There may be reduced yield this year, but the future is more ominous. CALIFORNIA is in an extreme drought. It has been difficult for many farmers to find water to maximally produce the 400-plus commodities grown in California, which represent nearly half of the fruits, nuts, and vegetables produced in the U.S. Lack of snow and rainfall has reduced the amount of water stored, decreased the leaching of salts from soils, and reduced groundwater recharge. These issues are compounded by increased plantings of perennial crops, such as tree nuts, which cannot be fallowed. As a result, less surface water is available, forcing growers to either rely on groundwater, or to reduce the amount of water applied to fields.
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