Saudi company draws unlimited Arizona ground water for crop illegal to grow in Saudi Arabia

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  • Опубліковано 19 кві 2023
  • Alfalfa is one of the world's most water-intensive crops, and thousands of acres of land in drought-parched western Arizona are dedicated to growing it. Even more concerning to some are the farms, with the largest chunks of land in La Paz County owned by a company in Saudi Arabia. All the crops it grows are exported back home to the Middle East.
    #news #arizona #saudiarabia
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 3,7 тис.

  • @Jeanne90275
    @Jeanne90275 Рік тому +1361

    Colorado River water has been a contentious issue for decades. The idea that Arizona has allowed this precious commodity to be squandered on Saudi leased land (@ $25an acre!) is criminal or criminally stupid. The southwest is a desert and water conservation is essential.

    • @KA-uv8gq
      @KA-uv8gq Рік тому +41

      The problem is that we view and treat water as s commodity to begin with.

    • @HiThisIsMine
      @HiThisIsMine Рік тому +52

      @@KA-uv8gq - is that really “the problem”?? Because if we actually viewed water as a commodity in the first place… we wouldn’t be giving it away for free to another country.
      The valuable resource to the Arizona officials who agreed to this deal, was whatever kickbacks they were getting from the Saudi’s.
      THE problem… is that we often DON’T look at water as a commodity, and many government officials look at their own bottom line rather than that of the citizens.
      Water is absolutely a commodity.

    • @snigs5T5
      @snigs5T5 Рік тому +41

      That's Republican'ts for ya!

    • @stick9758
      @stick9758 Рік тому +7

      I just moved from Az back to the U.P. Of Michigan. I spent 5 years in Phoenix area. I was born in the west and moved to the water states when I was 10. It was a big change but people here don’t waist water like they do there! I was BLOWN away by how they flood there blocks weekly!! Crazy!! The trees and plants brought in absurdity!! I still can’t understand it even after moving back

    • @stick9758
      @stick9758 Рік тому +2

      And my water bill is almost 2x what it was in Gilbert!!!!! Same family, same amount of water!! Twice the cost but more available!!!

  • @sharonkinsella7435
    @sharonkinsella7435 Рік тому +711

    As an Arizonan, thank you for shining a light on this outrageous issue!! I appreciate that the attorney general of Arizona has been trying to do something about it.

    • @arizonaadventures3421
      @arizonaadventures3421 Рік тому +10

      Alfalfa is one of the easiest crops to grow in the desert. If you have land rights and have a well you have access to that water. BLM exists and you can pay to have rights on that land. It sounds bad but sounds legal too. Im on a well and one of the benefits is i don't have to pay the government for water. This situation sucks but sounds above board to me. We have a lot of alfalfa farms up north in Arizona too. They are all small family owned farms. This sounds more like a story to invite fear in people. Most states have water rights laws that basically state if you dont use the water you lose it, forcing farmers to flood their lands even when they are not growing crops. This is a government rights and legal issue not a saudi theft corruption issue.

    • @nekopop8159
      @nekopop8159 Рік тому +6

      @@arizonaadventures3421 That’s right. Therefore we need to address the Saudis stealing our water and farmland.
      We let them in because they seemed good, but then they are not. It’s their problem.

    • @MC_1993
      @MC_1993 Рік тому

      This will destroy your state.

    • @arizonaadventures3421
      @arizonaadventures3421 Рік тому +3

      ​@@nekopop8159 The thing is if we are addressing the Saudis we must also address every other farmer or land owner/renter that has well water rights. International business exists. Americans own business in other countries as well. I don't think it would be safe to attack an individual group. I believe its the foundation of agro laws that needs to be looked at. Its the foundation that creates fairness. Its what the United States used to be about.

    • @topherkrump9317
      @topherkrump9317 Рік тому +1

      Saudi should have a right to use all the Arizona water it wants.

  • @bjoe631
    @bjoe631 Рік тому +179

    Thank you for bring this problem to the public.

    • @bjoe631
      @bjoe631 Рік тому

      Most times it amazes me greatly how I moved from an average lifestyle to earning over $63k per month, Utter shock is the word. I have understood a lot in the past few years that there are lots of opportunities in the financial market. The only thing is to know where to invest.

