• Whiskey_iicarus@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    6 days ago

    Have you looked much into the issue or just this infographic? This article is from 2022, but illustrates the point that it does not add much to the economy but takes an outsized share of the water. Emphasis is mine.

    Recent reports conclude that growing alfalfa and other kinds of hay sucks up 68% of the 5.1 million acre-feet of water diverted every year in Utah. The resulting crop, though it supports some farmers and their communities, amounts to 0.2% of the state’s annual gross domestic product. That’s about what amusement parks generate across the state.

    Why it’s time for Utah to buy out alfalfa farmers and let the water flow, Editorial Board writes