fallow Archives - SJV Water

Is the San Joaquin Valley ready for its post SGMA future? Not…quite…yet

September 27, 2023

• by Lisa McEwen, SJV Water

In less than 20 years’ time, the San Joaquin Valley could become a patchwork of vast swaths of vacant, weed-filled lands interspersed with a few single-crop mega farms that employ only a small fraction of those who currently work in agriculture. Or, it could be thriving with robust solar operations, thousands of water recharge basins,…

SGMA

Will $10 million “make a dent” in Tulare County groundwater use?

July 7, 2022

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

Three San Joaquin Valley water agencies are gearing up to spend $10 million each in grant funding they received from the state Department of Conservation to retire or repurpose farmland. Valley agencies that received grants so far include the Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District, Pixley Irrigation District Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) and Madera County. SJV…

SGMA

Valley could see a “mass migration” of farmworkers as land is fallowed under state groundwater law

May 2, 2022

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

Advocates are sounding the alarm for what they think could be the collapse of the San Joaquin Valley’s agriculture workforce. As drought continues to hammer the state and groundwater pumping restrictions take effect, farmland will need to be retired en masse. While there have been many conversations, including legislation, on how to support farmers during…

Drought

Third year of drought pushes price of water to $2,000 an acre foot

April 26, 2022

• by Lois Henry

A sale of agricultural water within the Panoche Water District on the upper west side of the San Joaquin Valley hit the eye-popping price of $2,000 per acre foot recently. The buyer bought 668 acre feet in a deal that was brokered by Nat DiBuduo with Alliance Ag Services. The buyer, whose name was withheld,…

SGMA

Farmland repurposing bill passes state Senate committee

August 26, 2021

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water reporting intern

A bill that would create a program to help growers find other uses for farmland idled because of groundwater pumping restrictions won approval by a Senate committee, bringing it closer to the Governor’s desk. AB 252, known as the multibenefit land repurposing incentive program, passed the Senate Appropriations Committee August 26. The bill, authored by…

Conservation • Groundwater

New land trust focused on groundwater aims to give farmers options

December 2, 2020

• by Lois Henry

Southern Tulare County farmers inching toward a cliff of groundwater restrictions that could dry up tens of thousands of acres have joined with conservationists to potentially soften their own landing and help improve wildlife habitat at the same time. At least that’s the goal of the newly formed Tule Basin and Water Conservation Trust. “Land…

NEWS

Is the San Joaquin Valley ready for its post SGMA future? Not…quite…yet

Will $10 million “make a dent” in Tulare County groundwater use?

Valley could see a “mass migration” of farmworkers as land is fallowed under state groundwater law

Third year of drought pushes price of water to $2,000 an acre foot

Farmland repurposing bill passes state Senate committee

New land trust focused on groundwater aims to give farmers options

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