ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

 

HB 2026: appropriation; on-farm efficiency fund

Sponsor: Representative Dunn, LD 25

Committee on Natural Resources, Energy & Water

Overview

Appropriates $30,000,000 from the state General Fund to the On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Fund in fiscal year 2024.

History

Last session, the Legislature created the On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Pilot Program which is administered by the University of Arizona Agricultural Extension and provides grants to farmers to buy and install approved water efficient irrigation systems that modify or replace flood irrigation. An approved system must show (in prior research and projected savings based on the crop type and water usage) at least a 20% savings in water used compared to flood irrigation.

Applicants must meet certain criteria, such as actively farming the proposed acreage and using the efficient system on crops that have been grown in region for the past five years to enable a comparison in water savings. The University of Arizona Agricultural Extension may prioritize applications that cost-effectively reduce water use, minimize energy use, maximize benefits to irrigable land and crops and allow for data collection. A grant cannot exceed $1,000,000 per applicant or $1,500 per acre of irrigable land served by the efficient system.

As a condition for receiving a grant, applicants must agree to use the efficient system for three years and report on individual fields that are watered using these systems. Water savings may generally not be used to irrigate additional lands. However, applicants who rely on mainstream Colorado River water or Central Arizona Project water that was not delivered due to shortages in Lake Mead may use the saved water to farm fallowed acres.

This program's fund was allocated $30,000,000 in American Rescue Plan Act monies. The University of Arizona Agriculture Extension may use up to $1,000,000 of those funds for demonstration projects, research and education (Laws 2022, Chapter 332).

Provisions

1.   Appropriates $30,000,000 from the state General Fund to the On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Fund in fiscal year 2024.☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note

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5.                     HB 2026

6.   PAB           Page 0 Natural Resources, Energy & Water

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