AFBF: Drought Highlights The Importance Of Improving Water Infrastructure

The ongoing drought here in the west highlights the need for water infrastructure improvements to endure future dry spells, that according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. AFBF Congressional Relations Director Shelby Hagenauer said drought is a problem for both agriculture and consumers.

“For ranchers, annual grass growth is important for livestock forage, and that’s low. Farmers will have to adjust planting decisions. Farms with permanent crops like citrus or tree nuts may water differently, they may be more focused on keeping the trees alive, instead of very productive. What happens in western agriculture matters to the rest of the country. More than 80% of our domestic fruits, nuts and vegetables are grown west of the Continental Divide, and that’s important to all Americans.”

With infrastructure on the minds of lawmakers, she adds any plans should include water infrastructure.

“Life in the west as we know it relies on infrastructure for water. Much of the federal water infrastructure in the west is 50 to 100 years old," Hagenauer added. "Congress and the administration are focused on infrastructure right now. Any conversation around it needs to include modernizing and increasing the water supply infrastructure that is really vital to western farms, families and communities. And our western state Farm Bureaus are actively working with Congress to highlight these needs.”

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekmedia.com