4 ms·

If only 5% of CA water is urban use, then surely the subsidy is minimal. Also - driving the Central Valley I see no end of “Congress stole our water” signs, so

If only 5% of CA water is urban use, then surely the subsidy is minimal. Also - driving the Central Valley I see no end of “Congress stole our water” signs, so clearly some change is happening. Why can’t agriculture in more rain prone areas compete?

Spooky23 5y ago
The miracle of the desert is truly a miracle. Sunny warm California is a farmers dream, except for the lack of water.
- fersho311 5y ago
  Adding some facts to this, because California tends to get hot frequently. When it gets too hot, plants slow (and eventually stop) photosynthesis above 68 degrees F https://sciencing.com/effect-temperature-rate-photosynthesis-19595.html https://sciencing.com/effect-temperature-rate-photosynthesis...
0x0nyandesu 5y ago
The rain prone areas are too cold for much of the year.
- zdragnar 5y ago
  Or too hot. Lots of crops grown on california would be happy in Georgia if not for the heat.
- hasmanean 5y ago
  Hydroponics allow you grow crops in PVC pipes with a lot less water wastage and theoretically maybe even move them around on trucks. You could grow something on a parking lot. Could be the future if climate change results in unpredictable weather and you don’t want to lose your crop to an early frost. Northern Ontario has tons of lakes, nice summers and lots of rock to anchor humongous hydroponic towers to.
  - mcphage 5y ago
    > Hydroponics allow you grow crops in PVC pipes with a lot less water wastage and theoretically maybe even move them around on trucks. You could grow something on a parking lot. I really like hydroponics, but you never (rarely?) see it used to grow heavier, food-dense foods like potatoes, or anything that grows on a tree. It’s all leafy salad greens and strawberries. I don’t really know why that is.
    - hasmanean 5y ago
      Maybe because they’d have to be sealed against light to grow root vegetables.
b9a2cab5 5y ago
Just a guess: probably a combination of weather/soil and cheap labor. California is always sunny, the central valley is very fertile, and the state is very friendly to illegal immigration.

Spooky23 5y ago

The miracle of the desert is truly a miracle. Sunny warm California is a farmers dream, except for the lack of water.

fersho311 5y ago
Adding some facts to this, because California tends to get hot frequently. When it gets too hot, plants slow (and eventually stop) photosynthesis above 68 degrees F https://sciencing.com/effect-temperature-rate-photosynthesis-19595.html https://sciencing.com/effect-temperature-rate-photosynthesis...

0x0nyandesu 5y ago

The rain prone areas are too cold for much of the year.

zdragnar 5y ago
Or too hot. Lots of crops grown on california would be happy in Georgia if not for the heat.
hasmanean 5y ago
Hydroponics allow you grow crops in PVC pipes with a lot less water wastage and theoretically maybe even move them around on trucks. You could grow something on a parking lot. Could be the future if climate change results in unpredictable weather and you don’t want to lose your crop to an early frost. Northern Ontario has tons of lakes, nice summers and lots of rock to anchor humongous hydroponic towers to.
- mcphage 5y ago
  > Hydroponics allow you grow crops in PVC pipes with a lot less water wastage and theoretically maybe even move them around on trucks. You could grow something on a parking lot. I really like hydroponics, but you never (rarely?) see it used to grow heavier, food-dense foods like potatoes, or anything that grows on a tree. It’s all leafy salad greens and strawberries. I don’t really know why that is.
  - hasmanean 5y ago
    Maybe because they’d have to be sealed against light to grow root vegetables.

b9a2cab5 5y ago

Just a guess: probably a combination of weather/soil and cheap labor. California is always sunny, the central valley is very fertile, and the state is very friendly to illegal immigration.