    • @Florencecoxx
      @Florencecoxx Рік тому

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      @bjoe631 Рік тому

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    • @Florencecoxx
      @Florencecoxx Рік тому

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      @thamad311 Рік тому

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  • @haypaul61
    @haypaul61 9 місяців тому +3

    Thank you Saudi Arabia... for investing in the welfare of Arizona farmers...🎉

  • @tragicrhythm
    @tragicrhythm Рік тому +448

    Those state officials should be investigated especially their finances. If there was no advantage to be made in this lease by the state, then something else was going on.

    • @mdj-ie7rj
      @mdj-ie7rj Рік тому +24

      Exactly! While it’s maddening that Saudi Arabia (and others) are draining the aquifer; it is being done legally due to insane az laws which should have come to a halt long ago! The public has a right to know who is benefitting. The state land department leased and sold land to them-it isnt impossible to obtain the signatures from govt archives and pinpoint who was and is, responsible. Investigate!

    • @travisyarbrough4033
      @travisyarbrough4033 Рік тому

      Saudi's do everything with money .......

    • @iketheranter9126
      @iketheranter9126 Рік тому +2

      🎯👍

    • @hairjezus
      @hairjezus Рік тому +3

      Facts

    • @platinumpineapple9943
      @platinumpineapple9943 Рік тому

      100% being paid millions by corrupt saudi mo ey

  • @shanel7707
    @shanel7707 Рік тому +487

    Look at a world map, the fact that it made sense for a company to grow it in AZ and ship it all the way to Saudia Arabia vs all the other options in Afria/Asia/Europe means there's a major issue how AZ is regulating and charging for its water use. It has nothing to do with who owns the company.

    • @Group_Anonymous
      @Group_Anonymous Рік тому

      Canada bars foreigners from buying real estate…..and taxes those who already own property. WE DONT 🇺🇸💰

    • @kensmechanicalaffair
      @kensmechanicalaffair Рік тому +17

      Agreed.

    • @hus390
      @hus390 Рік тому +23

      Bingo!! Foreign owned is not a problem per say, if they are investigating it in a mutually beneficial way. In this case, they actually leased the land, and didn't bought it. The use is the problem. Here the harm to AZ far exceeds any benefits (badly needed fresh water are taken for fractions of a cent, and used to grow a crop that will be shipped overseas).

    • @canyonmonkey2537
      @canyonmonkey2537 Рік тому +23

      It's a strategic plan to limit resources 8n an already arid southwest. You grow alfalfa 8n Kansas not Arizona. The only caviat to Arizona is the mild winters in say yuma....where most of the world winter supply of lettuce is grown.
      If Saudi Arabia wants Arizona or Kansas alfalfa, you buy it... from an American farmer

    • @Optim40
      @Optim40 Рік тому +1

      That's true.

  • @dboogeman2002
    @dboogeman2002 Рік тому +11

    Finally thanks for bringing this to the masses but many of us have known this for awhile.

  • @solart78
    @solart78 Рік тому +5

    Someone needs to be held accountable for allowing this. Outrageous

  • @CarlosRodriguez-hb3vq
    @CarlosRodriguez-hb3vq Рік тому +575

    Similar thing happens with American owned corporate farms. They drill deep, expensive wells and pump 24/7. Poor folks see their wells dry up.

    • @LegalFiction.
      @LegalFiction. Рік тому +10

      It is sad but at least that food stays here

    • @hyphen2612
      @hyphen2612 Рік тому +3

      Naw, because the products are consumed mostly by Americans so that makes it okay 😊

    • @147gcg
      @147gcg Рік тому +17

      @@LegalFiction. what food?

    • @ilikecinema1234
      @ilikecinema1234 Рік тому +21

      ​@@147gcgThey're referring to the poison that's in your grocery stores

    • @147gcg
      @147gcg Рік тому +19

      @@ilikecinema1234 yes I do understand that but on this video they said they are growing alfalfa and shipping it back to their country to feed their cows while depleting our groundwater that we desperately need

  • @FJB-HB-KH-libs
    @FJB-HB-KH-libs Рік тому +1070

    It's about time this is getting headlines. No other foreign country should be able to use our land and our water for their crop. Especially if Arizona is in a "drought". We have had record rain and snow this year and all the reservoirs are full but the wells, groundwater are empty. Saudi isn't the only one either. All of it needs to stop.

