Photo via Flickr/Creative Commons/olle svensson
Photo via Flickr/Creative Commons/olle svensson

Everyone’s talking about California’s drought this year, but in reality, it started back in 2012. That’s right. 2012.

Today, according to this statement by the USDA, “as of April, 44 percent of the State is classified under the exceptional drought rating (meaning that there are exceptional and widespread crop/pasture losses; and shortages of water in reservoirs, streams, and wells creating water emergencies, as determined by U.S. Drought Monitor).”

To help illustrate which crops are the most at-risk, the USDA has made this handy chart.

Cali crops

Perhaps I’m a bit behind ‘o the times on what they’re growing down there in Cali, but rice? Really?

California farmers use a variety of water sources, including “off-farm surface water, groundwater and on-farm surface water.” Water-thirsty crops like “rice, cotton and beans” are going to be the most impacted by low snowpacks and reservoir storage. Whereas, farms that depend less on “gravity irrigation,” like orchards and berries, will fare better.

Of course, as this HuffPo piece points out, California’s biggest water sucker isn’t a crop — it’s an animal. Beef production tops the charts in water usage.

If you’d like to read more terrifying facts about California’s prospects for growing different kinds of crops, you can take a look at the USDA’s longer report California Drought: Farm and Food Impacts

Now excuse me while I go cry over the loss of the beloved avocado, thanks to New York Magazine‘s Grub Street.

Like what you're reading? Subscribe to GeekWire's free newsletters to catch every headline

Job Listings on GeekWork

Find more jobs on GeekWork. Employers, post a job here.