SACRAMENTO, CA - In an interview this past Sunday with Martha Raddatz, host of ABC's "This Week,” Governor Jerry Brown held strong in defense of his recently imposed water restrictions. Raddatz asked Governor Brown the tough question of why agriculture was not included in his latest order designed to cut back water usage by 25%. The Governor’s responses were supportive of the industry in general.

When Raddatz asked Brown why his order doesn't extend to California farmers, Brown replied that he does not believe farmers are using water frivolously. “They’re not watering their lawn or taking longer showers,” Brown said. “They’re providing most of the fruits and vegetables of America.”

Barry Bedwell, President of the California Fresh Fruit Association commented, “Governor Brown has done a good job in explaining that California agriculture has already taken severe cuts in the amount of surface water they are allocated. Particularly when looking at a zero percent federal allocation and no more than 20% state allocation. In addition, this Governor understands that when land is not farmed, it is not only the farmer and their families that suffer but also scores of farmworkers who are out of a job as well as consumers who face higher prices.” 

As the San Jose Mercury News reports, Brown said that before the current cutbacks California farmers had already been denied federal irrigation water. Farmers who don't have access to federal surface water have increased the amount of water pumped from limited groundwater supplies. 

Brown told Raddatz that farmers’ current century-old water rights, "are probably going to be examined."

"It is a wake-up call," Brown continued. "It's requiring action and changes in behavior from the Oregon border all the way to the Mexican border. It affects lawns. It affects people's -- how long they stay in the shower, how businesses use water.”

As California’s drought situation develops, AndNowUKnow will continue to update you on how the produce industry will be affected.