Geo 730: Feb. 23, Day 419: Geology and Agriculture

Looking more or less south from our stop in the Warner Valley, the center-pivot irrigation seems somewhat out-of-place in this arid setting. According to Wikipedia, "Today, agriculture is the primary source of income in the Warner Valley." In large part, that is beef production, and the crops are heavily tilted toward hay and similar fodder, to allow feeding the cattle during the harsh winters here. There is simply not enough precipitation on the valley floor to get good crops of nearly any kind. So where does the water come from? Geology! The surrounding peaks capture much more winter snow and late spring rain than does the valley. The resulting runoff can then be captured for economic gain. The tell-tale circles of center-pivot irrigation can be readily seen in the FlashEarth view.

Photo unmodified. August 19, 2011. FlashEarth Location.