning to think about taking advantage of some shortcomings of California and planting those crops here in the Yuma area.”
Nolte says this drought could reinvigorate the citrus industry in Yuma County.
“Another added value is a crop that we’ve had well over 50 years making a comeback over on the Yuma mesa, and I’m sure a lot of folks are excited about that,” said Nolte.
Nolte says Yuma's melon, wheat, and cotton acreage could also be on the rise.
While growers in the Desert Southwest may have reason to rejoice, Nolte says if the drought lasts long enough, the effects will begin to trickle down locally.
“Whenever we do have drought in California, it also means we have those drought conditions in our Colorado River Basin,” said Nolte. “Despite the fact that we have supply of water for our desert growing areas, it doesn’t necessarily mean that that water is going to be available forever.”
Source - http://www.kyma.com/
