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Nation’s Largest Reservoirs Are Drying Up, Threatening Life in the Southwest (www.nytimes.com)
submitted 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago) by silence7@slrpnk.net to c/climate@slrpnk.net
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Agriculture is the biggest user of the Colorado River, with alfalfa and other sources of livestock feed accounting for nearly half of the water consumed. Municipal water systems use about a quarter.

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[–] SlippiHUD@slrpnk.net 9 points 7 hours ago (4 children)

I don't get why they're growing alfalfa in the regions least capable of sustaining its water needs.

[–] chunes@lemmy.world 3 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

Alfalfa needs to be dried before you bale it; otherwise (ironically) it spontaneously combusts. It's cheapest to dry it out on the ground for a while between cutting and baling. If it rains during that time the crop is ruined.

It's too risky to rely on weather cooperation in a wetter region. Much safer to rely on irrigation in a desert.

[–] silence7@slrpnk.net 7 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

The alfalfa growers hold snior water rights, so they can do whatever they feel like while everybody else suffers

[–] Kind_to_Everyone@slrpnk.net 2 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

"They" is also the Saudi government which uses the water to grow alfalfa necessary to raise dairy cattle.

[–] ToastedRavioli@midwest.social 1 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

I thought the Saudis grew Alfalfa in the US to send back to SA for fancy horses IIRC. Not even for cattle that will be eaten

[–] The_v@lemmy.world 1 points 43 minutes ago

600,000 dairy cows...

https://dairynews.today/milkypedia/country/sa/

They built up the herd size by growing alfalfa in the desert by pumping water from ancient aquifers. They have used up a significant portion and now import over 80% of their feed. They need to import 100% of the feed to meet their needs as their water dries up.

They bought ground in Arizona because it is grown in conditions like what they have experience with. They have been using the same alfalfa varieties.

[–] pomegranatefern@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 hours ago

I feel like I link this video at any opportunity, but Climate Town does have a really good explainer video on the entire mess with the Colorado River basin here, including the incentives behind growing alfalfa. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XusyNT_k-1c

[–] modem_down@thebrainbin.org 6 points 6 hours ago

Because "they" (the alfalfa growers & livestock corps) care about short-term financial profit, not long-term environmental sustainability.