Loss of Farm Production

In 1980, cash receipts from marketing livestock and their products and crops in the 17 Western States accounted for approximately $59.3 billion, or about 43 percent of the income derived from farming in the United States (OTA, 1983). In particular, the United States is dependent on the West to provide certain crops, including 85% of the national demand for wheat, barley, and sorghum (OTA, 1983). If farmers in western states continue to sell their water rights and take cropland out of production, the United States will be losing an important segment of food supply. The country will increasingly be reliant upon imported foodstuffs to meet its demand.