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ETC’s Scott Thompson recently traveled to the heart of California’s local farmer’s operations in El Centro, CA to check up on our farmers and their history of irrigation systems being used to funnel water from canal to crop and we thought it important work to share with our audiences. In the heart of Southern California’s Imperial Valley, Leimgruber Farms has been growing hay for four generations. They are a small family operation, pouring their hearts into every step—from planting and harvesting to selling directly to valued clients. The Imperial Valley has been a cornerstone of this rich agricultural landscape for over a century. With around 500,000 farmable acres, the Valley produces more than 65 different crops, ranging from winter veggies to hay. In fact, the Imperial Valley is responsible for about two-thirds of the vegetables consumed in the U.S. during the winter months—pretty impressive, right? So, how do they farm in a place that gets less than 2 inches of rain a year? The answer lies in the mighty Colorado River. When settlers first arrived, farmers and landowners worked together to build a canal that channeled water from the river. That first flow in 1901 transformed the landscape and their lives. Today, the Imperial Irrigation District manages a sprawling network of over 3,000 miles of canals, supplying nearly all of the Valley’s agricultural water. |
