FOX 13 Investigates: Utah’s top cash crop is consuming most of our water

BERYL, Utah — Craig Laub’s father began rising alfalfa hay right here after he got here residence from the Military.

“He got here residence after World Warfare II,” Laub mentioned, “come out right here and developed the farm from sagebrush.”

Now the Laub household grows 10,000 tons of alfalfa a 12 months within the southwest Utah desert.

“Mainly a matter of economics,” Laub explains. “We needed to have a money crop.”

Alfalfa farmers like Luab try to irrigate extra effectively, however Laub’s irrigation pivots are nonetheless drizzling 900 gallons a minute onto his alfalfa.

Which means his discipline close to Beryl is receiving as a lot water each 2-and-a-half hours as, in accordance with U.S. Environmental Safety Company estimates, the typical household of 4 makes use of in a 12 months.

About two-thirds of all water diverted in Utah goes to rising hay, mentioned Gabriel Lozada, an affiliate professor of economics on the College of Utah. He just lately wrote an evaluation of hay and water in Utah.

If we have been to cease rising hay right this moment, what number of extra homes might we water in Utah? Lozada says residential water use might enhance six occasions.

But hay farming in 2020 was lower than 1% of Utah’s gross home product, Lozada discovered.

“And so the worth system does not work for water in agriculture,” Lozada mentioned.

That’s as a result of farmers usually purchase water rights after they buy actual property. In contrast to, say, many residential water payments, water rights holders don’t need to pay extra based mostly on consumption.

“And that generates large inefficiencies,” Lozada mentioned.

Mining is a a lot bigger export for Utah. Coal and copper aren’t edible, and Lozada acknowledges: “Free market economics does not actually take that under consideration.”

Hay turned a money crop in Western states as a result of it’s sturdy. Alfalfa, for instance, solely must be replanted each 5 – 6 years, survives temperature extremes and doesn’t essentially want any fertilizer or pesticides.

That doesn’t imply you simply add water. Hay additionally requires numerous labor and diesel gasoline. Tractors and different farm implements minimize it, rake it, chop it and spit it into trailers.

The Laub household hauls their chopped hay to a manufacturing facility close to Beryl. The alfalfa is compressed into cubes – type of like a hay bale the dimensions of a saltshaker.

A few of their hay is bought to native ranchers. A few third of the Laubs’ cubes – and a few third of Utah hay general – are bought abroad.

“We export to Japan and Taiwan, primarily,” Laub mentioned.

Laub will brag about how environment friendly his farm is getting with water. At his discipline close to Beryl, water used to shoot out of the highest of his two-story tall irrigation pivots, among the liquid evaporating earlier than it hit the bottom.

Now hoses with nozzles on their ends dangle from the pivot, drizzling water simply inches from the bottom. Cash from the Utah Legislature has helped Laub and different farmers pay for the upgrades.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox just lately launched a plan to assist farmers preserve extra water. It requires extra irrigation and expertise upgrades. It doesn’t talk about asking farmers to pay extra or dissuading hay farming.

“We’re near three-acre ft now to lift the identical crop that we raised four-acre ft earlier,” Laub mentioned.

That doesn’t imply others can drink or tub in water that Laub conserves. Utah legislation requires water rights holders put the water to helpful use or danger forfeiting their rights to it.

“It’s type of a scorching subject and Utah water legislation proper now,” mentioned Emily Lewis, who teaches water legislation on the College of Utah.

She mentioned the state’s authorized neighborhood is looking for a framework the place rights holders like Laub can simply promote extra water to different customers.

“There are different states who’ve checked out this and adopted their legal guidelines to acknowledge a solution to incentivize,” Lewis mentioned.

Lewis says Utah water legislation is difficult, however has labored effectively. She pointed to the spot the place she just lately met the FOX 13 crew – Metropolis Creek Park in Salt Lake Metropolis.

“This was the place the place Brigham Younger’s exploratory occasion first dammed up Metropolis Creek Canyon,” she mentioned.

“This actually is Water Proper No. 1 right here within the state of Utah.”

Lozada agrees a water-trading system would profit farmers and cities. It could additionally require infrastructure investments. Laub, for instance, pumps his water out of the bottom beneath his personal fields. Anybody else wanting the water must transport it.

In the meantime, Utah grew lower than 2% of U.S hay in 2020. Lozada thinks a discount in Utah hay would have little affect on meals costs.

“It isn’t that farmers are doing something dangerous,” Lozada mentioned. “It is that the financial atmosphere that we have put farmers in is not acceptable for a local weather that is getting increasingly more arid.”

“Until someone comes up with one thing higher, it’s the money crop,” Laub mentioned. “It is the very best crop for us to lift.

“You wish to drink milk. You want beef. All these items that we increase. I imply, alfalfa instantly isn’t any use to you, however it certain provides to your weight loss plan.”