    • @3xsxs953
      @3xsxs953 Рік тому +126

      You realize America has been doing the same in other countries for decades, right? Lmao. Look up banana republics.

    • @ezraleslie1361
      @ezraleslie1361 Рік тому +5

      ​@@3xsxs953 no. amrrikka. fug yah.

    • @Teeveepicksures
      @Teeveepicksures Рік тому +50

      Has nothing to do with other countries. Arizona State Legislature won't do anything because they want their payoffs.

    • @saundracoveal2752
      @saundracoveal2752 Рік тому +8

      Exactly! And, if they are allowed to this, they should be paying through the roof!

    • @canyonmonkey2537
      @canyonmonkey2537 Рік тому +23

      China owns alot of land here too.

  • @kimm6589
    @kimm6589 Рік тому +8

    I'm glad this is finally making mainstream news. It's insane that foreign countries can essentially ship out our ground water, from deserts ffs.

  • @ProGaming-tc9jp
    @ProGaming-tc9jp Рік тому +4

    Whats actually insane is people choose to live in a desert and are surprised there’s not enough water lol

    • @guze_wolf9973
      @guze_wolf9973 11 місяців тому

      Yeah that’s how the oil was found and being used by the whole world , Saudi have water from the sea and lakes, the problem is that it’s a bad place to grow anything

  • @gigif8566
    @gigif8566 Рік тому +243

    Corruption at it's worst. Follow the money.

    • @rainmaker3700
      @rainmaker3700 Рік тому +1

      Yes, because we have the most corrupt government in the world. They will sell out every American.

    • @ghostmanscores1666
      @ghostmanscores1666 Рік тому +8

      Democrats

    • @dk3941
      @dk3941 Рік тому

      Leads to gop. The gop have close ties with Saudis. Look at donald's children.

    • @wolfman3295
      @wolfman3295 Рік тому

      @@ghostmanscores1666 Loser! democrats are trying to fight this!

    • @powermatt9001
      @powermatt9001 Рік тому +14

      @@ghostmanscores1666 or... just follow the money.

  • @jeffery1855
    @jeffery1855 Рік тому +281

    How does Arizona not realize the precarious situation they’re in in terms of water? They’re literally developing themselves into becoming another death valley or a dust bowl part 2

    • @jacksevert3099
      @jacksevert3099 Рік тому +62

      Arizona was run by Republican Doug Ducey when this happened. Now that a Democrat is Governor this is finally becoming news.. let that sink in.

    • @wheeltolive1117
      @wheeltolive1117 Рік тому +15

      @@jacksevert3099 exactly. Katie Hobbs had to stop the contract.

    • @bjonh3099
      @bjonh3099 Рік тому +10

      Yep. The housing market is going to be great in az once the water runs out.

    • @gabrielbustamante5801
      @gabrielbustamante5801 Рік тому +4

      @@jacksevert3099 there is always one to bark when not needed lol

    • @gabrielbustamante5801
      @gabrielbustamante5801 Рік тому +1

      Because these conversations could lead to misunderstandings and or political fights

  • @Phla58
    @Phla58 Рік тому +15

    This is outrageous! But honestly this is actually a case of don't hate the player hate the game - it really means that state politicians need to make some changes that target this kind of international farming tactic. Good reporting for shedding light on this important issue as the whole region runs low on water.

  • @juanrodriguez6707
    @juanrodriguez6707 Рік тому +1

    This is good reporting! Thanks for heads up on this state issue

  • @guru47pi
    @guru47pi Рік тому +600

    The problem isn't that it's foreign owned, the problem is that the water isn't being regulated appropriately. Arizona needs to regulate its groundwater usage

    • @mtk635
      @mtk635 Рік тому

      Foreigner owned farmland is a huge problem tf is wrong with you

    • @magesalmanac6424
      @magesalmanac6424 Рік тому +47

      No the problem is definitely that it’s foreign owned. We’re using OUR resources to grow products for another country? And do Americans who aren’t fatcat CEOs benefit from this??

    • @albertrehlander1542
      @albertrehlander1542 Рік тому +22

      If it's foreign, and on our soil it's bad.

    • @USAKing1776NASCAR
      @USAKing1776NASCAR Рік тому +29

      The problem is both the land being foreign owned and there’s no regulation for groundwater use.

