Water: Are Your Animals Getting The Right Stuff?

Truffle Media Networks — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:04:17 +0000

Dr. John Patience, Iowa State, walks us through basic water component understanding and filtering alternatives.

World Water Day from AgChat and BioChat

Truffle Media Networks — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 05:11:43 +0000

World Water Day AgChat and BioChat combined on the topic of water. Life cannot survive without water. The issues of access to clean, safe, affordable water will continue to be a leading topic for a long time. Learn more about the issues and possible approaches to solutions from these two World Water Day conversations: AgChat and BioChat.

Water - H20 - How much do you need? Do you have enough?

Truffle Media Networks — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 17:31:21 +0000

via thisweekinag.com

"According to the WHO, an estimated 884 million people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water and 2.6 billion lack access to basic sanitation (Kaiser Global Health Policy Report, 3/21). Additionally, "[a]pproximately 10% of the global burden of disease worldwide could be prevented with improvements to water, sanitation and hygiene and better water resource management," a second "Poverty Matters Blog" post states." Kaiser Daily Global Health Policy Report

This Week In Ag posted several resources on the topic of water, agriculture, human health, and environment.

Africa and Water

Truffle Media Networks — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 19:27:33 +0000

Africa and Water Discussion on water and Africa, coordinated by Agchat.

AgChat: Water and Water Issues

Truffle Media Networks — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:00:57 +0000

Water and Water Issues As part of World Water Week, Agchat discusses water as it relates to agriculture. From discussion are several videos and information sources on water and its use across the world.

Water issues in ag: summary of #agchat questions from Aug 04, 2009

Truffle Media Networks — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 01:10:01 +0000

Reference information

Pioneer Press Live 07/28/2009, video, about Nestle commercial user of water in McCloud, CA community, the issues and concerns. More info at McCloud Watershed Council.
Great chart via @jacobedenfield "Transparency: How Much Water Do You Use" from Good magazine http://bit.ly/Oh5IX
interesting water rights blog from conversations http://bit.ly/aYxL2
More ref info "Watching water, A guide to evaluating corporate risks in a thirsty world" http://bit.ly/42G12t via @natejtaylor
“Army Corps says Lanier ruling should not affect nearby lakes”, The Augusta Chronicle, Aug 3, 2009 http://bit.ly/l1mCg
“Water shortage threatens agriculture, way of life in Valley”, Southwest Farm Press, Aug 15, 2002, http://bit.ly/16i61j
USDA Water Quality Information Center, http://bit.ly/E2Yl7

Semi-complete (as good as it gets) #agchat water issues dialog at http://bit.ly/17doAJ .

agchat: Q1: What is the public’s expectation of water conservation on the farm

nycUlla: @agchat I do not think most people have any idea about how important water IS to farming! they are starting to in cali though.
RinckerLaw: Q1: Public feels that water is currently being wasted through traditional irrigation practices and livestock
akleinschmidt: Q1: I think it depends where in the country you live. Perhaps more emphasis on water conservation west of Mississippi
lucas_sjostrom: Q1: I would agree that water is low on the list of #farm concerns. From cows #moo to corn... food safety and humane treatment are #1
nycUlla: I think federally founded irrigation is GOING to become a big issue soon. The public is starting to catch on
RinckerLaw: Q1: Many environmentalists are concerned with the amount of water that farming requires.
TruffleMedia: Q1 I believe there is public perception that ag uses lots of water, but not many could say how much "lots" is.
JeffFowle: Environmental Activists drive perception of ag being wasteful in CA. Fail 2 recognize ag as important beneficial use and efficient.
natejtaylor: Q1 We have made HUGE strides in #water use & #conservation in#ag.The tech in there now to get even better!! We need to use educate
TruffleMedia: fyi on "what is the Great Lakes Compact" see =>http://bit.ly/TX2aS
natejtaylor: @TruffleMedia @JeffFowle - Per USDA #ag uses 80% of the consumptive water use.
nedcoe: @natejtaylor in CA, ag uses 43%, environmental use 46%, and homes and Bus use 11% of developed water.
nedcoe: H2O use per acre by CA rice growers has dropped 65% in the last 20 yrs due to improvements in technology and new farming practices.

