Initial findings from an Arizona State University and University of Arizona Cooperative Extension survey of central Arizona farmers suggest problems in water availability for agriculture will continue as a front-and-center issue.
Farm Press reports about half of the grower respondents believe future water availability will differ from past experiences and future water problems will emerge sooner rather than later.
More than 50 central Arizona growers, most from the Phoenix and Pinal active water management areas, expressed their water concerns in the survey, and more than half of the survey respondents reported recent problems with water scarcity, primarily due to high water demand, drought, and infrastructure constraints.
Many growers said current water strategies and information sources are inadequate to deal with future water challenges. The respondents expressed high uncertainty about their ability to make long-term farming plans due to limited water supplies.
Despite the water concerns, producers’ desire to remain in agriculture remains high.
The respondents expressed a commitment to help other producers in the region, and believe their future success depends on each other.
