Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has announced the USDA will spend $400 million to help conserve water in the United States.
The money will be spent across 18 irrigation districts in 12 different states to help farmers maintain commodity production while also implementing water saving practices. Producers who participate will receive payments for their voluntary restriction of water use, while still continuing to farm. Secretary Vilsack says the program is expected to conserve up to 50,000 acre-feet in water to use across 250,000 acres of irrigated land.
American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall released a statement saying,
“Prolonged drought conditions have threatened the sustainability of farms and ranches, and infrastructure improvements and crop productivity investments are needed to help farmers make it through the tough times. We look forward to learning more about the investment, and we urge USDA to provide flexibility as they deploy these resources.”
