FFAR
Aims to Combat Water Scarcity and Increase Agricultural Profitability LaKisha Odom, Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research
Background
American agricultural producers are expected to play an active role in meeting growing global needs for food, feed, and fiber while land, water, and soils decline in availability and quality. The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR, https://foundationfar. org/) was created by the 2014 Farm Bill to support food and agriculture research, foster collaboration, and advance the mission of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). FFAR assists producers in meeting increasing global agriculture needs. U.S. farmers have seen crop prices drop by nearly half over the last few years, while input costs continue to grow. Water scarcity, in particular, continues to be a challenge in large agricultural regions affecting yields, profits, and water availability for the public. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), in 2017, several states experienced drought from March to December that resulted in $2.5 billion in losses; the most extensive damage hit agriculture. The report goes on to state, “field crops including wheat were severely damaged, and the lack of feed for cattle forced ranchers to sell off livestock (NOAA, 2018). In California, consecutive years of drought are making it hard for farmers to cope due to revenue losses and higher water costs. This drought has also contributed to
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Colorado Water Âť November/December 2018