Growth that feeds

In Colorado — my home state — roughly 1 in 7 children lives in a food-insecure household, and about 1 in 8 Coloradans overall struggles to afford enough food. Those aren’t abstract numbers. They’re our neighbors from the Arkansas Valley to the Western Slope.

Policy choices in Washington land squarely on kitchen tables back home.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes pro-growth tax provisions our industry has long supported. Those tools help growers, manufacturers and contractors invest in efficient irrigation, modernize equipment and manage risk. That matters. When producers can afford to upgrade to variable-rate application, soil-moisture sensors and better scheduling, they stretch every acre-inch of water and every dollar of input. That’s how you build resilience in a water-stressed economy.

But we should also be clear-eyed about the other side of the ledger: When policy changes put pressure on household food budgets, families feel it first, and supply chains feel it next. Grocery demand shifts, food banks see longer lines and retailers get cautious. This has real impacts on farm economics — and on the rural communities that depend on them.

So, where does that leave us? With a practical, two-track approach.

The irrigation industry has an important and impactful story to tell decision-makers: Efficient systems don’t just “save water”; they make water more productive.

Track one: Keep the growth wins. The incentives that accelerate adoption of water-smart technology are worth defending. In irrigation, efficiency is a set of concrete practices that lower per-unit production costs and stabilize yields in dry years while reducing shrink, pumping energy and labor hours. Across a season, that combination helps moderate costs through the supply chain. If we want steadier grocery prices, we should make it easier — not harder — for producers to finance and deploy proven efficiency.

Track two: Lean into affordability as an outcome of efficiency. Irrigation professionals have a specific contribution to make here. The irrigation industry has an important and impactful story to tell decision-makers: Efficient systems don’t just “save water”; they make water more productive. That productivity shows up in reduced variability, fewer catastrophic losses and better quality at harvest — more predictable supply and less waste.

What does that look like in practice?

• Accelerate upgrades that pay families back. Pair pro-investment tax policy with federal and state incentive programs for connected systems, soil-moisture sensors and precision pivots. Shorter payback periods drive faster adoption; the downstream return shows up as steadier supply and lower volatility at the register.
• Cut friction in financing and workforce. Even the best incentives fail if capital is hard to access or you can’t find a qualified installer. Smoother permitting, standardized specs and more certified pros move upgrades from “someday” to “scheduled.”
• Measure what matters to shoppers. We talk a lot about acre-feet saved, but the public cares about groceries and bills. Let’s track and share metrics that connect efficiency to affordability: reduced energy, yield stability in drought years and avoided losses from heat events.

There’s also a role for partnerships. Food banks and growers already work together; let’s make that collaboration more systematic. Pilot projects that connect efficiency gains with gleaning networks and cold-chain improvements can turn “saved in the field” into “stocked on the shelf.” On the retail side, procurement teams increasingly invest in climate resilience. Bringing irrigation performance metrics into those conversations helps buyers value the risk reduction that efficiency provides.

Growth and affordability aren’t competing goals; they’re complementary. If we stay focused on both, we’ll build a water-smart food system that keeps fields productive, shelves stocked and prices steadier — for Colorado and beyond.

Nathan Bowen is the vice president of advocacy and public affairs for the Irrigation Association.