The Future of Western Irrigated Agriculture

Food is survival, the sustenance to our health, and our future security. We are rapidly delegating its future to others around the world.

 Click here to read the following essays:

• "Our Most Threatened Species", by South Dakota Agriculture Secretary Larry Gabriel.
• "Exporting American Agriculture at What Expense?" by Arizona Farm Bureau President Kevin Rogers
• "Why I would not be a farmer", by Alan Aruba.

While airport security, seaport protection, illegal immigration and other functions of the Department of Homeland Security garner more attention and news headlines, one of the most fear terrorist tactics is the use of the United States' domestic food supply chain to kill as many Americans as possible. Intelligence sources believe that this type of terrorist plot is being considered by members of several groups including Al-Qaeda. In fact, the DHS has a term to describe such a tactic: Agroterrorism.

Click here to read Jim Kouri's 8/1/06 take on this topic.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Consumer enjoys the cheapest, most abundant food supply in the world, according to new statistics released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Click here for the full Salem (Oregon) News article.

However, public support for agricultural water users appears to be strong, at least in Colorado. A survey released in June 2006 by Colorado State University demonstrates strong support for agriculture by average citizens. For example, agriculture was seen as the most important economic sector in Colorado, beating out tourism & recreation, high tech industries, and mining and petroleum. Nearly all respondents (96.8%) felt that maintaining agricultural water and land in agricultural production was "very" or "moderately" important. And, notably, nearly 3 of 4 respondents indicated that agriculture should be the top priority for water allocation in dry years, as compared to 1 in 5 respondents who said in-stream flow levels should be top priority. Rafting and fishing were seen as low priorities.

Click here for the full CSU survey.

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