In the lower basin states of California, Arizona and Nevada, hay accounted for 57% of agricultural water use, with more water going to crops such as wheat, cotton, oranges, lettuce and broccoli.

Alfalfa and hay in the basin use an average 3.1 billion cubic meters of water a year — more than three times the 975 million cubic meters funneled to municipal, commercial and industrial uses.

hay. So-called “forage crops” like alfalfa and Bermuda grass, which are used to feed livestock, mainly cattle, require mind-altering amounts of water to cultivate. For the next three years ...

Click to enlarge Ninety percent of water used in the basin’s irrigated agriculture goes to grow cow feed. The other major crops combined — corn, wheat, sugar beets, dry beans and oats — make up the ...