The Water Crisis and Agriculture Industry: How Farmers Are Responding
Annual global temperatures continue to climb. And as a result, reserves of freshwater around the world are steadily diminishing. Today, many nations are facing “extremely high baseline water stress.” This means that they’re in the grips of a water crisis.
Many experts have begun to voice concerns. They believe that a global water crisis could be just around the corner. The pressures of the escalating water crisis and lack of water supply have, in turn, created concern among US farmers.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to secure your farm’s water supply. Agricultural farm loans can help you gain access to funds to implement water-saving practices on your farm. In this article, we’ll break down how farmers are adapting, and how an agricultural farm loan can help you make changes too.
Just How Serious Is the Current Water Situation in the United States?
For many Americans, it’s easy to look outside and conclude that it’s business as usual for our water supply. (That’s assuming, of course, you don’t live in New Mexico or California. In these places, severe drought has become an annual event.)
For many farmers, on the other hand, the harsh new realities of a dwindling water supply are all-too-apparent. The agricultural industry depends on irrigation. Irrigation, in turn, depends on our natural and artificially constructed reserves of freshwater. Both of those, as it turns out, are at risk.
For example, Lake Powell provides water for nearly 40 million people. Unfortunately, water levels have decreased by almost 50% in recent years. This is just one example of the severe water depletion that has started to afflict large portions of the US. It’s only a matter of time before farms everywhere start to suffer from the lack of available fresh water.
How Are U.S. Farmers Coping with Water Scarcity?
The good news is, solutions are in the making. As water reserves continue to disappear, new methodologies are being developed to help farmers adapt. Technologies are being created to reduce the agricultural industry’s dependence on traditional irrigation methods.
Certain water-friendly agricultural practices are becoming more common. These include:
- Desalination. Humans have been desalinating water for thousands of years. But it wasn’t until the late-20th century that it became an industrial-scale practice. Simply put, desalination is a mechanical process by which the mineral content is removed from saltwater. Afterwards, desalinated water can be used to grow crops.
- Cover crops. These plants protect soil fertility and protect against weeds. Cover crops have been shown to reduce water pollution and waste.
Implement Water-Friendly Practices on Your Farm Today!
For many farmers, the only roadblock to implementing water-friendly technology is the cost of getting started. Thankfully, an agricultural farm loan can help. Start looking for a loan that will work for you. Contact our office today!