More Profligate Water Waste-From A Farmer (Santa Ana, Visalia: sale, 2015, homes)

[Des-Lab]

Of course the local press and farmers cheerleaders have no comment on this.

More proof that the handing of the drought here in CA is a crock. While farming is to be encouraged and supported, a double standard is not. Let's say for sake of argument that okay, periodic flooding is needed to flush the soil of toxins, adjust the pH levels, etc, explain this egregious level of runoff. This time, I made sure to take a date and time stamp of the pictures.The water police passed by here not 24 hours ago. This is acceptable but three extra minutes of watering plants that we've paid hundreds or thousands of dollars for can land us in court? That's BS.

To add insult to injury, if this field is getting prepped for the same thing as the last several years, it will be to grow corn. Not the edible 'on the cob' variety, but for use as feedstock and ethanol.








This conduit which is the source of the runoff suggests that this runoff is deliberate.







Here in CA, if a few rogue drops of water happen to hit the sidewalk, you can be slapped with fines as high as $1000.

But this apparently is acceptable. Not only is it just sitting there watering the weeds, but now creates a breeding ground for mosquitoes too.

[Des-Lab]

So can someone again please remind me about how "no farmer dares waste any water?"

[AmorphicDN]

Originally Posted by Des-Lab

So can someone again please remind me about how "no farmer dares waste any water?"

Your passion for the topic is apparent, and intriguing. Did someone post elsewhere that "no farmer dares waste any water?"

As to the inequitable use and penalizing issue between farms and the public, I'm sure everyone is aware of the issues by now. At the root, however, is the legal water rights of farmers. WIthout defending them morally, they have legal standing. However this might enrage you, do you have a suggestion how to circumvent? Or are you just feeling the need to vent yourself? Which is understandable to a degree and everyone is entitled. On the other hand, without a proposition, venting gets kinda old after not too long.

[ferretkona]

Mean while the reservoirs we used to swim in during the summer can now be walked thru without getting your shorts wet. I love driving thru the valley seeing trailers parked next to the roads stating the drought is created by congress.
All we have to do up here in the mountains is look up in the sky and see it does not rain anymore.

[eccotecc]

Originally Posted by ferretkona

Mean while the reservoirs we used to swim in during the summer can now be walked thru without getting your shorts wet. I love driving thru the valley seeing trailers parked next to the roads stating the drought is created by congress.
All we have to do up here in the mountains is look up in the sky and see it does not rain anymore.

The trees are dying and become fuel for ragging forest fires. I wish the forests were managed properly but we all know what happens when something is the responsibility of government. Currently, the Willow Fire is the third fire in the Bass Lake area since June.

[BeauCharles]

Its much harder to irrigate annual (row) crops via drip irrigation vs. orchards and vineyards. That's why you still see so much flood irrigation of row crops. All of that silage corn is going straight to the dairies in your county so you might as well have taken your pics of one of the big corporate mega dairies in Tulare County vs. that field. Or a shot of the carton of milk in your fridge.

[Des-Lab]

Just because it's "harder", doesn't mean that they shouldn't still make an earnest effort. The farmers up here have been routinely, brazenly, and pompously thumbing their noses at everyone else. Basically saying "you have to take it in the shorts but we can continue with business as usual and laugh all the way to the bank".

-All of course while we see from time to time the occasional story come out on Yahoo or CNN chronicling the supposed struggles of the "poor Central Valley farmers". Again, I invite anyone who is interested to take a ride to the Tulare/Visalia/Porterville/Farmersville/Exeter areas. I'll take you down some of the back roads. And point to homes most likely owned by these very same farmers that make Hollywood Hills mansions look like a Santa Ana back shack.

[Des-Lab]

So yeah. I guess you could say I am really more ranting and venting than anything. Since a lot of this is about image and perception, where 'water shaming' has now been officially sanctioned and encouraged, I'm just taking advantage of it and giving another one of these 'poor' farmers some free publicity.

[oldtrader]

What you are seeing, is flood irrigation of row crops. Drip irrigation does not work for that type of crops. The alternative would be overhead sprinklers, and they can use a lot more water than flood irrigation.

The soil is very sandy, and some water will always work it's way to low spots around the field as you show in your pictures. This is the norm, not unusual.

California is by far the #1 biggest milk producer in the country. If they are going to be able to feed the animals at dairy farms, they have to have feed available to feed to them. It takes water to grow the feed to feed those cows. It is not being wasted, but a necessary part of farming.

Second thing to consider. You say city dwellers are not allowed to use much water, and you regret that the farmers are. Fact: Farmers are cutting way back on their operations, due to being limited to the amount of water they use. Fact: The farmers were the ones that developed the water systems, and by law they mostly have water rights senior to the cities water rights.

If one group farmers or cities have to do without water, due to water rights in order of establishing them, the farmers come first. Just because so many people have moved to the California cities, does not mean they should get all the water, and to heck with the farmers. Without farming in California your food bill would go through the roof, and there would be food supply problems as the biggest producers of certain crops in the nation are right there in California.

It is easier for cities with newer and less powerful water rights to cut back on water than it is for farmers. Many farmers with newer water rights like the cities have, have changed the crops they grow to use less water. However the need for corn to feed dairy cows, is still needed and will be needed in the future. When the federal government required that ethanol additives to gasoline had to be done, they greatly reduced the amount of corn around the nation that could be used for animal feed or for human consumption and the price of food jumped. I saw today sale price for corn at the local market, is 80 cents an ear. A far cry from the penny per year we were paying for ears of corn in the 50s when it was 1 cent per ear, in a 100 ear sack. My wife would buy a sack and freeze and can it as did her friends (all living in the city).

City dwellers in California are getting angry when they see farmers using water required to grow food, and to feed animals, when they are told to cut back on water. The farmers are cutting back as much as possible, but are still going to use a lot of water.

Farmers largely own the old water rights, and most cities have newer water rights. Old has higher water rights, over the cites with newer water rights. To make sufficient water in the cities, city people should do away with lawns and many water thirsty plants. Just as it is done in Tuscon Arizona. Why should city people with junior water rights have lawns and many plants, if it forces farmers to go out of business due to the lack of water? Why should city people have lawns and lots of plants, forcing dairy farmers to cut way back on their herds as they cannot get the feed to feed the animals as the cities are getting water and the farmer is being cut off so the dairy cannot buy food for their animals at a price that makes selling milk possible? Why should the cities not cut back on residents that have flooded into them, and force people to leave so there will be enough water to supply the residents?

The OP is only thinking on how to keep his lawn and plants looking good, and would take the water away from the farmers to make it possible.

[sourdough]

We are finally getting drought concerned, thats a good thing….
Drought now Californians' top concern, poll finds - LA Times