The US Bureau of Reclamation released its first outlook of the year and finds insufficient stock is available in California to release irrigation water for farmers. This is the first time in the 54 year history of the State Water Project. “If it’s not there, it’s just not there,” notes a Water Authority director adding that it’s going to be tough to find enough water, but farmers are hit hardest as “they’re all on pins and needles trying to figure out how they’re going to get through this.” Fields will go unplanted (supply lower mean food prices higher), or farmers will pay top dollar for water that’s on the market (and those costs can only be passed on via higher food prices).
Via AP,
Federal officials announced Friday that many California farmers caught in the state’s drought can expect to receive no irrigation water this year from a vast system of rivers, canals and reservoirs interlacing the state.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation released its first outlook of the year, saying that the agency will continue to monitor rain and snow fall, but the grim levels so far prove that the state is in the throes of one of its driest periods in recorded history.
Unless the year turns wet, many farmers can expect to receive no water from the federally run Central Valley Project.
… the state’s snowpack is at 29 percent of average for this time of year.
…
California officials who manage the State Water Project, the state’s other major water system, have already said they won’t be releasing any water for farmers, marking a first in its 54-year history.
…
“They’re all on pins and needles trying to figure out how they’re going to get through this,” Holman said, adding that Westland’s 700 farmers will choose to leave fields unplanted, draw water from wells or pay top dollar for water that’s on the market.
Farmers are hit hardest, but they’re not alone. Contractors that provide cities with water can expect to receive half of their usual amount, the Bureau said, and wildlife refuges that need water flows in rivers to protect endangered fish will receive 40 percent of their contracted supply.
Contractors that provide farmers with water and hold historic agreements giving them senior rights will receive 40 percent of their normal supplies. Some contracts date back over a century and guarantee that farmers will receive at least 75 percent of their water.
One of those is the San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors Water Authority in Los Banos that provides irrigation for 240,000 acres of farmland.
The Water Authority’s executive director Steve Chedester said farmers he serves understand that the reality of California’s drought means it’s going to be tough to find enough water for them. “They’re taking a very practical approach,” he said. “If it’s not there, it’s just not there.”
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-02-21/feds-withhold-water-california-farmers-first-time-54-years
“Farmers are hit hardest, but they’re not alone.”
No, they are certainly NOT alone, because they feed the rest of us.
And of course, none of this makes any sense until you understand that starving you to death is part of the plan.
I don’t see how this is any of the fed’s business; belongs to the state of Calif.
The fed’s job is to go after the criminals in DC, from the highest to
the lowest. The regular Joe won’t be able to afford food by proxy but
the useless eaters will.
The problem is also orchards that don’t get watered, and will die. Its not a just a question of what crops don’t get planted this year, but what won’t be harvested in the next 10-15 years. Cutting farmers off from water projects that we paid for is HIGH TREASON. Say what you like of California and Californians we grow one hell of a lot of food for this country. Farmers are also a primary industry. You engineer a drought with weather control technology, induce an economic disintegration, famine, you have the perfect recipe for a disaster and mass die off of the population. Make no mistake. ALL of us are under attack.
Farmers need to start opening the cannal gates and guard them for when the FED THUGS show up, then do what has to be done. Could be this is the spark. Who knows?
Jews use food as a weapon they always have.
They want us to have to come begging to them
for scraps.
Talked to a woman today at the health food store and she had just moved
here from Calif and she said these droughts have always been and
this drought is no different. She said this drought is no worse than
others in the past. A racket.
This is symbolic- california as well as texas are republics. they are the last 2 republics left of the 50 continental states. what better way to kill of the republic
and the constitution then to perpetuate a drought in both states as haarp has been doing now for over 5 years. best to do is collect rain water/create a
water cistern for your house and plant a garden.
then go for guns when the federales come knocking.,
This will not end well…….