Raised Interest in Crop Diversification in Nevada

Although the State of Nevada is well known for its’ economic sector in gaming, agricultural production is critical to many Nevada residents. Like most farmers in the arid West, Nevada farmers rely heavily on irrigation for crop production.

In the western part of Nevada, seasonal irrigation is primarily based on water that comes from snow-melt in the Sierra Nevada. Alfalfa is the primary irrigated crop, given the market demand for feeding livestock. Alfalfa, a perennial, has been a staple of crop production in Nevada for many years because when irrigated, alfalfa can provide up to four crops a year. Nevertheless, long-standing drought conditions, where water delivery allocations provide only enough water to irrigate one crop has encouraged individuals to diversify to other crops. An article presented by the University of Nevada, Reno presents potential additional benefits such as conserving soil moisture and sustainable production Crop Diversification | Extension (unr.edu).

Becoming more familiar with your “paper” water rights, and the history of water delivery allocations under them, may allow a farmer to better evaluate the potential benefits of diversifying from alfalfa, that provides a four crop return, to other crops that may only allow a one or two crop return but be compatible with the water delivery scheme that limits irrigation deliveries during drought.