Pity the California almond growers who, collectively, have become the whipping boys for the backlash against drought-induced water restrictions in that formerly lush state.
According to some calculations, it takes 1.1 gallons of water (4.6 litres) to produce a single almond. When California state legislators invoked water restrictions that excluded agricultural use, social media was flooded with simplistic rants about almonds in particular and agricultural water use in general.
We don’t grow almonds in Canada, but lest we dismiss these rants, consider that the Los Angeles Times suggests it takes 850 US gallons (3.217 litres) to produce eight ounces of beef, 608 gallons (2.301 litres) for eight ounces of chickpeas, 570 gallons (2,157 litres) for eight ounces of lentils, 132 gallons for eight ounces of chicken (500 litres) and 94 gallons (356 litres) for eight ounces of eggs.
Read Also
Proactive approach best bet with looming catastrophes
The Pan-Canadian Action Plan on African swine fever has been developed to avoid the worst case scenario — a total loss ofmarket access.
Those averages were derived “from weighted totals (in cubic metres per tonne) of multiple farming methods, including grazing and industrial production,” said the Times about the astonishing numbers, though that still leaves a lot of questions.
However, as a producer of beef, chickpeas, lentils, chicken, eggs and a wealth of other foods, Canada could face a similar storm about its water use. Indeed, some already question its use of water for such things as livestock feed.
California produces nearly half of all U.S. fruits, vegetables and nuts. It is a tremendous food supplier and economic driver. Irrigation has made that possible, but in the grimy face of the state’s current drought, agricultural water use is getting a black eye.
The same thing could happen on the Canadian Prairies if severe drought occurs. And it inevitably will, given the region’s history. No one has become complacent about water supplies during these past few years of plentiful moisture but it is important to remind people of irrigation’s importance.
Alberta has about 65 percent of the total irrigated area in Canada. Less than six percent of cultivated land in the province is irrigated but from that six percent comes almost 20 percent of the province’s primary agricultural production.
Irrigation has allowed that province to diversify its range of crops, develop the food processing industry, create jobs and stabilize the regional economy. Its direct and indirect impact is estimated at $5 billion. Similar benefits could accrue to other regions, notably Saskatchewan’s Lake Diefenbaker region, if and when it is developed to greater potential.
On a global scale, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimates production for irrigated farmland is 2.3 times that of rain-fed farmland. It is a telling statistic in light of the world’s growing population.
The key to irrigation’s sustainability and development in Canada is a responsible approach and careful use of a limited resource.
Strides have been made on that front since the nascent days of irrigation via field flooding. Low-pressure systems, improved nozzles and variable rate technology are designed to supply only the amount of water necessary for plant development. Replacement of ditches with pipelines limits evaporation and seepage losses. Genetics are leading the way to varieties that require less water.
Emphasis on responsible use must continue, given the pressures of producing food for a growing population and the encroachment of that population on prime farmland.
Whether they are growing almonds or lentils or cattle, farmers will need every tool available to boost yields, and irrigation is one of those tools.
