California Farms Going Thirsty as Drought Burns $5 Billion Hole

[Purveyor]

By Elizabeth Campbell and Megan Durisin - Jan 28, 2014

Near the confluence of the Merced and San Joaquin rivers, the heart of the California farm belt, Bob Kelley watches the driest year ever erode water supplies and prospects for the dairy business his family began in 1910.

The amount of water available for the 2,800 acres (1,133 hectares) of corn and alfalfa Kelley grows to feed more than 6,500 cows may drop as much as two thirds, so fewer crops will be planted and some animals will be sold to avoid the expense of buying grain, he said by telephone from Newman, about 83 miles (134 kilometers) southeast of San Francisco.

“It would impact us for not just 2014, but all of 2015,” said Kelley, 60, who runs a local water district that will cut output by at least half. “I’m anticipating a very difficult time, and I’m probably the best off of anybody I know.”

The drought in California, the top U.S. agricultural producer at $44.7 billion, is depriving the state of water needed to produce everything from milk, beef and wine to some of the nation’s largest fruit and vegetable crops, including avocados, strawberries and almonds. Lost revenue in 2014 from farming and related businesses such as trucking and processing could reach $5 billion, according to estimates by the 300-member California Farm Water Coalition, an industry group.

The state was the driest ever in 2013, a third straight year of little moisture. California Governor Jerry Brown declared a drought emergency on Jan. 17 as arid conditions he called “unprecedented” continued well into the annual rainy season that runs from October through March. Reservoirs on Jan. 27 were at 61 percent of average, while the mountain snow-pack as of Dec. 30 that supplies most of the state’s water was at 20 percent of normal for that time of year, data show.

more...

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-29/california-farms-going-thirsty-as-drought-burns-5-billion-hole.html

[Le Taz Hot]

1. Stock up on beef now as prices

are going to be going up. If you've the ability to grow your own veggies/fruits you might want to think about it because produce is going to skyrocket as well. I'm putting all my stuff on drip irrigation this year and we're pulling out what's left of the grass. All Californians need to cut back by AT LEAST 20% and probably closer to 50%. When it's a tough year for California farmers and ranchers, it's going to be a tough year for the rest of the country as well.

Oh, and our unemployment is about to skyrocket again as a result.

[Politicalboi]

2. I live near the Kings River

At it is sickening. The water looks stagnate, and with no snow, it will probably dry up by summer.

[Mr.Bill]

3. We finally got some rain

yesterday and today in northern California, but I'm afraid it is going to be too little too late. It needs to rain like crazy for the next few months here, but the sooner the better so it will be stored as snowpack in the Sierras.