NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD-TV) — In Arizona, where water scarcity shapes every planting decision, farmers are redefining what sustainability looks like in one of the driest regions on earth. An Arizona Farm Bureau commentary by Julie Murphree argues that growing food in the desert is not wasteful — it’s a strategic investment in food security, technology, and resilience.
Murphree notes that while agriculture once used up to 90 percent of Arizona’s water, today that figure has dropped to roughly 72 percent, driven by efficiency gains and widespread adoption of precision irrigation.
Many producers have cut water use by 20 to 50 percent through upgraded systems, lined ditches, surge irrigation, soil moisture sensors, and real-time data that enable water to be applied with pinpoint accuracy. Livestock and dairy operations increasingly reuse water for crops such as alfalfa, while conservation tillage helps trap moisture in the soil.
Arizona agriculture contributes about $31 billion annually to the economy, growing everything from leafy greens to forage for dairy and beef operations. Murphree argues that restricting or eliminating farming in arid states would weaken domestic food security at a time when global instability and supply-chain risks make local production critical.
“Agriculture isn’t the problem,” she writes. “It’s part of the solution.”
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