    • @Group_Anonymous
      @Group_Anonymous Рік тому +6

      Let it burn🔥

  • @colleeporter2657
    @colleeporter2657 Рік тому +542

    This is outrageous
    Why are we selling our farm land to foreign countries ?

    • @Rick-tb4so
      @Rick-tb4so Рік тому +150

      Because Politicians are making money..

    • @niklavsgailans123456
      @niklavsgailans123456 Рік тому

      It's not that this happens in USA only. Rich US cronies are also buying land and properties OUTSIDE of their own land that is US. Welcome to neo-liberal world where rich kids get to buy land and properties where they want. Greed rules this planet.

    • @eliharp3576
      @eliharp3576 Рік тому +39

      Technically, the country is up for grabs one acre at a time. Sad to say but it can literally be bought out from under us.

    • @someutubchannel69
      @someutubchannel69 Рік тому +9

      For $$$$$$

    • @eliharp3576
      @eliharp3576 Рік тому +7

      @@someutubchannel69 The land is worth what someone is willing to pay for it.🤔

  • @pallidavisholubar7273
    @pallidavisholubar7273 Рік тому

    Water wars were a subject I read about in grade school and now that I'm 74 it is finally in the News, good public policy can stop or prevent this kind of corruption.

  • @siobhanebert6965
    @siobhanebert6965 Рік тому +3

    This is literally insane.

  • @joe2249
    @joe2249 Рік тому +74

    Good to see journalists actually doing there job, great coverage of this terrible problem.

    • @seeharvester
      @seeharvester Рік тому +1

      Flying around in taxpayer funded jets looking at the scenery.

  • @JPabloRL
    @JPabloRL Рік тому +142

    I really hope this story gets more national attention. This isn’t a new and it’s been going on for quite some time. The Southwest really needs to sit down and have a serious adult bipartisan discussion about their water resources.

    • @jacksevert3099
      @jacksevert3099 Рік тому +8

      Arizona was run by Republican Doug Ducey when this happened. Now that a Democrat is Governor this is finally becoming news.. let that sink in.

    • @bruh-so8vp
      @bruh-so8vp Рік тому

      @@jacksevert3099 yet the republican economic policies are why people are fleeing from blue states to states like arizona. Any person can be corrupt but republican policies are just better.

    • @moctezuma1341
      @moctezuma1341 Рік тому

      Your American corporations do the same thing in other countries

    • @JPabloRL
      @JPabloRL Рік тому

      @@jacksevert3099 It “sank” in years ago (wanted to point out the water pun).

    • @JPabloRL
      @JPabloRL Рік тому +1

      @@moctezuma1341 I did some looking. The Swiss with Nestle is the worst.

  • @TwentyHz
    @TwentyHz Рік тому

    The end of the segment reminds me of Don’t Look Up lol

  • @therewill1584
    @therewill1584 11 місяців тому +1

    I'm just smiling throughout the video and while reading the comments, thank you MBS

  • @stacyrethman9532
    @stacyrethman9532 Рік тому +106

    During the signing of the lease, someone's pocket was stuffed with cash. Its disgusting to know a foreign company is doing this but we also do this to each other. I know of a area here in my state that farmers will directional drill across the border to steal water from another state. In my own backyard a few farmers are building ponds to catch run off and feed irrigation units out of these ponds, which is somewhat ok but there is some talk that 2 of these farmers have wells that also feed these ponds... That is our ground water for rural water districts which is already hurting from hog confinements that have sprung up over the last 20+ years... Which our tax dollar help build each and everyone of those confinements...

    • @vivekr4690
      @vivekr4690 Рік тому

      But you mean to say it is perfectly alright when Uncle Sam does it? Uncle Sam extracts oil from hundreds of countries and sell coke there.

    • @Jeromeeb
      @Jeromeeb Рік тому +1

      ​@@vivekr4690so which oil company is owned by uncle sam again?

    • @vivekr4690
      @vivekr4690 Рік тому +1

      @@Jeromeeb enron has done lots of great work by spilling oil !

    • @Jeromeeb
      @Jeromeeb Рік тому +1

      @@vivekr4690 thats a cool story, but uncle sam never owned enron

    • @vivekr4690
      @vivekr4690 Рік тому +1

      @@Jeromeeb Companies which are based in America do not give a damn about environment or rules elsewhere. They pay fines only in US.

  • @asmrdesigned
    @asmrdesigned Рік тому +182

    Arizona has been one of the most abused states in the country. Overrun with abusive and negligent developers.

