Darian
06-03-2015, 02:35 PM
Heard on NPR, yesterday, that Ag products are the number one export for our country, now and rice is one of the largest crops exported to foreign countries (even Japan).
Surprisingly, many of our other exported domestic products are not as popular overseas due to protective tariffs/economic policies. For example, Japan (again) buys US dollars, then devalues it's own currency making Japanese automobile products cheaper in comparison to US automobile products. Japan, also, charges a high tariff on products imported from the US, in particular, making our products more expensive over there and discouraging imports. The outcome of that is to gain an advantage in the manufacturing/sale of their bands over here. I suppose the impact on water usage by manufacturers is a decline in volume used in the production of products for export.
This stuff contributes to reported discussions about which products merit priority consideration for allocation of water, Ag or industrial, and which among Ag crops is more deserving than others (e.g. annual or seasonal, etc.). Accordingly, here's a couple of questions for those who have expressed disapproval of water used for almonds, etc. Since water is used for irrigation in all Ag products for domestic use and export, should we try to limit the export of Ag products to foreign countries?? If yes, which exported crop is deserving of priority in allocation of water for irrigation, if any??? If the answer is no priority of one crop over another, how is water to be rationed among all users??? Keep in mind that federal policies and the balance of trade will limit our ability to regulate Ag/industrial activities.
Surprisingly, many of our other exported domestic products are not as popular overseas due to protective tariffs/economic policies. For example, Japan (again) buys US dollars, then devalues it's own currency making Japanese automobile products cheaper in comparison to US automobile products. Japan, also, charges a high tariff on products imported from the US, in particular, making our products more expensive over there and discouraging imports. The outcome of that is to gain an advantage in the manufacturing/sale of their bands over here. I suppose the impact on water usage by manufacturers is a decline in volume used in the production of products for export.
This stuff contributes to reported discussions about which products merit priority consideration for allocation of water, Ag or industrial, and which among Ag crops is more deserving than others (e.g. annual or seasonal, etc.). Accordingly, here's a couple of questions for those who have expressed disapproval of water used for almonds, etc. Since water is used for irrigation in all Ag products for domestic use and export, should we try to limit the export of Ag products to foreign countries?? If yes, which exported crop is deserving of priority in allocation of water for irrigation, if any??? If the answer is no priority of one crop over another, how is water to be rationed among all users??? Keep in mind that federal policies and the balance of trade will limit our ability to regulate Ag/industrial activities.