Tom Vilsack Secretary of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) | Official Website
On August 1, 2024, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest $400 million with at least 18 irrigation districts to help farmers continue commodity production while conserving water across the Western United States. This funding aims to support irrigation districts and producers in using innovative water-saving technologies and farming practices amid ongoing drought conditions.
This initiative is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s broader efforts to enhance water conservation, improve infrastructure efficiency, and bolster overall water security in the West. Earlier this year, the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation reported success in preventing critically low levels in Colorado River System reservoirs due to significant conservation investments and improved hydrology. Lake Mead levels are now at their highest since May 2021.
"Agricultural producers are the backbone of rural communities across the West and many of them are struggling under prolonged drought conditions,” Vilsack said. “USDA is taking an ‘all hands’ approach to help address this challenge, including these new partnerships with irrigation districts to support producers."
The USDA has selected several irrigation districts based on criteria related to commodity production and water management to maximize program objectives. These selections were supported by data from both the Bureau of Reclamation and USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS). The preliminarily selected districts include:
- Black Canyon Irrigation District, Idaho
- Brooklyn Canal Company, Utah
- Central Oregon Irrigation District, Oregon
- Central Arizona Irrigation and Drainage District, Arizona
- Corcoran Irrigation District, California
- East Columbia Basin Irrigation District, Washington
- Elephant Butte Irrigation District, New Mexico
- Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District, California
- Greybull Valley Irrigation District, Wyoming
- Hidalgo & Cameron Counties Irrigation District 9, Texas
- Huntley Project Irrigation District, Montana
- Imperial Irrigation District, California
- Maricopa-Stanfield Irrigation and Drainage District, Arizona
- Palisade Irrigation District, Colorado
- Quincy Columbia Basin Irrigation District, Washington
- Solano Irrigation Districts California
- Sutter Mutual Water Company California
- Truckee-Carson-Irrigations-District Nevada
Each district may receive up to $15 million in awards through sub-agreements with participating producers who will be compensated for voluntarily reducing water consumption while maintaining commodity production.
“Maricopa-Stanfield Irrigation and Drainage District is pleased to be working with USDA," a district representative stated. "Investing in agriculture is an investment in America.”
"Quincy-Columbia Basin Irritation-District is excited about partnering with USDA," a representative noted.
"Greybull-Valley-Irrigations-District-GVID-is-extremely-excited-to-explore-water-conservation-efforts-with-the-USDA-Water-Saving-Commodities-team," said a GVID spokesperson.
Additionally,-the-USDA-is-announcing-a-Tribal-set-aside-of-up-to-$40-million-for-awards-within Indian Country.-The-department-will-collaborate-with-the-Bureau-of Indian Affairs-(BIA), Tribes-and Tribal-producers-to-reduce-water-consumption-and-maintain-agricultural-production.-Further-details-on-engagement-and-selection-will-be-provided-in-the-coming-weeks.
USDA's-Natural Resources Conservation Service-(NRCS)-is-also-working-through its-Western Water Framework-to-help-producers-and communities-conserve-water-manage-climate-change-effects-and-build-drought-resilience.-In-fiscal-year 2023 NRCS-invested-$2.3-billion-in-conservation-programs-across-western-states,-including-a-$213.3-million boost-from-the Inflation Reduction Act.-Key programs-under-this-framework include-the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) Agricultural-Conservation Easement Program-(ACEP).
Together-these-efforts-support-USDA's-goals-of-sustainably-growing-agricultural-productivity-and-helping-farmers-manage-climate-change-effects.
For more information about these initiatives visit www.usda.gov.
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