    • @1stamendmentmedia464
      @1stamendmentmedia464 Рік тому +14

      Well blame this one on (former) Doug Duce this was his doing. All done with his blessing.

    • @TheeDrSack
      @TheeDrSack Рік тому +5

      Motorola way back when destroyed billions of gallons of deep aquifer water, still has issues to this day

    • @Teeveepicksures
      @Teeveepicksures Рік тому

      AZ State Legislature is corrupt by design.

    • @travisyarbrough4033
      @travisyarbrough4033 Рік тому +15

      Ya Get What Ya Vote For .......

    • @xmateinc
      @xmateinc Рік тому

      Yea when you have republicans running things, the only thing they care about is money.

  • @Sheri_L89
    @Sheri_L89 Рік тому +5

    Wow that is crazy and mind blowing that the government would allow such thing to happen in our country, to one of our states. I'm all for the U.S. making business overseas but in an advantage that will help us as well to where it's a win win situation. This needs to be fixed immediately! The people need to stand against this or nothing will change or be done to help the state of Arizona.

    • @EridanusYT
      @EridanusYT Рік тому

      Do you think that the state of Arizona isn't winning a lot of money back and I mean A LOT from that Saudi owned company or else why would they be okay with it in first place!
      that tells me that it is a win-win situation at least in the officials eyes which at the end of the day the one who legally allows stuff so I wouldn't call it a win-lose situation they must be getting A LOT OF MONEY in return

    • @EridanusYT
      @EridanusYT Рік тому

      You all angry but with respect didn't the US come to Middle East and spread chaos and invade countries like Iraq and even stole stuff from the Middle East in history!?
      what about taking the Saudi oil for years when an American company was digging the oil for the Saudis and giving them barely enough and taking most of it back to America for free!
      till Saudi decided to make Aramco a Saudi company owned to the country of Saudi Arabia! so in history USA did the same for many and many years to the Saudi oil. It's just returning the favour if you ask me.

  • @johnzonker6517
    @johnzonker6517 Рік тому +4

    My question is this, what laws are they breaking?

    • @j.a.3138
      @j.a.3138 Рік тому +2

      There is no law at the moment but there will be soon.

  • @nicolassaarni88
    @nicolassaarni88 Рік тому +33

    What a terrible situation. This needs to be stopped immediately

  • @containedhurricane
    @containedhurricane Рік тому +67

    The US companies also extracted other countries' natural resources legally

    • @thesaudiman2108
      @thesaudiman2108 Рік тому +9

      People are dumb it’s called a good business deal 😂

    • @ThatGuy-zh3vu
      @ThatGuy-zh3vu Рік тому +1

      This isn't a US thing this is an Arizona thing

    • @khadijahjokolo144
      @khadijahjokolo144 Рік тому +2

      You mean illegally? I was waiting for this comment. The irony! 😂😂

    • @thesaudiman2108
      @thesaudiman2108 Рік тому +6

      @@ThatGuy-zh3vu Damn Why you hating on Saudi let a brother have a come up on the expense of America We Up Now 🤣You have Syrian oil common man

    • @Defied_-vw2jz
      @Defied_-vw2jz Рік тому

      @@thesaudiman2108 alternate energy other then combustional gas, but also solar charge

  • @callmebackfriday2
    @callmebackfriday2 Рік тому

    Thanks for the video.

  • @LuckyDuckie115
    @LuckyDuckie115 Рік тому +1

    Fyi Fondomonte shopped around to other states too (California, Oregon, Nevada, Utah etc...) for the Alfalfa farm project, all those states rejected their offer except Arizona, GOOD JOB ARIZONA...
    People should be investigating if any Arizona legislator got kickbacks

  • @pmclaughlin4111
    @pmclaughlin4111 Рік тому +41

    Its less about which corporate entity owns the land. It is about water policy period. Explain how a massive American company pumping out all the water would make things better.

    • @Group_Anonymous
      @Group_Anonymous Рік тому

      Canada bars foreigners from buying real estate…..and taxes those who already own property. WE DONT 🇺🇸💰

    • @JohnEboyee
      @JohnEboyee Рік тому +3

      You put restrictions on who can lease Arizona's state land trust. It certainly shouldn't be big Corp.

