Water Availability for Agriculture: Meeting the Challenge in a Changing Climate

Agriculture – in its broadest form – is the greatest consumptive user of water resources in the United States and around the world. Over the next two decades, perhaps the greatest challenge facing agricultural producers will be adapting water management to an increasingly variable climate. Adaptation will be extremely difficult, in part, because other demands for water  - e.g., energy, domestic, industrial, municipal - will continue to increase during this time. Despite considerable improvements in irrigation technology, product development, and other water saving approaches, agricultural producers will be expected to reduce water consumption and improve or protect water quality of water discharged from agricultural operations. In 2004, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture embarked on an effort to address Agricultural Water Security – ensuring sufficient water of the appropriate quality at the needed time to meet demands for food, fiber, and other agricultural goods and services. This effort has identified six broad areas where agricultural research, education, and extension can impact water management to achieve agricultural water security.  The six areas are: Biotechnology, Water Reuse, General Conservation, Irrigation Efficiency, Water Markets and Trading, and Drought Preparedness. We present an overview of the six areas and specific opportunities for agriculture – and specifically horticultural and specialty crop producers – to adapt to climate change through improved water management.