- cross-posted to:
- news@lemmy.world
- cross-posted to:
- news@lemmy.world
Agriculture is the biggest user of the Colorado River, with alfalfa and other sources of livestock feed accounting for nearly half of the water consumed. Municipal water systems use about a quarter.
“They” is also the Saudi government which uses the water to grow alfalfa necessary to raise dairy cattle.
I thought the Saudis grew Alfalfa in the US to send back to SA for fancy horses IIRC. Not even for cattle that will be eaten
600,000 dairy cows…
https://dairynews.today/milkypedia/country/sa/
They built up the herd size by growing alfalfa in the desert by pumping water from ancient aquifers. They have used up a significant portion and now import over 80% of their feed. They need to import 100% of the feed to meet their needs as their water dries up.
They bought ground in Arizona because it is grown in conditions like what they have experience with. They have been using the same alfalfa varieties.