California’s push to limit groundwater pumping could leave small farmers in the dust.
California’s tightening regulations limiting groundwater pumping are proving difficult and costly for many small-scale farmers. Researchers say small growers need help to adapt.
One farming family in Merced County is leaving half their land dry, fearing new pumping fees could cost them thousands of dollars.
Peter Gleick, water scientist and book author comments:
It’s well understood that far too many acres of land are irrigated in California with unsustainable groundwater and perhaps 700,000 acres will have to be fallowed. The real question is whose land is going to have to come out of production: large agribusinesses or the small family farmers.
