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Idaho Farmers: “We’re All Going to Fail”
Independent Sentinel ^ | June 10, 2024 | M DOWLING

Posted on 06/11/2024 6:20:28 AM PDT by Red Badger

Idaho farmers are in danger of having their water shut off. The water shutoff order affects half a million acres of farmland and about 6,400 people who use the water. Without water, their farmland is worthless.

The state of Idaho has put a water curtailment order, which is basically a water shutoff order on literally a half million acres of farmland. ‌ Many farming this land have already invested in thousands of acres, thousands of dollars per acre, to grow potatoes. It’s too late for them to survive without water.

Why is the water being cut off?

Essentially, this curtailment represents a battle of wills between the Idaho Department of Water Resources and the groundwater districts in eastern Idaho.

Idaho’s waterways are owned by the State as a public trust resource. A water right is the right to divert the state’s public waters and put them to beneficial use. A water right is a “usufructuary right,” meaning a right to use, as opposed to a right to possess.

There isn’t enough water to go around, so senior water users say they want the junior water users (farmers) cut off because they haven’t stuck with the plan. Junior water users are in desperate straits, but senior water users have primary legal rights.

The problem arose because of a difference in how water usage is configured.

If the officials don’t come up with a solution almost immediately, the crops will die.

Farmer Connie Christenson told Local News 8 that unless there is an emergency end to the curtailment order, the water cut-off won’t just mean the end to their potato crop but potentially six generations of farming.

“We wouldn’t be able to take that kind of a hit and continue,” said Christensen. “I mean, maybe you can get a bank to carry you, but it would be crazy for the banks to carry us when we don’t know if we’re ever going to be able to irrigate again.”

The Governor’s office believes there will be an agreement.

Farmer Trevor Belknap explains at the beginning of the video. “I operate a family farm, a fifth-generation family farm in the Snake River Valley of eastern Idaho. I just wanted to visit with you for a minute about the impacts of the water curtailment order that’s been issued by Director Weaver from the Outer Department of Water Resources. ‌

“The situation in which we find ourselves is about as bad as it gets. Not only will we be out of business, but many other businesses will be highly impacted, and you, as my friends and neighbors, will also be impacted because we’re so interconnected.

“If the agriculture economy in eastern Idaho fails, which it surely will if this containment order is in place, it can remain in place; we’ll dry up and blow away just like it did back in the dust bowl of the 30s.

“Banks will fail. Equipment dealers, car dealers, gas stations, and grocery stores all rely on the ag economy that’s here in eastern Idaho.

“The children in our schools, how many of them belong to families who work in some form of ag industry in eastern Idaho? It’s horrible. And we need to fix it. “And I would propose to you that it is not a water problem; it’s a management problem because we have water. Reservoirs are full. The mountains are covered in snow. The river’s been flowing well. ‌ So why now?

“Why, after we’ve planted our crops, we have crops in the ground that are already growing? Now, in the middle of June, they pull a curtailment order to say you must cease pumping water.

“The cost is huge. An acre of potatoes costs upward of $4,000 an acre to grow. “How will that ever be recovered? They will not grow without water. And what will that do to everyone else that’s reliant upon us in this area and the state of Idaho? “What will the counties do for roads and bridges, police departments, ambulances, hospitals that rely on tax the tax base. Property like this will become worthless. Without water, the land doesn’t have any value here.”

Watch:

VIDEOS AT LINK.............


TOPICS: Agriculture; Business/Economy; Food; Gardening
KEYWORDS: agriculture; farmers; farmland; farms; food; idaho; idahofarmers; potatoes; ranchers; thewaronfood; war; waronfarmers; waronfarms; waronfood; waronranchers; water
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To: Red Badger

That is their plan. The plan is they control your food. The already proclaim they will own all the land.

We have to look and see who is buying up all the land. They are sure as heck are in the process of making that happen.


21 posted on 06/11/2024 6:40:36 AM PDT by dforest ( )
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To: Red Badger

Already happening in California with farmers fighting the state for water.

I wonder if it’s to force the farmers to sell the land for pennies on the dollar - to the state, corporations, etc.


