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Water ~ ' Tain ' t Yours, ' Tain ' t Mine

Jimmy Carlisle. Water ~ ' Tain ' t Yours, ' Tain ' t Mine. Stakeholder Groups. Transportation. Industrial. Environmental. Recreation. Agriculture. Public Supply. Residential. Mining. Thermoelectric. 2005 Alabama Water Withdrawals. Total withdrawals - 9,942 mgd (almost 10 bgd ).

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Water ~ ' Tain ' t Yours, ' Tain ' t Mine

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  1. Jimmy Carlisle Water ~ 'Tain't Yours, 'Tain't Mine

  2. Stakeholder Groups Transportation Industrial Environmental Recreation Agriculture Public Supply Residential Mining Thermoelectric

  3. 2005 Alabama Water Withdrawals Total withdrawals - 9,942 mgd (almost 10 bgd)

  4. In the East the Loss of Agriculture Devastated Rural Economies • Landowners faced with the competition of Western subsidized irrigated agriculture and deep water holding soils in mid-west resorted to accepting government set asides (CRP) or timber farming. • Land is now in timber or low intensity pasture. • When a farmer is farming he is turning over $500-$750 per acre per year which is part of the local economy • With timber production or CRP he is only turning over $50-100 per acre per year. • Rural towns dependent on farming business died out.

  5. Economic Loss of Crop AcresAlabama (1950 – Present) Corn 2,338,000 acres Cotton 945,000 acres Peanut 215,000 acres If we had retained the acres we had in 1950 to the present, even under rain fed yields, it would amount to a direct gain of $2.2 billion per year to the economy

  6. Montgomery Advertiser Drought Articles Saturday, August 11, 2012 Front Page Saturday, July 22, 2012 Thursday, July 26, 2012

  7. Montgomery Advertiser Drought Articles Friday, August 17, 2012 Friday, August 17, 2012

  8. Irrigated Farmland Acres in the South • Arkansas 4.46 million • Florida 1.55 million • Georgia 1.02 million • Mississippi 1.37 million • Louisiana 954,353 • Alabama 112,819 Source: 2007 Census of Agriculture

  9. Barriers to Expanding Irrigation • Lack of access to water • Lack of capital • Rented land • Age of farmers

  10. Irrigation Investments • Alabama Universities Irrigation Initiative • Agricultural Water Enhancement Program • Alabama Irrigation Tax Credit • Alabama Irrigation Summit

  11. Best Management Practices Offered under the National Water Quality Initiative Cover crops – keep soil in place Peanuts growing in high residue Planting into high residue

  12. Farmers are strong supporters of conservation programs, particularly those focused on assisting farmers in improving their environmental stewardship in a cooperative, collaborative manner, which not only rewards the bottom line, it provides numerous public benefit such as improved water quality, wildlife habitat and air quality.

  13. Alabama Farmers FederationOrganizational Chart Farmers Federation Member I County Board of Directors I Farmers Federation Voting Delegates I Farmers Federation Board of Directors I Executive Office

  14. Alabama Farmers FederationPolicy Development Process • Members submit recommendations to the county • Recommendations are approved or rejected at the county annual meeting • If approved the county recommendation is submitted to our State Policy Development Committee • Members consist of the 20 member State Board of Directors, 67 County Presidents, and 17 State Commodity Committee Chairmen • Policy approved or rejected by our 500 member voting delegate body at our annual meeting

  15. Alabama Farmers FederationWater Resource Planning Committee • Purpose: • Committed to comprehensive management of Alabama’s water resources, staying abreast of Alabama water issues and pursuing solutions to see that agriculture is in the best possible position for the future. • 15 member committee representing all types of agriculture water uses.

  16. Statewide Water Management Plan • Effort builds a consensus that there is a need for water policy • Assurance that water use policy will be in the best interest of the impacted stakeholders and the state • Input from all stakeholders • Educate our members and the general public

  17. Statewide Water Management Plan • Need for accurate sound, scientific and unbiased research of ground and surface water • Adequate funding to collect data • Encourage voluntary water-use data reporting • Increasing on-farm water storage capacity

  18. Statewide Water Management Plan • Any water management plan should include a comprehensive and long-range plan for irrigation needs. • Protecting farmers’ flexibility for changing agricultural production • Ensuring that water is available for agriculture in times of stress

  19. Protecting Property Rights • Protects rights of landowners regarding groundwater • Oppose governmental action that would adversely affect agricultural production • Riparian Rights vs Non Riparian Rights

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