ARIZONA GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DEDICATED TO TACKLING THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES FACING ARIZONA AGRICULTURE.
Authority financing to include irrigation districts and water conservation districts, a funding option desperately needed in rural Arizona. WG staff also supported efforts to establish the On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Pilot Program to provide grants and collect data for on-farm irrigation efficiency systems to reduce on-farm use of groundwater, surface water, mainstream Colorado River water, or water delivered through the Central Arizona Project. TAXATION WG supported efforts to expand current sales tax exemptions to include any machinery and equipment used for commercial production in Arizona – instead of only new machinery and equipment – and added agricultural “off-highway vehicles” used for commercial production of agricultural crops to the exemption.
Western Growers’ policy influence extends to Arizona, where staff is dedicated to ensuring the continued viability of the fresh produce industry throughout the state. With continued historic drought conditions across the Western U.S. in 2022, water was once again a major focus of legislative activity in Arizona.
WATER RESOURCES & INFRASTRUCTURE The 2022 Legislative session focused heavily on a proposed historic investment in water resource development and infrastructure. WG staff was at the table protecting agriculture’s interests, while supporting new water resource development. As a result, Arizona made a historic $1.2 billion investment in future water resources, infrastructure and conservation, as well as creating a reconstituted Water Infrastructure Financing Authority to direct spending. WG staff also worked to expand access to Water Infrastructure
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