agchat: Q2: What states have critical water issues that impact ag and why (via @TruffleMedia)

nycUlla: @agchat Q2 I would say all of the west. The drying trend will continue.
lucas_sjostrom: Q2: I think the obvious answer here is that every state has its water issues that impact ag... you cannot really rule 1 state out
cowartandmore: Can't give you specifics, but municipalities all over Florida are fighting about water
AgriLawyer: Q2 the west has natural supply issues, but I would venture to say each has water concerns as @lucas sjostrom stated
chenx064: Q2: I'd respond with two questions. 1) Do differences arise from water ownership rules (riparian, prior appropriation) ....
chenx064: Q2: Another baseline question: 2) Within any one watershed, do farmers pay market rates for water, or is there a subsidized price
FarmerHaley: not much irrigation here in OH, But in IA they started to issue a yearly fee for irrigation and livestock wells
RinckerLaw: @nycUlla agreed- Western/Southwestern states obviously have the most water issues with ag due 2 availability
nycUlla: @akleinschmidt our natural advantage means nothing when our senators do not fight for ag money on the federal level.
skinnyhorse: In the west, we can't raise anything w/o irrigation. Arid to semi-arid climate. No water = no crop.
AgriLawyer: @JeffFowle I have a feeling the NPDES aquatic pesticides general permit from CA will makes its way east to many of the states
TruffleMedia: @AgriLawyer is NPDES = National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
AgriLawyer: @NateJaeger Q2: Its still all states, it just might be more comprehensive with CWRA
TruffleMedia: @AgriLawyer is CWRA = Canadian Water Resources Association
aafromaa: Not just observing, &I can't stay, but certainly Georgia/Alabama disputes affect both urban populations & ag

agchat: Q3: How are various water conservation practices affecting commodity/food prices (via @WillRogersToday)

nedcoe: Q3 the price of H2O which includes conservation is pushing cropping from low $ crops to high $ crops, such as orchards.
JeffFowle: Q3 Initial investment in new efficient methods is expensive. Long term savings do occur though but >power rates threaten $ savings.
nedcoe: Cotton land is now growing almonds, but with an interruptible H2O supply, not good, many orchards are brown this year.
chenx064: @nedcoe Q3: Very true. No market can overcome zero supply. And there are nonmarket values we do try to vindicate.

agchat: Q4: Beyond food price what are other long term implications as water becomes more scarce, expensive (via @WillRogersToday)

nycUlla: @agchat Q4 it could change where we can live.
AgriLawyer: Q4: Perhaps the Mad Max/ Chinatown scenario posed by @chenx064earlier - I got the Mel Gibson part though. dibs!
RinckerLaw: @JeffACSH - Q4: agreed. More technological advancements or we will have less food.
AgriLawyer: Q4: If no technological advancement, then a rearrangement of where food may be grown as water becomes more scarce
FarmerHaley: Q4: would have huge economic impacts! Lots of loans and investment $$ tied up in land, can you say another banking crisis
chenx064: Q4: Most economic models of #ag predict that higher input prices drive consolidation and increase farm size. Water is a prime input.

agchat: Q5: What are stats, implications on water use requirements for various types of ag (crop vs dairy vs meat etc) (via @TruffleMedia)

nedcoe: Q5 Have to be careful with comparing different crops, because the urban user will use that against us.
lucas_sjostrom: Q5: Water is always recycled unless it is contaminated. Because food producers do things right, the water comes back eventually
Gayle_Secret: Q5 - my understanding is that no-till practices could result in needing more pesticides, correct

agchat: Q6: What role can/should social media play in water conservation

scrowell: Q6 SM obviously plays role in education, awareness
WillRogersToday: Q6. With a compelling topic, SM can keep you from flushing the toilet for at least 2 hrs
TruffleMedia: Q6 Social media as a tool can help provide #ag #h2o info to those that normally are not aware. However, deeper info/action needed.
nycUlla: interview i did about holistic management. ever heard of it http://bit.ly/jDSQ6