Parched in the West but Shipping Water to China, Bale by Bale

[ellenrr]

In 2012, the drought-stricken Western United States will ship more than 50 billion gallons of water to China. This water will leave the country embedded in alfalfa—most of it grown in California—and is destined to feed Chinese cows. The strange situation illustrates what is wrong about how we think, or rather don't think, about water policy in the U.S.

In connection with government-led initiatives to improve the Chinese people's diet, China has massively expanded its dairy industry. Even though a large segment of the population is lactose intolerant, Chinese consumers are responding with enthusiasm. Milk consumption has tripled in 10 years and is expected to increase another 50% by 2015. This means millions more cows on the mainland, and millions more tons of cattle feed.

But despite China's vast landmass, pasturage is relatively scarce—and so the Chinese are buying alfalfa, particularly from the U.S. The trade is booming. Alfalfa exports to China from America ballooned to 177,423 metric tons in 2011 from 2,321 metric tons in 2007, and they are on pace to exceed 380,000 metric tons in 2012.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10000872396390444517304577653432417208116


---this is nuts!

[safeinOhio]

1. Dairies Moving Out of Inland Empire

http://articles.latimes.com/2006/jan/09/business/fi-dairy9
Once home to one of the nation's largest concentrations of dairy farms, the Inland Empire's $500-million dairy industry is rapidly evaporating as dozens of farmers sell out to real estate developers.
In the last two years, more than 160 dairies -- nearly 80% of those operating just a year ago -- have either been sold or are in escrow, according to the Milk Producers Council, a trade association based in Chino.
The industry could be virtually gone within five years. The pace of sales has accelerated as land values in the region have soared.

Fewer cows in Cali, less need for forage. The same thing happened in Holland. High land prices, dairy farmers sold out, took the money and moved here to start dairy farms.

[4Q2u2]

2. All those great trade agreements

Our people get to subsidize Big Agra and lower food prices around the world at the cost of Our Needier (and regular) Families sacrificing decent and healthy foods. Those exports kept here would lower prices for Americans, there is no way that food would go to waste. Your point about the water is discouraging. The People Natural resources used to boost Corporations bottom line. Those exports should be tariffed out of existence.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/08/14/business/russia-eu-food-embargo/

http://www.motherjones.com/media/2014/03/china-factory-farm-america-pork

[theHandpuppet]

3. I've know about this for a while and simply cannot understand...

... how this is allowed to continue. It's an OUTRAGE.