A Brief Overview of A Brief Overview of Agricultural Water Use in Agricultural Water Use in

ArizonaArizona

Arizona-Mexico Commission Arizona-Mexico Commission

Water Committee MeetingWater Committee Meeting

March 10, 2008March 10, 2008

Chris Udall, Executive DirectorChris Udall, Executive Director

The Agri-Business Council of Arizona, The Agri-Business Council of Arizona, Inc.Inc.

Who we are… Who we are… ¿Quiénes ¿Quiénes somos?somos? The The Agri-Business Council of Arizona (ABC)Agri-Business Council of Arizona (ABC)

is a not for profit trade association whose is a not for profit trade association whose membership represents the entire agricultural membership represents the entire agricultural community from ditch-bank to the dinner table community from ditch-bank to the dinner table in Arizona. in Arizona. 

El El Consejo de Agronegocios de Arizona Consejo de Agronegocios de Arizona (ABC)(ABC) es una asociación de comercio sin fines es una asociación de comercio sin fines de lucro cuya membresía representa a la de lucro cuya membresía representa a la comunidad agrícola completa, desde las zanjas comunidad agrícola completa, desde las zanjas hasta la mesa del comedor en Arizona.hasta la mesa del comedor en Arizona.

ABC ABC was established in 1978 to respond to was established in 1978 to respond to

proposed water legislation and to serve as the proposed water legislation and to serve as the

State’s Reclamation representative to the National State’s Reclamation representative to the National

Water Resources Association.  Water Resources Association. 

ABCABC fue establecida en 1978 para responder a la fue establecida en 1978 para responder a la

legislación sobre el agua propuesta, y para servir legislación sobre el agua propuesta, y para servir

como representante del Estado ante la Asociación como representante del Estado ante la Asociación

Nacional de Recursos Acuícolas.Nacional de Recursos Acuícolas.

Who we are…Who we are… ¿Quiénes ¿Quiénes somos?somos?

MembershipMembership is comprised of growers, ranchers, is comprised of growers, ranchers, suppliers of equipment, seed, chemicals and services, suppliers of equipment, seed, chemicals and services, agricultural processors, financiers of agribusiness agricultural processors, financiers of agribusiness enterprises, commodity groups, trade associations, enterprises, commodity groups, trade associations, electrical districts and irrigation districts, and electrical districts and irrigation districts, and universities. universities. 

La La membresíamembresía está compuesta por productores, está compuesta por productores, rancheros, proveedores de equipo y semillas, químicos y rancheros, proveedores de equipo y semillas, químicos y servicios, personas que financían las empresas de servicios, personas que financían las empresas de agronegocios, grupos de interés, asociaciones de agronegocios, grupos de interés, asociaciones de comercio, distritos de energía eléctrica, distritos de riego comercio, distritos de energía eléctrica, distritos de riego y universidades.y universidades.

Who we are…Who we are… ¿Quiénes ¿Quiénes somos?somos?

What we do…What we do… ¿Qué ¿Qué hacemos?hacemos? ABC’sABC’s purposepurpose is to ensure the vitality and is to ensure the vitality and

sustainable profitability of the agriculture industry sustainable profitability of the agriculture industry and to further ensure that it remains a strong and to further ensure that it remains a strong contributor to the overall economic health of contributor to the overall economic health of Arizona. Arizona.

El propósito de ABCEl propósito de ABC es asegurar la viabilidad y es asegurar la viabilidad y rentabilidad sostenible de la industria agrícola y rentabilidad sostenible de la industria agrícola y asegurar que permanezca como un contribuyente asegurar que permanezca como un contribuyente de peso a la salud económica en general de de peso a la salud económica en general de Arizona.Arizona.

Irrigation Districts in Arizona-Irrigation Districts in Arizona-ColoradoColorado

Distritos de Riego en Arizona-Distritos de Riego en Arizona-ColoradoColorado

Yuma Area Water Yuma Area Water DiversionsDiversions

YearYear Diversions (Acre Diversions (Acre Ft)Ft)

19701970 1,263,1221,263,122

19901990 1,208,0331,208,033

20002000 1,150,6291,150,629

20012001 1,150,7821,150,782

20022002 1,207,2011,207,201

Yuma County Water Users’ AssociationYuma County Water Users’ Association

Total Acres Under Production in the Total Acres Under Production in the Yuma Valley with Total of 53,450 Yuma Valley with Total of 53,450

Irrigable AcresIrrigable Acres

YearYear Land Cropped Land Cropped Crop AcresCrop Acres Multiple CropsMultiple Crops

19601960 45,936 45,936 52,83852,838 5,9025,902

19801980 46,010 46,010 61,36961,369 15,35915,359

19941994 45,514 45,514 82,18182,181 36,832 36,832

2002 44,3022002 44,302 83,37983,379 39,07739,077

Yuma County Water Users’ AssociationYuma County Water Users’ Association

Irrigation Districts in Arizona-GilaIrrigation Districts in Arizona-GilaDistritos de Riego en Arizona-GilaDistritos de Riego en Arizona-Gila

