Water, Food &

Agriculture
Maisee Her
Instructor S. Vang
WRI 010-72
15 April 2019
Topic:

Agriculture & Water Controversy within California

Importance: People should be concern because more than

➔ California Water Crisis
➔ About 330 million ◆ Drought
80% of California’s water is used for farming;
acres of the United ➔ Water Quality/Groundwater
thus, there is not enough water for everyone.
States land is used for ◆ Affected by poor planning of
agriculture purposes, industrial sites
My position (con) is that Californians,
that means farmers are ◆ Animal farms, barnyards and
especially farmers and big corporations,
in need water to feedlots
should be more conservative with managing
produce enough food ➔ CWA/WOTUS
water (groundwater and clean water).
for the world and other ◆ Security/Management
products
 Source #1:

California Farm Bureau

Author:
➔ California Farm Bureau Federation

Position
➔ Does not contain a position within the argument
➔ Contains information about the topic Farm Water

Claim
➔ No claim

*Recommend

https://www.cfbf.com/top-issues#water
Source #2:

The World Bank

Author
➔ The World Bank

Position
➔ Con
◆ There should be a limit on how much water is used and
the government should invest adequately in the
maintenance and management of irrigation and drainage
systems.

Claim:
➔ “Resolving this apparent quandary requires a thorough
reconsideration of how water is managed in the agricultural
sector, and how it can be repositioned in the broader context of
overall water resources management and water security.” (4)

https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/water-in-agriculture
Source #3:

Agricultural Water Use

Author:
➔ E. Vinje

Position
➔ Con
◆ Most of the farming water goes to plant based food
for meat production. Thus, the only way to cut back
to usage of over watering these plant is use soil that
would reduce water.

Claim
➔ “Establishing soil building programs could go along way,
as any organic gardener can tell you, to reducing water use
through better moisture retention (as well as reducing the
need for expensive chemical fertilizers and pesticides). “
(9)

https://www.planetnatural.com/agricultural-water-use/
Source #4:

United States Department of Agriculture

Author:
➔ USDA

Position
➔ Does not contain a position within the argument
➔ Contains information about the topic Farm Water and Irrigation

Claim
➔ “The ERS research, data, and information program investigates water allocation, conservation, and management issues
associated with water scarcity challenges facing irrigated agriculture in a changing water environment.”
◆ The value of irrigated agriculture to U.S. agriculture;
◆ Where irrigation occurs across the United States;
◆ Crops produced with irrigation;
◆ Trends in water use and on farm irrigation efficiency;
◆ Private and public investment in irrigation improvements
https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/farm-practices-management/irrigation-water-use/
Source #5:

Water & Power: A California Heist (Flim)

Author:
➔ Ted Gesing
➔ Marina Zenovich

Position
➔ Facts about the California usage of water in agriculture

Claim
➔ “ This examination shows how small farmers and everyday citizens are facing the drought and a new, debilitating water crisis.”
My Claim & Incorporation of Evidence
Claim:
- My claim is that the government should make more strict regulations regarding agricultural water usage in California, and Californians should be more
conservative with water

Incorporation of Evidence:

- Using relevant examples from my 5 sources

- Personal experiences from FFA, 4-H, and the California State FFA Conferences
- Interviews from previous Ag teachers