Alfalfa uses 20% of the states irrigation water. When the numbers are run, alfalfa by itself is something like .1% of the AG economic production in the state, and it uses 20% of the water. It is true, and it is amazing that so much water goes to support a crop with such a low value.
Having said that, what do we use alfalfa for?
-cattle
-dairy cattle
-horses
-sheep
This part of the equation often gets left out. CA is the largest dairy state in the nation. It produces billions of dollars of economic activity. But it is also the base product to feed cows to make milk to drink or turn in to cheese, or yogurt, both of which need large, labor intensive production plants which employe alot of people and make the state alot of money.
What do you think your steak or burger use to eat? (other than grain)
How much money does Del Mar and the race horses make? Add in all the breeding, the vet bills, the transportation, housing, etc. and you get a pretty penny or two. Guess what those horses eat? (other than grain.)
Where do you think the wool for your suit came from? (we could replace it with Cotton, but guess what crop also sucks up huge amounts of CA water?)
We can fix our water problem, but not as easily as is being suggested. CA is the true bread basket of the nation outside of a few crops like corn, soybeans and wheat. If you want to see food inflation, take away CA farmers water. Alfalfa is a feed stuff for the whole food industry, which is huge in CA.
