California’s Farmers Under Pressure: What It Means for Hemet

As a Board Member for the Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD), I see firsthand how water challenges across California ripple down to affect our local communities, including Hemet. The ongoing drought and shrinking supplies from the Colorado River are forcing difficult choices, especially for farmers who provide much of the food we depend on.

California’s Reliance on Colorado River Water

In Southern California, agriculture has long thrived in some of the driest landscapes on Earth because of water from the Colorado River. Nowhere is this clearer than in the Imperial Valley, where about half a million acres of farmland produce two-thirds of the nation’s winter vegetables. That production is only possible because the Imperial Irrigation District holds the single largest entitlement to Colorado River water, about three million acre-feet annually, or roughly 70 percent of California’s share (PBS NewsHour, 2025).

But persistent drought has cut the river’s flow by about 20 percent since 2000. At the same time, low water prices in agricultural districts ($20 an acre-foot) have encouraged practices like flood irrigation that are simple but inefficient. As water becomes scarcer, farmers in the Imperial Valley and beyond are under increasing pressure to conserve and modernize (PBS NewsHour, 2025).

Shifting Crops and Strategies

Farmers across the state have already begun adapting. Many are leaving some fields unplanted and instead transferring scarce water to higher value crops like almonds, strawberries, and fresh produce. These crops bring in more revenue per drop of water, allowing farms to stay economically viable despite having less land in production. Meanwhile, crops like alfalfa, which require large amounts of water but provide less economic return, have become flashpoints in debates about efficiency and water use (UCANR, 2021; PBS NewsHour, 2025).

Livestock producers have faced their own challenges, with reduced pasture forcing them to cull herds or ship cattle out of state. Despite these hardships, total farm revenues in California have remained relatively stable because farmers are prioritizing crops with the highest market value (UCANR, 2021).

Local Impacts in Hemet

These pressures are not limited to far off regions. Here in Riverside County, our local farmers are also feeling the squeeze. As the cost of water rises due to its increasing scarcity, some farmers are forced to consider scaling back operations or even closing up shop altogether. For small and mid-sized farms, which often lack the same financial resources as large agricultural producers, rising costs can make it nearly impossible to compete.

This has real consequences for Hemet and the surrounding communities. Fewer local farms means fewer fresh, locally grown foods available to families. It also threatens the agricultural jobs and rural character that have long been part of our region.

Moving Toward Sustainable Solutions

The challenges we face highlight the need for smarter, more resilient water management. The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) is helping California move in this direction by promoting water trading and banking, which can better allocate scarce supplies (UCANR, 2021). At the same time, partnerships between cities and farm districts are funding conservation measures like drip irrigation, micro sprinklers, and laser leveling fields (PBS NewsHour, 2025).

Locally, EMWD continues to expand our investments in recycled water, groundwater banking, and conservation programs that protect both our residents and the farmers who sustain our region. But lasting change will require us all, policymakers, water districts, cities, and residents, to work together and make difficult but necessary choices.

California’s farmers are resilient. They have adapted before, and with the right tools and policies, they can adapt again. For Hemet, supporting these efforts is not just about agriculture; it is about protecting our economy, our food security, and our way of life.

References

PBS NewsHour. “California farms face pressure to boost efficiency as water supply declines.” August 26, 2025. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/california-farms-face-pressure-to-boost-efficiency-as-water-supply-declines

University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR). “Drought pushes California farmers and ranchers to adapt to a drier future.” November 4, 2021. https://ucanr.edu/blog/green-blog/article/drought-pushes-california-farmers-and-ranchers-adapt-drier-future