Water

Lack of water continues to slash California tomato acreage

David Richter has a good tomato crop going so far – but like many other farmers, not as much as in preceding years. Richter, who farms near Knights Landing in Sutter County, California, cut his... more »

California bill would allow state to buy water rights from farmers

A California state senator is proposing to use $1.5 billion in taxpayer funds to buy water rights from farmers. By doing so, according to Sen. Bob Wieckowski, D-Fremont, the state could avoid some of the... more »

Urban water use is latest target for drought cutbacks

With farmers across California already facing severe cuts in irrigation supplies, state officials are now imposing additional aggressive conservation measures for urban consumers and local water agencies across the state. Emergency regulations, adopted May 24... more »

California growers face new water cuts

With 60% of the state now in extreme drought conditions, state officials are warning water-right holders that they should expect more curtailments during peak irrigation season in June and July. In a statement last week,... more »

Board renews water curtailments for Russian River in California

Farmers with water rights along the Russian River in Mendocino and Sonoma counties may be subject to further curtailments of water diversions after the California State Water Resources Control Board readopted emergency actions from last... more »

Local solutions central to CAFB Water Forum

Facing a third year of drought, leadership from county Farm Bureaus, spanning all regions of California, gathered in Sacramento last week to engage with state water officials about all things water. A changing climate, shrinking... more »

Water measurement, reporting courses offered by UCCE

California water-rights holders are required by state law to measure and report the water they divert from surface streams. For people who wish to take the water measurements themselves, the University of California Cooperative Extension... more »

California Farm Bureau president urges action to achieve water promises

As California farmers and ranchers face another year of drought and cutbacks in water deliveries, a page out of history served as a reminder that the state's water problems remain urgent – and that their... more »

Resource Innovation Institute welcomes new producer-partners

The Resource Innovation Institute (RII) welcomes its latest round of producer-partners planning to benchmark their energy- and water-efficiency performance metrics as part of a USDA-funded project aimed at encouraging innovation and resource efficiency in the... more »

2022 water year looks dismal as snowpack melts

The optimism spurred by heavy snowstorms in December has melted away, and the 2022 water year is now looking bleak. After facing the driest recorded January and February in state history, California Department of Water... more »