California drought may have big consequences for the state's farmers — and American consumers

Water shortages brought on by the drought presage big changes for California farmers and American consumers nationwide. "By 2040, the San Joaquin Valley is projected to lose at least 535,000 acres of agricultural production. That’s more than a tenth of the area farmed," Somini Sengupta reports for The New York Times. "And if the drought perseveres and no new water can be found, nearly double that amount of land is projected to go idle, with potentially dire consequences for the nation’s food supply. California’s $50 billion agricultural sector supplies two-thirds of the country’s fruits and nuts and more than a third of America’s vegetables — the tomatoes, pistachios, grapes and strawberries that line grocery store shelves from coast to coast ... Glimpses of that future are evident now. Vast stretches of land are fallow because there’s no water. New calculations are being made about what crops to grow, how much, where. Millions of dollars are being spent on replenishing the aquifer that has been depleted for so long."

In Central Valley, the state's most profitable agricultural area, years of over-reliance on aquifers is compounding water shortages. "Across the state, reservoir levels are dropping and electric grids are at risk if hydroelectric dams don’t get enough water to produce power," Sengupta reports. "Climate change is supercharging the scarcity. Rising temperatures dry out the soil, which in turn can worsen heat waves. This week, temperatures in parts of California and the Pacific Northwest have been shattering records."

Agri-Pulse's Food & Ag Policy Summit West on July 12 will focus on California agriculture's drought woes. The seminar, which will take place in Sacramento and online, will feature lawmakers and industry experts. Click here for more information.