New realities for irrigated agriculture

he practice of irrigation has been indisT pensable in bringing California agriculture to the preeminent status that it enjoys today. Hydrologic variability, a two-season climate and sparse precipitation in arable areas all conspire against profitable and sustainable rain-fed agriculture in California. Thus, the production of high-valued Jr . Associate Vice president. fruit, nut and vegetable crops would simply not be possible without irrigation. Agricultural and Despite its critical importance to CaliNatural Remrces fornia, there are signs that all is not well with irrigated agriculture. Increasingly, water traditionally allocated to agriculture is viewed as a potential supply for urban and environmental uses. It is also apparent that public policies governing water development are becoming less favorable to irrigated agriculture. These challenges likely mean that agriculture of the future will be different in some important respects from what it is today. The intensifying competition for scarce water supplies almost certainly means that some agricultural water will be reallocated to urban and environmental uses and there will be somewhat less water available for agriculture. Other challenges will likely come from policies that will increasingly require those engaged in irrigated agriculture to operate in more environmentally friendly ways and to demonstrate the efficient use of public resources such as water, air and, in some cases, land.