Arizona Democratic gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs met with local farmers late Friday afternoon to learn more about how the historic drought is impacting Yuma’s agricultural industry.

Hobbs found the situation very worrying and only getting worse.

Drought promises to affect life in every corner of Arizona, but water shortages have bigger implications for Yuma County.

“If you think Yuma is a poor boy in Arizona now, it’s because all the money that supports this economy, or I get 70 or 80 percent of it from farming around here.” John Jessen said:

Jessen was just one of the local farmers invited to the table for a meeting with Hobbs by Vic Smith of JV Smith Companies.

It was a gathering of Democrats, but the problem goes beyond party.

The concerns expressed by Gowan and JV Smith are shared by the entire Yuma ag community, regardless of political affiliation.

One of the big concerns now is the amount of water available for planting next season.

Steve Alameda of Top Flavor Farms says it keeps him awake at night.

Alameda said, “I’m already in a funk this year. Normally I’m focused and ready, but I try to plan with this in mind, but I can’t really do it.” You say that you are always thinking about something because you are not standing up.

Farmers don’t know how much they will have to cut, but they expect a significant reduction.

JV Smith Chief Agriculture Officer Matt McGuire said: .Phoenix already has many influences. If they just stick to the law of the river, Phoenix’s agriculture will basically be wiped out. ”

Local farms are already doing a lot to conserve water, and they keep looking for ways to do more.

They are working closely with the University of Arizona’s Yuma Desert Agricultural Research Center to find new and better ways to make the most of limited water supplies.

Stephanie Slinksi, the center’s associate director of research, says the local farming community is looking to the future.

“I really enjoy working with this, they are very forward thinking, thinking about the future and what changes need to be made,” said Slinksi. rice field.

Hobbes learned that water availability wasn’t the only issue for Yuma farmers.

“The biggest problem here is salt. To us, the Colorado River is sweet and delicious water. Well, it has 800 parts.” Vic Smith began to say when McGuire intervened.

“2,000 pounds per acre foot, we use 3 acre feet to grow our lettuce crop, but it’s a little less than that, so we add 6,000 pounds of salt for every acre of lettuce. You have to remove the salt to keep growing,” McGuire said.

Hobbes was intrigued.

“How do you remove the salt?” she asked.

“In the summer people come and they drive and they see flat fields with water and flat floods. is to wash it out beyond the root zone,” McGuire replied.

For Hobbs, it was a lot to take in, but it’s key information she needs if she wants to live in the governor’s office.

“My focus right now is to open that door and start these conversations now, so we can start working right from day one,” she said after the discussion.

Farmers like McGuire say it’s important to hear their message.

“It looks like it’s going to be reported to the federal government sometime in August and they’ll let us know how it goes. And it usually doesn’t turn out really good. Because here Because there are 450 farmers there, and there are 450 farmers there, and we don’t get that many votes when it comes to politicians, and they don’t pay attention to us,’ he said. Told.

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To hear more of Farmer’s conversation with Hobbes, join us for a special water-focused edition of Fields at KAWC on Wednesday nights at 6:30 PM.