Yuma Valley - Arizona state - USA

Yuma

Yuma is in the extreme south west of Arizona – on the R. Colorado next to California and the border with Mexico.

Temperature – very hot. 35*C in summer.

Annual rainfall total from 1993 to 2002– (about 3 inches) 8cms a year on average

Yuma – Winter Salad Bowl Capitol of the USA

                                                                     

          

Colorado river - irrigation channel

Lot of evaporation loss.

Furrow irrigation

Yuma – sprinkler system

Uses less water than furrow irrigation. Cools the soil surface temperature when salad starting to grow.

Central pivot sprinklers

Circular fields

Drip irrigation – feeds water slowly and directly to roots

Dole Salad Packing Factory

Mexican migrant workers

Seasonal low paid work

Competition for Water

Colorado water runs out.

Rising costs

Too much fertiliser used

Rise of organic farming

Farming is run by big businesses

Agribusiness

Small family farms dying out

Young people need specialist education for a career in farming

The River Colorado

One giant plumbing system?

Is the farming sustainable?

Back to the Desert?