Home Grown: Sen. Kelly applauds Yuma’s ag conservation effort

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - In today's Home Grown, we address the water crisis in the western region as the Colorado River reservoirs hit record lows. 

One industry that contributes to Arizona's declaration of a tier-one water shortage is agriculture.

The local economy is dependent on ag, and ag is dependent on water.

Central Arizona ag is losing a large sum of its water, but U.S Sen. Mark Kelly cites Yuma county ag as a good example of water conservation.

"The agriculture industry in Yuma County has done a fantastic job of this over decades, growing crops with significantly less water, and we need to expand that kind of model across the state," Sen. Kelly.

There are also ways to collaborate with the seed industry where initially crops could still grow with less water.

Transplanting is an effective way to cut down on water use because watering is done while crops grow in close quarters.