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Agricultural Water:
Protecting the Future of Our Nation

Advocacy, research, education, policy and planning will be key to address water resource issues.

by Kindra Gordon for Angus Journal

TAMPA, Fla. (Feb. 6, 2013) — “Water is truly the issue of the coming decade,” said Paul Genho during his remarks to Cattlemen’s College^® participants Feb. 6 in Tampa, Fla.

 

Genho, who is former general manager of Deseret and King Ranches, is now president of Farmland Reserves Inc. He noted that the drought throughout the country in 2012 really exacerbated the United State’s lack of water supply, lack of resource management and lack of viable policy related to water.

 

Genho pointed out the growing U.S. and world population — and the resulting increased demand for food. He noted that this also means an increased demand for water.

 

“Our nation needs agriculture, and agriculture needs water,” Genho said.

 

During his presentation, Genho shared findings from an agricultural white paper published in October 2012 by the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management in an effort to highlight the need for more leadership on water supply issues and priorities.

 

As examples of some of the issues ahead related to water, Genho pointed out that many critical water facilities are more than 50 years old with no redundancy or reserve capacity. Federal policy does not provide funds to maintain or replace federal facilities, and local economies don’t have the funds.

 

The white paper identifies three priority issues for the future — water supply, water resource stewardship, and long-term water policy. Recommended steps on addressing these issues include:

• effectively using existing water resources;
• responsibly increasing water supplies;
• encouraging continued investment in water infrastructure;
• protecting ownership of water rights; and
• incentivizing innovation and private investment in water resource management.

Going forward, advocacy, research, education, policy and planning will be key in addressing water resource issues, Genho emphasized. “I would like to suggest to you the water crisis is equivalent to the energy crisis but under the radar screen because gas prices have gone up, but food prices have not.”

 

With only 2% of the population involved in production agriculture, Genho said, “Ag cannot do this alone. We need other stakeholders to help us share this message with legislative leaders.”

 

He encouraged those in attendance to visit with their local and state agricultural organizations, as well as their county commissioners, state representatives and national legislators.

 

Genho also cited city planners and environmental groups as possible partners in addressing the water issue, saying, “We need an army, not a single soldier.”

 

He added, “We’ve got to repeat the message over and over and over again until it’s heard.”

 

View the full Agricultural Water white paper at http://krirm.tamuk.edu/.