22 posted on 06/11/2024 6:43:23 AM PDT by Bon of Babble (You Say You Want a Revolution?)
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To: Red Badger

Step 1: Find out who is pulling the puppet strings. What Chinese/Wall St/Mega Corporation is behind this? Whether it be to take over the farms or get them so they can build massive developments.


23 posted on 06/11/2024 6:44:15 AM PDT by qaz123
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To: exnavy

That was my thought.

They are all in cahoots.

They want us eating bugs and they’ll force it on us come hell or high water.


24 posted on 06/11/2024 6:46:18 AM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus…)
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To: eastexsteve; Diana in Wisconsin

Potatoes are easy enough to grow and can be grown in containers.


25 posted on 06/11/2024 6:47:30 AM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus…)
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To: dforest

You will own nothing and be happy. Now eat your bugs and shut up, peon.....................


26 posted on 06/11/2024 6:48:37 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: Bon of Babble

Makes you wonder: What, if anything valuable, is UNDER THOSE FIELDS?...............Lithium? Uranium?...........


27 posted on 06/11/2024 6:50:44 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: Red Badger

What many of us have yet to comprehend because it is so awful is that they really meant what was said.


28 posted on 06/11/2024 6:51:00 AM PDT by dforest ( )
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To: qaz123

Makes you wonder: What, if anything valuable, is UNDER THOSE FIELDS?...............Lithium? Uranium?...........


29 posted on 06/11/2024 6:51:33 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: dforest

The Scorpion and the Frog.....................


30 posted on 06/11/2024 6:53:13 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: Red Badger

Just shut the heck up and eat your bugs... /s


31 posted on 06/11/2024 6:54:10 AM PDT by unread (I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the REPUBLIC..!)
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To: Bulwyf
They can’t cut off all the ways.

Well, yes they can.

Sure, you can set up some plastic sheets and collect the morning dew, or connect a barrel to the downspout of your gutters, but you aren't going to be able to water thousands of acres of potatoes.

32 posted on 06/11/2024 6:56:04 AM PDT by UCANSEE2 (Lost my tagline on Flight MH370)
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To: HIDEK6

I do too. A very evil creature he is.


33 posted on 06/11/2024 6:57:21 AM PDT by laplata (They want each crisis to take the greatest toll possible.)
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To: Red Badger

OOPS...I guess I should have read the comments before posting about the bugs.. :) But, “slow” is what I do best. :(


34 posted on 06/11/2024 6:57:39 AM PDT by unread (I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the REPUBLIC..!)
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To: metmom
Potatoes are easy enough to grow and can be grown in containers.

Most gardening it easy. Fishing is easy. Storing foodstuffs for hard times is easy. How many deadheads living in the cities do you think are doing any of that now?

35 posted on 06/11/2024 6:58:22 AM PDT by eastexsteve
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To: unread

...should have read the comments before posting...

That’s against the rules...................😁


36 posted on 06/11/2024 6:59:26 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: Thank You Rush

“surface water users in Idaho have more senior water rights, while groundwater users have junior water rights.”


37 posted on 06/11/2024 7:00:38 AM PDT by faucetman (Just the facts, ma'am, Just the facts )
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To: HIDEK6

If the land is worthless due to water being withheld by the Government, I suggest that they appeal the tax valuation of their land. Counties typically do not have very deep pockets, they are always asking for more money. Perhaps when the state has to start forking out more money for all the impacts this rationing will cause, they will be motivated to find a less costly solution. Then again, this is the Government, nothing is their fault, just ask them.


38 posted on 06/11/2024 7:01:36 AM PDT by Sam Otto Long (S.O. Long)
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To: Red Badger

The Idaho Department of Water Resources has potatoes for brains.


39 posted on 06/11/2024 7:01:48 AM PDT by READINABLUESTATE (‘Never trust a man whose uncle was eaten by cannibals’)
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To: Red Badger

https://spudman.com/article/water-woes-in-idaho/


40 posted on 06/11/2024 7:03:08 AM PDT by faucetman (Just the facts, ma'am, Just the facts )
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