This report is coming to you 4 km up over Neveda. It seems we will miss our connection to Omaha at Denver and all the flights are booked out for the rest of the day. Sooo. a stopover in Denver. I have a friend there Sharon Steadman who I guess we will catch up with. Flying over the Sierra Nevada mountains is very beautiful- it is hard to describe the absolute lack of human presence other than a few roads, as well as very little vegetation, to be contrasted with the intensive irrigated agriculture in some of the valleys. We have seen some huge salt lakes as well as snow capped mountains in the same camera view finder.

Well, after the Almonds mentioned last email, we got to kick a bit of dirt with some actual growers which we all really enjoyed. Firstly, however, we met with some University based research people in the Centre for Irrigation Technology. Interestingly, they were focused on urban water use as being the best water use returns to research investment. The thinking was that if they could encourage water savings in the urban community, there wouldn't be as much pressure on Agriculture to give up its water. One studentwas using EM38 technology to look at salinity issues in plant establishment in cotton. However, they hadn't considered using the same technology to look at water use efficiency as we are in Australia. That reminds me of some of my general impressions and more quotes that typify what we are seeing.

Generally, Californians have a huge resource base, and I'm generally talking about water here, and they can't seem to believe that it might even be a limiting constraint. Leroy has met some rice guys in the northern Sacramento valley who pay US $1.40/mgl, who, however, are much more aware of potential water shortages. This awareness is probably driven by water sales to Sacramento city from Agricultural sources.

"Water flows uphill towards money", "Eat rice, potatoes make your butt big", "Whiskey is for drinking, water is for fighting over"(Mark Twain), "this water is not potable, but it is gulpable"!

We then went to another bloody dairy. Great young fellow, Bradon Hoover, who showed us his radar based movement detection system to work out whether his cows were on heat, or whether they were sick or lame. He speculated whether the system could be adjusted to suit humans, which he thought might help in his upcoming nuptials.

Next we met with a Californian Rural Leadership program graduate and farmer, Aaron Barcellos. He grows 6,000 acres of various irrigated crop and he has a ute with a Cummins Diesel- Harrrrgh Harrrrgh! He was growing processing tomatoes under drip and achieving a 50 % yield increase over furrow/flood irrigation. He was yet to put any cotton under drip, but felt that the returns were too low to justify it. Looking through his cotton, they have all the same weeds that we have, but they are quite happy with the Roundup Ready Flex technology. Very interesting guy who was quite happy todiscuss his whole program.

That night had another of Gary's cultural experiences - Mexican for dinner and Tequila shots. He is keeping a written record of all the new 'cultural expereinces'.

The next day saw a sewage water recycling operation which proported to re-manufacture 'gulpable' water for agricultural purposes for a total cost of USD$240/MGL (including capital). This was in a valley leading to the sea which they had massive underground pumping for agriculture. The has meant salt water infusion from the sea end of the aquifier. Now, it seemed to us that reducing pumping and reducing the overdraft on the aquifier would be the obvious answer, letting the fresh water push back the salt water.

However, the idea seemed to be to treat the symptom, keep pumping, and recycle grey water. We saw lettuce grown on the water being harvested. This little 8,000 irrigated area had more than 70% of the US artichoke production.

From there to meet with a University water extension officer. Interesting model of extension where the research from Uni's is extended by the Uni's themselves with Govt funding. Then left for Sacramento.

Sacramento, met with Californian EPA. They have State, Federal and County legislation controlling chemical use. Interesting to note that all chemical application has to be reported back through the counties. So, just imagine having to fill in a report and file it for every channel spray etc. Iguess this what we will have in Australia in the years to come. Next met Todd

Manley of the Northern Californian Water Association. I reckon this Association had a similar role to the NSW Irrigators. The issues they thought of were in some ways similar to ours, except they believe that there will always be another source of water- groundwater, bigger dams etc. One comment they did make was that Global Warming could limit their water holding ability as there would not be as much water stored up in the Sierra Navardas as snow, and the dams would not be able to hold much of the runoff.

Note, am now on the flight to Omaha having made the connection. Gave Sharon Steadman a quick call while I was in the airport- good to talk to a friend after 17 years!

Last stop of the day yesterday was with the Californian Farm Bureau. Essentially the same as NSW Farmers. All the senior staff were away tied up with Board meeting, but the two girls we spoke to were convinced Australian farmers received more subsidies than we let on. A big deal was made of conservation funding and riverbank regeneration grants. We tried to suggest that the environment was a better bet for funding than excess production but not sure if they go the point. Just flying over somewhere here and I reckon I can see 500 pivot irrigation systems at this very point- and we've been flying over these systems for 20 minutes. The maker of the sprinkler systems must a multi millionaire! Last night had dinner with a couple of California Rural Leadership program graduates. They have promised to be very helpful if/when we come back with contacts etc. Hope so, after we paid for the $500 dinner.