Saudi Alfalfa Farm Buy In California Raises Water Rights Concerns In Drought

[Lodestar]

Saudi Alfalfa Farm Buy In California Raises Water Rights Concerns In Drought


SAN DIEGO (AP) – Saudi Arabia’s largest dairy company will soon be unable to farm alfalfa in its own parched country to feed its 170,000 cows. So it’s turning to an unlikely place to grow the water-chugging crop – the drought-stricken American Southwest.

Almarai Co. bought land in January that roughly doubled its holdings in California’s Palo Verde Valley, an area that enjoys first dibs on water from the Colorado River. The company also acquired a large tract near Vicksburg, Arizona, becoming a powerful economic force in a region that has fewer well-pumping restrictions than other parts of the state.

The purchases totaling about 14,000 acres enable the Saudis to take advantage of farm-friendly U.S. water laws. The acquisitions have also rekindled debate over whether a patchwork of regulations and court rulings in the West favors farmers too heavily, especially those who grow thirsty, low-profit crops such as alfalfa at a time when cities are urging people to take shorter
showers, skip car washes and tear out grass lawns.

“It flies in the face of economic reason,” said John Szczepanski, director of the U.S. Forage Export Council. “You’ve taken on all of the risk a farmer has. The only way you can justify that is that they’re really not trying to make a profit. They’re trying to secure the food supply.”

For decades, Saudi Arabia attempted to grow its own water-intensive crops for food rather than rely on farms abroad. But it reversed that policy about eight years ago to protect scarce supplies.

cont'd
http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2016/03/28/saudi-alfalfa-farm-buy-in-california-raises-water-rights-concerns-in-drought/

[Wellstone ruled]

1. If people only knew what the real story about what is happening

here in the Desert South West. Tens of Thousands of Acres are being use for Alfalfa production. Much of this acreage was used to grow vegetables and Citrus groves. When you can sell all of your Hay Crop,which BTW,you are going to harvest at least five cuttings per year,and Alfalfa is water intensive more so than Vegies or Citrus with one Harvest,and the end Dairy User pays the freight and handling cost,to hell with everyone and their water.

BTW,this same story happened a year or so ago in Eastern Utah near Green River,Chinese firm bought out a Farming operation with several thousands of acres and rights to BLM leased land. In both cases,the most important thing is the water rights.

[Duppers]

3. Wonder what actions our government will be taking

over these issues in...say...20 years or sooner?

World tensions will just increase as the water and food battles grow more desperate and ... heated.

[Wellstone ruled]

5. Nothing,watch and see.

This shows one the true power of Corporate America. Do you think for one moment Companies like John Deere,Caterpillar,Ford-New Holland,Monsanto,Cargill and the manufacturer of Irrigation equipment are going to bitch,not. These puppies are decided at the Department of Agriculture in D.C.,can you say Villsack and Company. Familiar with a couple of players in the Green River deal,and that was a Congressman,a Senator,a Governor and Villsack and a Realtor. Here in the Southwest it is all about Water Rights and with the California deal,this China outfit purchased what is called first rights and anyone down stream is so screwed because they are now what is called secondary or junior rights.

[Duppers]

6. When the masses cannot afford food?

"Citizens riot in the streets of Rome because they are starving."
- that Shakes guy

My hopes are that a Bernie Sanders presidency can begin stop these policies.

Desperate times will call for desperate measures down the road. Corporate oligarchy be damned. And GCC will issue in desperation the likes of have never been seen...and sooner than most realize.

We shall see, no?

[Wellstone ruled]

7. Another event that will never see the light of day.

Corporate Media covering Corporations. You think?

[Duppers]

8. So, it's going to be business per usual forever...

until we're all dead. Okay.

The French and Russian revolutions never happened. Okay.


And I thought I was nihilistic.

Edited to add: you do know that most of the populations will be starving this century.

[Wellstone ruled]

9. Got faith in the younger kids.

Remind me of our generation circa 1959. They seem to have the same itch. Don't think I will every see it,but can hope.

[saturnsring]

2. the prelude to the water wars

[Duppers]

4. Zactly! nt