    • @Ap_twsh
      @Ap_twsh Рік тому +1

      i dont need saudi arabian policy here in the US, WTf they influence governments, how do you think they have been pumping water.

    • @Mudmuffin
      @Mudmuffin Рік тому +2

      @@Ap_twsh have fun with 8 dollar gas then. Watch your gases prices next your I bet youll convert to Islam 😂😂😂

    • @pmclaughlin4111
      @pmclaughlin4111 Рік тому

      @Ap-gk7kr Are you saying you really don't care about the water problem? You only care about race.
      You know what people who think race is the big problem are, dont you..
      My opinion, the problem is eater usage and depletion not race.

  • @TheMrSmirky
    @TheMrSmirky Рік тому +41

    im glad you are covering this. ive been concerned about this for the last few months

    • @noyopacific
      @noyopacific Рік тому +2

      I appreciate the issues of water conservation however the implication of the situation at the beginning of the story was false. The rancher with a dry well surrounded by vast alfalfa fields was presented as if this use of water to grow alfalfa were causing his well to go dry. This is a blatant lie. The alfalfa fields are irrigated from Colorado River water diversions. If anything this use would help maintain the ground water level rather than cause it to drop. I very much support efforts to manage water resources. This type of phony story creates a false impression which does not help the effort to manage water better. It is a classic false flag diversion which is presented to send the opposition off to fight a meaningless battle. 🤬

    • @TheMrSmirky
      @TheMrSmirky Рік тому

      @@noyopacific good to know. While this is true, them growing alfalfa on the land would help the ground water table. If they aren’t pulling from ground water and are only diverting water. My concern was more that a foreign government is using Arizona water resources to grow food for their country in a desert. Specially since they won’t grow it in their desert cause alfalfa takes to much water. Considering that Arizona has been in a drought multiple years. It seems dumb to me to be letting other people use the water we will soon be needing. This seems to just be another instance of the US being hollowed out just to make a quick dollar.

    • @noyopacific
      @noyopacific Рік тому +2

      @@TheMrSmirky I appreciate your concerns about foreign ownership of land and the use of water. I expect that the water rights are held by whoever owns the land. Adding restrictions to foreign ownership of land would probably involve some major changes in the law. It might also require that the government seize the water rights that go with the land and pay the owners for the loss of access to the water. Any changes of this sort are likely to involve some complex issues and might take a lot of money.

    • @TheMrSmirky
      @TheMrSmirky Рік тому +1

      @@noyopacific I appreciate you nice responses. You are a polite person to talk to. Keep being great 😁

    • @jacksevert3099
      @jacksevert3099 Рік тому

      Arizona was run by Republican Doug Ducey when this happened. Now that a Democrat is Governor this is finally becoming news.. let that sink in.

  • @blumobean
    @blumobean Рік тому +1

    The intelligence of our country is amazing.

  • @carhur3757
    @carhur3757 Рік тому +1

    Never heard about this when they were trying to pump water from the great lakes to the southwest.

  • @jasoncarlow4516
    @jasoncarlow4516 Рік тому +95

    I really thought that the grass was going to feed American cows and was just foreign owned and it’s actually all being exported to Saudi is just shocking 🤯

    • @Group_Anonymous
      @Group_Anonymous Рік тому

      Canada bars foreigners from buying real estate…. and taxes those who already own property. WE DONT 🇺🇸💰

    • @drmustjab
      @drmustjab Рік тому +11

      Same, as USA build Military Base in Middle East 😂

    • @TORNTOA
      @TORNTOA Рік тому

      Saudi pumping all that oil for Americans to drive to buy a cheeseburger. Shocking!

    • @TORNTOA
      @TORNTOA Рік тому +6

      We live in a global society where commodities and constantly traded. It’s just the just the way it is.

    • @TORNTOA
      @TORNTOA Рік тому

      Fun fact, most pork that you consume is owned by Chinese companies that bought out us pig farms.

  • @scotthushbeck4129
    @scotthushbeck4129 Рік тому +29

    This farm has been growing alfalfa for years before FondoMonte bought it. The alfalfa was then sold to Saudi dairies by the previous owners. Only difference is who owns it. Same thing happens in Palo Verde Valley, Imperial Valley, etc. If an American owned company owned it the alfalfa would still be sold to Saudi dairies. It’s political grandstanding. I bet everyone else in that area and that get water from the Central Arizona Project have subsidized water or same price per acre foot.

