Crop water productivity and return after variable cost for three major crops (winter wheat, grain sorghum and maize) in the southwest Kansas were evaluated based on simulated yield using the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer - Cropping System Model (DSSAT-CSM). Winter wheat and ... Read More
Understanding how irrigation is used across agricultural landscapes is essential to support efforts to grow more food while reducing pressures on limited freshwater resources. However, to date, few studies have analyzed the underlying spatial and temporal variability in farmers' individual water ... Read More
Water is a major factor limiting crop production in many regions around the world. Irrigation can greatly enhance crop yields, but the local availability and timing of freshwater resources constrains the ability of humanity to increase food production. Innovations in irrigation infrastructure hav... Read More
Water availability is a major factor constraining humanity's ability to meet the future food and energy needs of a growing and increasingly affluent human population. Water plays an important role in the production of energy, including renewable energy sources and the extraction of unconventional... Read More
California is a global leader in the agricultural sector and produces more than 400 types of commodities. The state produces over a third of the country’s vegetables and two-thirds of its fruits and nuts. Despite being highly productive, current and future climate change poses many challenges t... Read More
The distribution of rainfed agriculture, which accounts for approximately ¾ of global croplands, is expected to respond to climate change and human population growth and these responses may be especially pronounced in water limited areas. Because the environmental conditions that support rainfed... Read More
lthough groundwater is a major water resource in the western US, little research has been done on the impacts of climate change on groundwater storage and recharge in the West. Here we assess the impact of projected changes in climate on groundwater recharge in the near (2021-2050) and far (2071-... Read More
Floods and droughts have caused an estimated $340.4 billion in damages in the United States since 1980. On the nation’s farms, these extreme weather events devastate crops and livestock, and damage or wash away soil. Taxpayers shoulder a heavy burden from these disasters, which also affect citi... Read More
To paint a deeper picture of the complexities and nuances of agricultural water conservation in the West, we worked with the engineering firm Applegate Group to create a water balance for three of the case studies. These water balances utilize a technical, objective approach to assess the produce... Read More
In Feeding Ourselves Thirsty, Ceres takes a closer look at how the food sector is managing water risk. The report evaluates publicly available information on the water use, stewardship and policies of 37 major food sector companies in four industries: packaged food, beverage, meat and agricultura... Read More
