By Suzanne Adams-Ockrassa | Pinal Central
CASA GRANDE — The long, hot summer with few monsoon rains continues to remind Pinal County residents, and especially farmers and ranchers, about the preciousness of water in a desert climate.
This year, ranchers are on the edge of having to make a decision on whether to buy feed and haul water for their animals, but most farmers’ crops are still doing OK, said Richie Kennedy, president of the Pinal County Farm Bureau. Kennedy, who grew up in the area, grows crops and raises cattle in both Pinal and Maricopa counties.
The future of both residential and industrial development and agriculture in Pinal County depends on the availability of water, but no one is really sure how much water is available.
