South Dakota could become farmland for KSA after loss of Arizona irrigation permit

About 3 million acres of irrigated ag land in Western states are planted to alfalfa and it takes 3 to 6 acre-feet every year to water an acre of it — more in hotter, drier climates. An acre foot is about 326,000 gallons.

But, after draining fragile aquifers and lobbying for more water from the Gila River Arizona has revoked irrigation permits for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In 2018 the Saudi Ministry of Energy and Agriculture banned the use of groundwater for alfalfa production and in August of 2022 the Democratic candidate for Arizona Attorney General, now AG Kris Mayes called for an investigation of KSA's sweetheart deal to pump Phoenix's reserves for free.

“We know by anecdotal evidence that wells are being de-watered by these big farming operations. We know that land is subsiding. We can see that with our eyes,” Mayes said. “We have existing law that we don’t think [is] being followed.” County leaders have voiced concerns over the future water supply. [Water permits for Saudi Arabia-owned farm in Arizona revoked]

In South Dakota growers need to apply to irrigate more than one acre of land and allows for up to 24 inches or two acre feet per acre but a permit can take years to be approved. Most East River aquifers are fully appropriated but are believed to be more sustainable. Older permits even allow for the pumping of surface water and in 2022 the state had 5,532 active irrigation permits on about 836,000 acres.

Rather than fears over an expansionist Chinese Communist Party, the discussion at that time centered around fears that nations flush with oil cash were planning to buy up land in the Midwest and drive up prices for local farmers. “There was talk that Saudi Arabia had a lot of extra money and they were going to start to buy up land in rural states,” Kent Frerichs, a sponsor on the 1979 law dealing with foreign ownership of agriculture land, recalled. “And that was what spurred my thought at the time.” [South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem's new ag land proposal rehashes old debate]

The Marquis de Saud, Dan Lederman, is an agent for KSA. He spent $50,000 to buy a seat in South Dakota's corrupt legislature flaunting the same class by throwing it away resigning after the 2015 session then forcing his way into the chair of South Dakota's Republican Party. As President Biden puts the screws to Lederman’s bosses in the KSA Mrs. Noem is distracting some attention from her own foibles by pecking at Uncle Joe. That Lederman would steer criminals like Mohammed bin Salman into South Dakota is completely within his crooked wheelhouse. 

Lederman's replacement is Earth hater John Wiik. His twitter feed reads like Kyle Rittenhouse and Kaitlin Bennett resurrected the remains of an abortion from the union they botched in a church bathroom and he’s now running the most dysfunctional romper room in South Dakota.

Image lifted from the Shad Olson Show.

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