Yuma Valley - Arizona state - USA

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Yuma Valley - Arizona state - USA
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Yuma is in the extreme south west of Arizona on
the R. Colorado next to California and the border
with Mexico.
Yuma
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Temperature very hot. 35C in summer.
Annual rainfall total from 1993 to 2002 (about 3
inches) 8cms a year on average
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Yuma Winter Salad Bowl Capitol of the USA
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Colorado river - irrigation channel
Lot of evaporation loss.
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Furrow irrigation
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Yuma sprinkler system
Uses less water than furrow irrigation. Cools the
soil surface temperature when salad starting to
grow.
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Central pivot sprinklers
Circular fields
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Drip irrigation feeds water slowly and directly
to roots
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Dole Salad Packing Factory
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Mexican migrant workers
Seasonal low paid work
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Competition for Water
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Colorado water runs out.
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Rising costs
Too much fertiliser used
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Rise of organic farming
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Farming is run by big businesses
Agribusiness
Small family farms dying out
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Young people need specialist education for a
career in farming
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The River Colorado
One giant plumbing system?
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Is the farming sustainable?
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Back to the Desert?