Dry Farming in the News

Start your Monday off with some fresh off the press news! Check out these recently published articles discussing global surface waters. Read the original report here.

Over half of the world's lakes are drying out, study warns by Rebecca Falconer of Axios

A deeply urgent look at a report published by Science magazine on global lake levels.

Why the amount of water storage is declining in lakes around the world by Julia Jacobo of ABC News

Another take on the report.

Managing Rivers As Systems To Maintain Irrigation And Other Benefits by Jeff Opperman of Forbes Magazine

Explore the importance of rivers to irrigation and food production and how climate change may threaten these systems.

News Times. Nope. Times for News. Huh. News from the Times. There we go.

The NY Times and LA Times recently published articles on water and climate change.

LA Times article “Audit finds California water agency not adequately considering climate change in forecasts” by staff writer Ian James gives a deep dive state auditor released a report critical of the agency’s inclusion of climate data in predicting future water needs for Southern California. James’ reporting offering a deeper look into problems addressed by the auditor.

NY Times article “Pumping Groundwater Has Changed Earth’s Spin, Study Finds” by Raymond Zhong provides a look at the groundbreaking (ground shifting?) realization by scientists that ground water extraction has altered the rotation of the earth. Story shared by member. Article is behind a paywall.

Dry Farming in the News

Start your Monday off with some fresh off the press news! Check out these recently published articles discussing rivers and drought in the Western USA.

Colorado River states announce breakthrough water sharing deal by Kirk Siegler of All Things Considered on NPR

In incredible news out of the West, the three states that are part of a water-sharing agreement for the Colorado River reached a new, updated agreement to reduce usage of the drought-ridden river. A must-read article!

One Colorado river basin has been drying for years. It’s changing a way of life.  by Michael Booth of the Colorado Sun

An excellent read for in-depth reporting on efforts to save and share the Republican River, and the painful costs and often ephemeral benefits to the local communities.

Dry years cut nitrate loads in Iowa’s rivers by Jared Strong of Iowa Capital Dispatch

Read about Iowa’s reports of reduction of runoff during dry years and environmental groups’ responses to the data. This highlights an interesting benefit to drought that calls into question the endless cycle of industrial farming and fertilization.

Dry Farming in California in the News

Start your Monday off with some fresh off the press news! Check out these recently published articles discussing the dry farming and climate-mitigation practices in California.

Mendocino Winegrowers Inc.: A dry farmer and a new executive director by Karen Rifkin of the Ukiah Daily Journal

Karen Rifkin talks with Lorenzo Pacini, third generation owner of the Pacini Vineyard and dry farmer in the Mendocino AVA of California.

California wants to store floodwaters underground. It's harder than it sounds by Nathan Rott & Claire Harbage of NPR

This report looks into efforts by California to restore underground aquifers using floodwaters and rain from winter storms.

Mangoes and agave in the Central Valley: California farmers try new crops to cope with climate change by Alastair Bland of CalMatters

Bland talks with farmers experimenting with different crops to find more sustainable and adaptive options for the changing climate in their regions. This includes discussion of obscure tropical fruits, pest mitigation in established orchards, and adapting plants for heat tolerance.

Dry Farming in the News

Start your Monday off with some fresh off the press news! Check out these recently published articles discussing national water policy and climate mitigation efforts in grape growing.

The Supreme Court has narrowed the scope of the Clean Water Act by Nina Totenberg of All Things Considered

The Supreme Court decided to sink the Clean Water Act. This comes after their actions last year to deflate the EPA’s “ability to regulate air pollution from power plants.” As the justices wash their hands of protecting individuals from water pollution, there was no word on how much lead is in their own drinking water…

Go higher to beat the heat by Lee Allen of Western FarmPress

Lee Allen explores how some growers are changing their trellising practices to mitigate heat.

Dry Farming in the News

Start your Monday off with some fresh off the press news! Check out these recently published articles discussing the dry farming and grape growing in Oregon.

Oregon State researchers make breakthrough in understanding the chemistry of wildfire smoke in wine by Sean Nealon of Oregon State University

Explore cutting edge research into smoke tainted grapes by Oregon State University and Washington State University.

Farmers, gardeners collaborate on dry farming in Oregon by Elizabeth Castillo of Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB); interview by Geoff Norcross of OPB’s Think Out Loud

OPB explores work being done by the Dry Farming Collaborative through an interview with the founder and board president of the Dry Farming Institute, Amy Garrett. The Dry Farming Institute is an Oregon organization focused on promoting dry farming through marketing assistance, seed stewardship, and collaborations with growers and researchers.

Dry Farming in the News

Start your Monday off with some fresh off the press news! Check out these recently published articles discussing the dry farming of winegrapes in Oregon.

Unlocking the Secrets of the Vines by Greg Norton of the Oregon Wine Press

This is a deep dive into Dr. Alexander Levin’s work and history in researching vineyard management techniques, including water and irrigation.

Growing Pains: Winemakers Reflect on a Changing Climate by Laura Ness of the Wine Industry Advisor

Check out quotes from Evan Martin, owner and winemaker of Martin Woods in McMinnville, who reflects on the positives and negatives of dry farmed vines.

Walking The Rows: Résonance Vineyard And The Fool’s Errand Plot by Jill Barth of Forbes Magazine

A focused look at the Résonance Vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, one of the Willamette Valley’s oldest dry farmed and own-rooted vineyards.

Compilation of news regarding dry farming & irrigation

Residents of Central Oregon weigh in on a proposed resort in the high desert that would pump 300,000 gallons of water per day from wells, expanding to five million gallons by 2035. Much of the water would, you guessed it, go to irrigate proposed golf courses. The public outcry is causing the company to backtrack… some. This after State Representatives have called for the Oregon Water Resources Department to stop issuing new water rights permits.

For a deep dive on struggles over water rights in Oregon, listen to All Things Considered March 2022 report.

“Pushing the Eco Envelop: Three wineries utilize unique sustainability solutions” by Greg Norton of Oregon Wine Press – This article includes a look at Abbot Claim’s innovative solution to recycling winery wastewater.

Additional articles and publications of interest:

“Grant to help U of A researchers address farming in drying climate” by Eva-Marie Hube of the Arizona Daily Star

“Dry farming could help agriculture in the western US amid climate change” by Katherine Kornei of Science News

“Oregon’s water problems are accumulating; Idaho may have an answer” by Randy Stapilus of Oregon Capital Chronicle

“Kansas Is Showing What a Drier Future Looks Like” by Adam Minter of Bloomberg via the Washington Post

“How do you grow crops with no water?" A rancher on the Gila River is trying an old approach” by Jake Frederico of the Arizona Republic

“As California's Drought Goes On, What Can Farmers Do?” by Kendall Lambert of Civil Eats

“California Falls Short When Helping Farmers Save Water” by Adam Kotin and Kendall Lambert of Civil Eats