    • @jacksevert3099
      @jacksevert3099 Рік тому

      Yup. And people get mad at Bill Gates and the CCP doing the same. Telling them no would be COMMUNISM

    • @dom1abc1mbc
      @dom1abc1mbc Рік тому

      the reason almarai (the parent company) invested in fondomonte, and the US in general is because although its more expensive than other countries it is considered a safe politically, environmentally, and socially, tarnishing that image would cascade a ripple effect of divestment out of the US from many countries but especially saudi arabia.

  • @dplj4428
    @dplj4428 Рік тому

    Nobody ever mentions that the same water crossing the four corners is also pumped over to and through Nevada and California, and especially the local residents without access to water.

  • @gadogadopedes2303
    @gadogadopedes2303 Рік тому +1

    They shipped water? And for cows? That's crazy

  • @jessedevilbiss8436
    @jessedevilbiss8436 Рік тому +93

    Utah does this also. Have been for a long time. The avocado farms and almond farms in California are also wildly destructive to the water table. It's been going on for decades.

    • @jacksevert3099
      @jacksevert3099 Рік тому

      It's ok if it's Americans doing it on American land. Saying otherwise is Big Government Communism

    • @ko7975
      @ko7975 Рік тому +5

      California's farm lands are sinking due to empty aquifers. The studies been goin since the 80s I believe

    • @THall-vi8cp
      @THall-vi8cp Рік тому +5

      I've been bitching about our orchards in CA for a while. That land could be used to grow crops that yield all year. Instead we grow trees that take water all year but produce one crop annually.

    • @sean2015
      @sean2015 Рік тому +3

      What this country needs is water pipelines. If we have oil pipelines we can build water pipelines. Don’t tell me it’s because there’s no profit to be made. Water is life.

    • @pktdbgnzwl
      @pktdbgnzwl Рік тому +1

      The water used for the USA is a good use of water.
      Exporting water/alfalfa is not.

  • @MMPCTV
    @MMPCTV Рік тому +9

    I've read about this a number of times and it's comical that the "America First" party was turning off water to cities in Arizona while allowing a foreign government to use unlimited water to grow crops for horses!

  • @pruiz3564
    @pruiz3564 Рік тому

    Thus issue goes alway back to the 40s. It is crazy this is being allowed to happen

  • @christaylor4477
    @christaylor4477 Рік тому

    This is unbelievable!

  • @mauricelaurin5923
    @mauricelaurin5923 Рік тому +59

    Similar, in California where we have the most bottled water companies in the nation. Properties were bought by large corporations IE nestle with grandfather water rights that allow limitless water. We also have the largest rice fields in the nation because of this

    • @garywhittaker6575
      @garywhittaker6575 Рік тому +7

      Whatever you decide, don't buy Fiji water. It comes out of a PVC pipe in the middle of the San Joaquin valley by the (not so) wonderful company.

    • @dclaet1135
      @dclaet1135 Рік тому +6

      Let's not forget the almond growers in California who are essentially exporting our water to China and other countries.

    • @jacksevert3099
      @jacksevert3099 Рік тому

      ​@@dclaet1135 those are American Capitalists tho. Are you a Communist by chance?

    • @mikef2811
      @mikef2811 Рік тому +2

      There are landowners who grow food for livestock in the middle of the desert. And worst of all, they ship those foods to foreign countries to feed someone else's cows.

    • @Rockstar-jd8ot
      @Rockstar-jd8ot Рік тому

      Nestle is owned by Israel. Israel uses our corporation and they use our soldiers to fight their wars. It’s normal

  • @coleengoodell7523
    @coleengoodell7523 Рік тому +26

    Those open water canals look to me like evaporation canals. This is especially true in Arizona where your sweat evaporates off your body on hot days. You can get dehydrated quickly there. Heck, I could hang a load of wet cloths on the line and they'd be dry by the time the next load was finished washing. When I lived there my water bills were also costly. So seeing unlimited water being given to a foreign country is infuriating. Someone got paid off to grant this lease. Corruption at its finest.

