A tractor clears dead plants from a farm.

This 600-acre almond orchard in California was cleared last May because of a shortage of water. 

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

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Water Worries

A historic drought in the Western U.S. has left farmers without enough water.

April 11, 2022
By Nicole Tocco with reporting by Alicia Green

As You Read, Think About: How might the drought affect what people in the U.S. eat?

Farming has always been a part of Joe Del Bosque’s life. His parents worked on farms in California in the 1950s. During school breaks, Del Bosque would help out. 

“By the time I was 10, I was on a tractor, working in the field,” Del Bosque, now 72, recalls.

In 1985, he started his own farm in Firebaugh, California. He began by growing melons, like his father had. 

Over the years, he added more crops, including almonds, tomatoes, and asparagus. During his busiest years, Del Bosque employed as many as 1,000 farmworkers to help pick and package his crops. Today, his farm stretches across 2,000 acres—an area the size of more than 1,500 football fields.

But last year, Del Bosque was forced to destroy more than 100 acres of asparagus crops so he would have enough water for his melons. This year, he’ll have to leave at least one-third of his farmland unused. 

Much of the Western U.S. is suffering through a drought that is now in its third year. A drought is a long period with little or no rainfall or snowfall, leading to a shortage of water. The current long dry spell has hit farmers especially hard. 

“We depend on Mother Nature to a great degree,” Del Bosque says. “It’s a tough situation.” 

Farming has always been a part of Joe Del Bosque’s life. His parents worked on farms in California in the 1950s. During school breaks, Del Bosque would help out. 

“By the time I was 10, I was on a tractor, working in the field,” Del Bosque, now 72, recalls.

In 1985, he started his own farm in Firebaugh, California. He began by growing melons. That's what his father had grown too.

Over the years, he added more crops. They included almonds, tomatoes, and asparagus. During his busiest years, Del Bosque employed as many as 1,000 farmworkers. They help pick and package his crops. Today, his farm stretches across 2,000 acres. That's an area the size of more than 1,500 football fields.

But last year, Del Bosque was forced to destroy more than 100 acres of asparagus crops. He did it so he would have enough water for his melons. This year, he’ll have to leave at least one-third of his farmland unused.  

Much of the Western U.S. is suffering through a drought that is now in its third year. A drought is a long period with little or no rainfall or snowfall. It leads to a shortage of water. The current long dry spell has hit farmers especially hard.   

“We depend on Mother Nature to a great degree,” Del Bosque says. “It’s a tough situation.” 

Terry Chea/AP Images

Joe Del Bosque

A Dry Disaster

Just how bad has the drought been for farming? In California alone, farmers left about 395,000 acres of land unplanted last year. That cost the state’s agriculture industry more than $1 billion and nearly 9,000 jobs. 

Del Bosque had to lay off 70 farmworkers. He expects to have to lay off more this year.

“When we don’t plant, people lose jobs,” Del Bosque says. “It breaks my heart. These people are important to us.”

The loss of crops could also affect people across the U.S. More than two-thirds of the nation’s fruits and nuts and one-third of its vegetables come from California. 

Just how bad has the drought been for farming? In California alone, farmers left about 395,000 acres of land unplanted last year. That cost the state’s agriculture industry more than $1 billion and nearly 9,000 jobs. 

Del Bosque had to lay off 70 workers. He expects to have to lay off more this year.

“When we don’t plant, people lose jobs,” Del Bosque says. “It breaks my heart. These people are important to us.”

The loss of crops could also affect people across the U.S. More than two-thirds of the nation’s fruits and nuts and one-third of its vegetables come from California.

Top Crops

Here’s a look at how much of the nation’s supply of some fruits and vegetables comes from California.

Honeydew Melon: 100%


Grapes: 95%


Broccoli: 90%


Strawberries: 88%


Tomatoes: 73%


Source: California Department of Food and Agriculture; Shutterstock.com


Top Crops

Here’s a look at how much of the nation’s supply of some fruits and vegetables comes from California.


Honeydew Melon: 100%


Grapes: 95%


Broccoli: 90%


Strawberries: 88%


Tomatoes: 73%


Source: California Department of Food and Agriculture; Shutterstock.com

Looking Ahead

California’s warm summers make it a perfect place to grow crops like almonds, avocados, and grapes. Del Bosque and other farmers in Central California rely on a complex irrigation system (see “Water Works,” below). Much of the water is supplied through the Central Valley Project, a 400-mile network of dams, reservoirs, and waterways.

November through April is usually the wet season in California. During this crucial period, reservoirs store water for the drier months ahead. Melting snow from the Sierra Nevada mountains also helps fill reservoirs.

But this January and February were the driest on record in California. Scientists say the dry spell is one of the effects of climate change—the change in Earth’s average temperature and weather patterns over time. In mid-March, the San Luis Reservoir, which supplies water to Del Bosque’s farm, was less than half full. 

Scientists can’t predict when the drought will end, but they’re expecting another especially dry summer. That leaves Del Bosque uncertain about the future. 

“It’s important that we continue to grow these crops,” he says. “California agriculture is important to the whole country.”

California’s warm summers make it a perfect place to grow crops like almonds, avocados, and grapes. Del Bosque and other farmers in Central California rely on a complex irrigation system (see “Water Works,” below). Much of the water is supplied through the Central Valley Project. That's a 400-mile network of dams, reservoirs, and waterways.

November through April is usually the wet season in California. During this crucial period, reservoirs store water or the drier months ahead. Melting snow from the Sierra Nevada mountains also helps fill reservoirs.

But this January and February were the driest on record in California. Scientists say the dry spell is one of the effects of climate change. That is the change in Earth’s average temperature and weather patterns over time. The San Luis Reservoir supplies water to Del Bosque’s farm. In mid-March, it was less than half full.  

Scientists can’t predict when the drought will end. They’re expecting another especially dry summer. That leaves Del Bosque uncertain about the future.  

“It’s important that we continue to grow these crops,” he says. “California agriculture is important to the whole country.”

Water Works

This diagram shows how California’s Central Valley Project supplies water to homes, businesses, and farms, like Joe Del Bosque’s.
 

  1. Snowpack builds up in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
  2. Runoff from melting snow feeds reservoirs.
  3. Water from a reservoir flows into streams and rivers.
  4. Streams and rivers connect with canals to carry water to farms.
  5. Farms also rely on wells to pump groundwater from cracks in soil or rock below the surface.
Illustration by Mike Rogalski

Water Works

This diagram shows how California’s Central Valley Project supplies water to homes, businesses, and farms, like Joe Del Bosque’s.
 

  1. Snowpack builds up in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
  2. Runoff from melting snow feeds reservoirs.
  3. Water from a reservoir flows into streams and rivers.
  4. Streams and rivers connect with canals to carry water to farms.
  5. Farms also rely on wells to pump groundwater from cracks in soil or rock below the surface.
Illustration by Mike Rogalski

1. Why does the author include Joe Del Bosque’s personal story?

2. How could the drought in California affect the entire country?

3. What are two facts you can learn from the “Water Works” diagram?

1. Why does the author include Joe Del Bosque’s personal story?

2. How could the drought in California affect the entire country?

3. What are two facts you can learn from the “Water Works” diagram?

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