Economic Impact of Agricultural Water Restrictions in Southeastern Idaho

Across the arid West, climate change poses threats to agricultural water availability; in southeastern Idaho, stakeholders have attempted to preemptively address these and other water issues. In 2015, farmers and other stakeholders signed the Managed Aquifer Recharge Settlement Agreement (MARSA). While this agreement has provided safe harbor from water calls until 2020, farmers face significant water cut requirements, which may negatively affect their ability to remain profitable. As part of MARSA, groundwater users agreed to an average cut back of 12.9% of water previously used for irrigation. Understanding the economic impact of these cuts is essential to facilitating and supporting the adaptations needed for farm operations to remain economically viable. By analyzing interview data, this research aims to provide an initial understanding of the impacts of the water cuts on crop yield production and household income. Additionally, we identify factors that shape the level of impact experienced by individual farmers. We anticipate that factors such acreage owned and crop rotation will influence the level of impact that the agreement had on farmers, and that farmers will describe these intersections in interviews

Ecosystems Services and Idaho Farmers

Farmers are stakeholders in ecosystems services because of their use of natural resources and economic and social influence. Farmers have an interest in the environment because it is vital to their daily life and work. The purpose of this research is to understand how farmers in southeastern Idaho perceive, value and use ecosystems services. We use data from in-depth interviews with thirty farmers in the area. Farmers describe themselves as good stewards of the land. They implement conservation practices to maintain soil quality and limit water. They also describe economic and social benefits of being farmers as a satisfying way to make a living and say that they want to be able to pass their farms onto their children. Farmers describe themselves as independent decision-makers. They are distrustful and cautious of federal and state governments, with concerns about over-regulation. They also express concern about maintaining their access to water and competition with other stakeholders