As we approach the midway point of the 2024 Arizona Legislative session, numerous key policy debates are occurring. The session started with a renewed focus on addressing issues that impact the state and its residents. From education and healthcare to economic development and environmental concerns, Arizona's legislators have had a challenging session. Water: As was expected, Legislators are…
Flood Irrigation in the Desert Southwest The first dam on the Colorado River was Laguna Dam built in 1905, seven years before Arizona became a state, followed by 14 more dams in 61 years to completely control the flow. Similar water management projects were made on all rivers across the state, providing access to local communities. Complex canal systems were built over time, with a major…
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed B1740 yesterday, investing $1.2 billion over three years to fund projects that will bring additional water to the state to secure Arizona’s water future, improve existing water infrastructure and implement effective conservation tools. The projects will help ensure that Arizona families, businesses and agriculture continue to have adequate long-term…
Registration is now open for YCEDA’s free 2022 Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus Workshop on Aug. 17 to help area growers prepare for the upcoming Yuma produce season. The workshop will take place at the Yuma Agricultural Center, 6425 W. 8th St. Lunch will be offered at 11:30 a.m, with the workshop itself lasting from noon ...
Earlier this week, water agencies from Arizona, California and Nevada, along with the Department of the Interior, announced a new effort to invest up to $200 million in projects over the next two years to keep Lake Mead from dropping to critically low levels. The agreement, signed during the Colorado River Water Users Association’s annual ...
On Jan.10, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey delivered his final State of the State to a joint session of the Arizona Legislature. While recapping successes of the administration over the past seven years, Ducey set an ambitious legislative agenda for the 2022 session. Most ambitious is a historic $1 billion investment in water resources over the next three years. ...
The annual report for the Yuma Center of Excellent for Desert Agriculture (YCEDA) is now available the read and download here. The report highlights YCEDA’s impact on issues including water and nutrient management, food safety, broadband connectivity, workforce protection through COVID monitoring and plant disease. For more information on YCEDA and their projects, please visit ...
This week, the Western Growers (WG) Board of Directors spent two days at the Arizona Capitol advocating for the fresh produce industry. The group met with Governor Doug Ducey; President of the Senate Karen Fann; Speaker of the House Rusty Bowers; Senators Rebecca Rios, TJ Shope, Rick Gray, Sine Kerr, David Gowan; and Representatives Joel ...
The Arizona Department of Water Resources and Central Arizona Project are hosting a joint Colorado River shortage briefing on May 6. The event will take place from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. in person at CAP Headquarters in the Lake Mead Conference Room at 23636 N. 7th St., Phoenix, AZ 85024. In addition, the briefing ...
The United States Department of Agriculture has designated eight counties in Arizona as Primary Natural Disaster Areas, which allows the extension of emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters, such as the ongoing drought The eligible counties are: Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Graham, Greenlee, La Paz, Mohave and Navajo. Contiguous counties also are eligible, including:…
By Robert Medler, Arizona Government Affairs Manager As the 2021 legislative session nears sine die, Arizona agriculture will reap the benefits from a handful of wins. On top of the list is SB1448, which outlines how a court should award costs, expenses and punitive damages in a nuisance action against an agricultural operation conducted on ...
By Robert Medler, Arizona Government Affairs Manager One Thousand Forty-Five. That is the elevation, in feet, of Lake Mead at the Hoover Dam (on the day I am writing this.) Lake Mead is 25 feet lower than it was on the same day in June 2021, and a staggering 44 feet lower than June 2020. ...
Yesterday, the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission unanimously approved a final map for Arizona’s nine Congressional districts and approved a map for the 30 Legislative districts with a 3-2 vote. The maps will be in effect through the 2030 election cycle. The final map has four districts that are “safe” for Republicans and three that are “safe” ...
Arizona Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program recently announced the availability of funds for assistance with COVID-related expenses. Western Growers staff worked with the Department to streamline the application process and provide up to $2,500 in reimbursing for eligible expenses related to personal protective equipment, workplace safety and vaccination events. The…
Applications for the 2022 Arizona Specialty Crop Block Grant Program are now being accepted. To apply, visit https://agriculture.az.gov/grants. Applications, which are required to be submitted online, close on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. MST. The Arizona Department of Agriculture projects that approximately $1,100,000 will be available to be distributed in the…
On Thursday, June 24 from 9am-11am, the Central Arizona Project will be holding a briefing on the likely upcoming water cuts to their system. Topics will include an updated Colorado River report, implementation of Tier 1 reductions and Drought Contingency Plan mitigation, report on Lake Mead conservation activities, and a review of the water ordering process. ...
The Arizona Legislature passed, and Governor Ducey signed, the Fiscal Year 2022 budget earlier this week. Under Arizona’s budget, nearly $1 billion in debt is paid off and another $1 billion is appropriated to help reduce the state’s pension liabilities. The Arizona Department of Agriculture received increased funding for Plant Services Division salary increases, State ...
The Central Arizona Project (CAP) held its annual Water Users Meeting on Wednesday, August 25. This is the first public meeting since the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation published its August 2021 24-Month Study on Monday, effectively declaring a shortage on the Colorado River for the Lower Colorado River Basin. The much-anticipated August study predicts that the elevation ...