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<br />Distribution of these crops is not expected to change, however, crop yields <br /> <br />may increase with improved technologies. Of the irrigated land, about 48 <br /> <br />percent (88,000 acres) is classified as well suited to cultivation. Pasture <br /> <br />and animal.feed crops that tend to provide durable ground cover can be grown <br /> <br />in the remainder of the area. <br /> <br />There are approximately 2,000 farms in the study area averaging about <br /> <br />90 acres in size. Furrow irrigation is expected to remain the principal <br /> <br />irrigation method, with implementation of border, sprinkler and drip systems <br /> <br />occurring as these methods are demonstrated and gain acceptance among farm <br /> <br />operators. <br /> <br />About 828,000 acre feet of water is delivered annually to the many <br /> <br />farms in the valley for crop irrigation. In addition, small streams of <br /> <br />water flowing through some of the canals throughout the year provide water <br /> <br />for livestock. <br /> <br />Expansion to accomodate the estimated 2 percent per year growth in <br /> <br />population will encroach on about 2,000 acres of irrigated land during the <br /> <br />next 25 years. But agriculture will continue as the primary component of <br /> <br />the area's economy, and it is estimated that 169,000 acres will remain under <br /> <br />irrigation. <br /> <br />001230 <br /> <br />111-12 <br />