FRESNO, Calif. – Dozens of farmers in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta say they're changing their business models to meet voluntary water conservation targets amid the relentless drought in California.
Michael George, the state's delta watermaster, said Monday that roughly 120 farmers in the delta had filed their water-saving plans ahead of a midnight deadline. He expects more to come.
Delta farmers pitched the voluntary deal in exchange for being spared deeper mandatory cuts by the state in the future.
George says the farmers will grow crops that require less water, leave some fields unplanted and change irrigation schedules.
Further details involving particular crops were not immediately disclosed.
Delta farmer John Kisst says he plans on irrigating his alfalfa once a month instead of twice. He says it's not ideal but will keep the crops alive.
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