Overview of Arizona Overview of Arizona AgAg

National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)2002 Census Data for the state of Arizona2002 Census Data for the state of Arizona

The overall ranking for all agricultural products in Arizona is as follows:The overall ranking for all agricultural products in Arizona is as follows:

RankRank Product nameProduct name Total Sales (per $1,000)Total Sales (per $1,000) % of sales% of sales11 Vegetables, melons, Vegetables, melons, 749,667749,667 31.331.3

potatoes, sweet potatoespotatoes, sweet potatoes22 Cattle and calvesCattle and calves 403,959403,959 16.916.933 Milk and dairy productsMilk and dairy products 352,784352,784 14.714.744 Nursery, greenhouse, Nursery, greenhouse, 284,46284,46 11.911.9

floriculture, and sodfloriculture, and sod55 Other crops and hayOther crops and hay 186,297186,297 7.87.866 Cotton and cottonseedCotton and cottonseed 150,682150,682 6.36.377 Fruits, tree nuts, berriesFruits, tree nuts, berries WithheldWithheld WithheldWithheld

Agricultural Crops Grown in Agricultural Crops Grown in ArizonaArizona

2006 State Overview2006 State Overview

Field and Misc. Crops: 674,000 acres, value of production = $550,977,000.Field and Misc. Crops: 674,000 acres, value of production = $550,977,000.

Vegetables: 144,000 acres, value = $728,770,000. Vegetables: 144,000 acres, value = $728,770,000.

Crop nameCrop name Production (1,000cwt.)Production (1,000cwt.) Number of AcresNumber of AcresBroccoliBroccoli 1,7851,785 11,90011,900

CabbageCabbage 420420 3,1003,100

Head lettuceHead lettuce 15,70815,708 47,60047,600

CauliflowerCauliflower 1,0811,081 4,7004,700

HoneydewHoneydew 1,3501,350 5,0005,000

CantaloupesCantaloupes 6,1296,129 22,70022,700

Leaf lettuceLeaf lettuce 2,3492,349 8,1008,100

Romaine lettuceRomaine lettuce 6,3656,365 19,00019,000

Spring season potatoesSpring season potatoes 1,1701,170 3,9003,900

Spring season onionsSpring season onions 490490 1,0001,000

Spinach Spinach 900900 6,0006,000

WatermelonWatermelon 3,2763,276 7,8007,800

Consumption

Industrial6%

(0.47 maf)

Municipal20%

(1.58 maf)

Agriculture74%

(5.82 maf)

Sources: ADWR, UofA, USGS

Breakdown of Water Breakdown of Water Supplies for Supplies for AgricultureAgriculture

0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

Acre Feet

Surface Water Groundwater ReclaimedWater

Water Type

Water Sources for Water Sources for AgricultureAgriculture

Colorado River WaterColorado River Water– CAPCAP– On-RiverOn-River

Surface Water other than Surface Water other than Colorado River WaterColorado River Water

GroundwaterGroundwater Effluent or Reclaimed WaterEffluent or Reclaimed Water

http://www.azwater.gov/dwr/Content/Publications/files/supplydemand.pdfhttp://www.azwater.gov/dwr/Content/Publications/files/supplydemand.pdf

Agricultural CAP Water Use

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Year

Acre-Feet

Ag Pool Deliveries GSF Deliveries

Colorado River Water Colorado River Water UsesUses

Agricultural CAP useAgricultural CAP use– Of the 1.6 million acre feet coming off Of the 1.6 million acre feet coming off

of the Colorado River, approximately of the Colorado River, approximately 700,000 acre feet was used for ag in 700,000 acre feet was used for ag in 2006 (roughly 44%)2006 (roughly 44%)

On-river useOn-river use– Most of the 1.2 million acre feet of on- Most of the 1.2 million acre feet of on-

river use is for agricultureriver use is for agriculture

Issues facing Issues facing AgricultureAgriculture

Accessing long-term renewable Accessing long-term renewable water supplies in Central Arizonawater supplies in Central Arizona

Overdraft of aquifers Overdraft of aquifers UrbanizationUrbanization Transfers of agricultural water Transfers of agricultural water

supplies to municipalitiessupplies to municipalities Funding infrastructure operations Funding infrastructure operations

and maintenanceand maintenance Impacts of long term droughtImpacts of long term drought

Contact InformationContact Information

Chris UdallChris Udall1819 E. Southern Ave.1819 E. Southern Ave.Mesa, Arizona 85204Mesa, Arizona 85204Phone: 480-558-5301Phone: 480-558-5301Fax: 480-558-4170Fax: 480-558-4170info@agribusinessarizona.orginfo@agribusinessarizona.orgwww.agribusinessarizona.orgwww.agribusinessarizona.org

Thank You!Thank You! Muchas Muchas Gracias!Gracias!