1. News
 / Modified aug 23, 2021 9:50 a.m.

Arizona farmers prepare for water cuts

A third-generation farmer fears for the long-term sustainability of farming in Arizona.
by Andrew Oxford

 
     

Farmers in central Arizona are bracing for Colorado River water cuts due to a declining supply in Lake Mead.

Arizona 360 visited “Tempe Farming Company” west of Casa Grande, where third-generation farmer Will Thelander is already making preparations for the reduced water allotment delivered by the Central Arizona Project.

Thelander fears for the long-term sustainability of farming in Arizona, which contributes billions of dollars to the state’s economy each year.

He grows crops such as cotton and alfalfa, but he’s also experimenting with guayule, a desert native plant that is being studied for the natural rubber it produces.

Arizona 360
Arizona 360 airs Fridays at 8:30 p.m. on PBS 6 and Saturdays at 8 p.m. on PBS 6 PLUS. See more from Arizona 360.
MORE: Agriculture, Arizona 360 Segments, Environment, News Feature, Water
By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona