Farming in the West

We and the world depend on the western United States for many things we eat everyday. Much of what we eat is grown there and either shipped to stores, or exported to other countries.

Certain states are known for the crops that are grown there. Agriculture depends on the state's specific soil, elevation, precipitation, temperature changes, and how the land is irrigated when there is little or no water. For instance, in drier states, the farming is mostly beef cattle. Our wheat belt stretches from parts of Texas through the Dakotas, and most of the wheat and soybeans eaten or exported, are grown here. The irrigation systems give us fruits, nuts, vegetables, grain, hay, and flowers from the southwest. And of course Idaho is famous for potatoes, and Washington, for apples. We get a lot of citrus fruits from California and Arizona, but much of the land is being taken for cities.

The federal government had to step in during the late part of 19th century to ensure that there would be water for growth in the West. In 1902, Congress established the US Bureau of Reclamation. Their job was to make sure that dams and water projects were built. But with the growth of cities like Las Vegas and Los Angeles, the water is being stretched, which isn't only affecting farms and people, it's affecting fish, and some could become extinct. This is going to continue, for farms take about 80% of the water, unless they can figure out how water can be used in such a way that makes the farming and city areas happy.