Contact: Jessica Manly, Communications and Digital Advocacy Director
National Young Farmers Coalition
press@youngfarmers.org, 518-643-3564 x 722
(Washington, D.C., August 7, 2024) On August 1, 2024, USDA announced a historic investment in water conservation and drought support for farmers and ranchers across the Western United States. USDA has identified 18 irrigation districts across the West that have opportunities for water savings, and will provide payments to producers for reducing their water consumption. The program does not support fallow practices and producers and irrigation districts will ensure continued production, alongside water saving practices and infrastructure. The Secretary used the authority of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to fund this new investment. The CCC can be used at the discretion of the Secretary of Agriculture to address emergencies, support agricultural production, or conserve natural resources.
Commenting on the announcement, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack affirmed that, “agricultural producers are the backbone of rural communities across the West and many of them are struggling under prolonged drought conditions.” The Secretary added, “USDA is taking an ‘all hands’ approach to help address this challenge, including these new partnerships with irrigation districts to support producers. We want to scale up the tools available to keep farmers farming, while also voluntarily conserving water and expanding markets for water-saving commodities.”
In addition to the irrigation districts, USDA has set-aside $40 million in funding for Tribes and will include targeted assistance to acequias in the southwest. Further information will be provided by USDA in the following weeks.
“As many woke up to smoky skies in the Western US today and are experiencing drought conditions, investments in water conservation are critical, now more than ever. Farmers and ranchers can be leaders in water conservation with the support provided by USDA,” said Erin Foster West, Policy Campaigns Director for the National Young Farmers Coalition.
“We are encouraged by the announcement by USDA and hope to see investments that prioritize not just efficiency, but also take into account resilient ecosystems, wildlife, and cultural practices. Tribes and acequias can be models of water conservation tools and practices, while also supporting collaborative decision-making. We look forward to the coming announcements about how USDA will partner and target funds to these key groups.”
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The National Young Farmers Coalition (Young Farmers) is a national grassroots network of young farmers changing policy and shifting power to equitably resource the new generation of working farmers. Visit Young Farmers on the web at www.youngfarmers.org, and on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.