When it comes to groundwater in Cochise County, there’s enough for everyone’s need but not for anyone’s greed.
Of late we’ve been hearing the following from some farmers: “All irrigators in the county have the same rights when it comes to the groundwater—and this is a good thing.” For these folk, “Ag is ag is ag,” to use the language we’ve been hearing.
Is that perception true if a few irrigators have unlimited access to groundwater? Can they pump until there’s none left for anybody?
Of course not. Corporatized, financialized agribusiness is NOT the legacy stewardship practiced by our small- and medium-sized producers and households.
Does seemingly unlimited wealth from investors and shareholders get you unlimited access to drill, baby, drill?
Currently it does, and that’s an injustice we must change.
“Ag is ag is ag” is like comparing apples to oranges to lemons and saying they’re all the same.