    • @vulcan2882
      @vulcan2882 Рік тому +4

      .. I was out in Phoenix 2 years ago visting a cousin, I did a load of laundry and hung it out on her clothes line. By the time I hung up the last thing the first thing I hung up was already dry, that was in July. ( oh for the record I washed a few pairs of jeans )

  • @hamletgiragosian6147
    @hamletgiragosian6147 Рік тому

    It’s a bit contradictory at 3:03: if the alfalfa is dry, how can you say that the water is being exported?

  • @junglemom1263
    @junglemom1263 Рік тому +1

    Very good interview.
    Well scripted, and great closing statement! We're all beyond hope at this point.
    If this was the only insane contract a government agency had signed, then we'd be in pretty good shape, sadly this type of thing is commonplace.

  • @rachelgates509
    @rachelgates509 Рік тому +22

    They didn’t say how long the leases were for though! I wanna know THAT!

  • @vansiegfried
    @vansiegfried Рік тому +120

    I'm so happy to see this story finally being brought to the main stream. Foreign own lands growing alpha to feed their Cattle!

    • @user-vy5uy9fo8p
      @user-vy5uy9fo8p Рік тому +8

      Dont be naive. This is just geopolitics. Saudi has stopped towing the line of Uncle Sam and suddenly the US starts thinking about the environment. So, unless someone crosses the state department, they can still do whatever they want.

    • @vivekr4690
      @vivekr4690 Рік тому

      You are so naive. Uncle Sam has it's fingers in so many cookie jars! US companies extract so much water from nearly 200 countries and sell them Coco cola and pepsi. Not to mention trillions of dollars worth of bombs dropped on foreign countries! Please do not tell me dropping bombs worth trillions are doing good for the environment!

    • @veramae4098
      @veramae4098 Рік тому

      They just heard of this???

    • @sedg03
      @sedg03 Рік тому

      Horses babe.. feeding sheiks's horses...

    • @NutjobChuck
      @NutjobChuck Рік тому

      @ . You aren’t as smart as you think you are. There is a difference between correlation and causation. And water conservation has been a gradually growing topic here in Arizona as a result of droughts, river levels dropping, and the potential depletion of aquifers. For the past several years they have begun to bring experts into schools to teach kids about water conservation in order to prevent a disastrous overuse of resources.

  • @bluray4687
    @bluray4687 Рік тому

    I live in Arizona, and i think they should look into the leases and see if there were any kickbacks. If so, those individuals should be prosecuted

  • @p.c2750
    @p.c2750 9 місяців тому

    But the water(most of it) ultimately returns back to the aquifer. Except that it will take a while before the water sips through long length of soil to get to the aquifer. Someone please educate me if am wrong.

  • @Cjs484
    @Cjs484 Рік тому +35

    Whats the difference between this deal and the michigan deal with nestle water?

    • @alexm566
      @alexm566 Рік тому +2

      The product is going overseas.

    • @hadtosaythis
      @hadtosaythis Рік тому +9

      nothing. the land was never yours or mine to begin with. but apparently it makes a difference whether some greedy arabs own all of america or some greedy americans. neither of them are looking out for you and me.

    • @anwarnasser3039
      @anwarnasser3039 Рік тому

      @@alexm566 there’s nestle water overseas

    • @theoeguia3302
      @theoeguia3302 Рік тому

      American takes natural resources from other countries too.
      No on cares

  • @kylegoldston
    @kylegoldston Рік тому +5

    Sounds like a prime case for actual regulations.

  • @DamnBlk743
    @DamnBlk743 Рік тому

    25$ an acre. Wtf! This is wild

  • @nate5353
    @nate5353 Рік тому +1

    THESE are the issues that need to the focus of representatives and politicians. Not the political theater that so many of them worry about.

  • @myusernameisnotfound
    @myusernameisnotfound Рік тому +15

    It’s about F..n time this is getting the attention it needs. I used to haul hay from AZ to CA ports to be shipped to Saudi. I felt horrible about it. I’m from AZ this is home and the Saudi’s are taking our water. WHY in God’s green earth can this happening? Thank you for shedding light to this problem. Stupid politicians let it happen.

  • @romemedina4712
    @romemedina4712 Рік тому +10

    With how my uncle is having issues on his farms it's something I'm very happy to hear actions can be taken.

  • @iNdUsTrIaLrOcKeR4U
    @iNdUsTrIaLrOcKeR4U Рік тому

    Is it Arizona or New Mexico that is having a water shortage with residential properties in the northern part of the state?

  • @goldylocker
    @goldylocker 11 місяців тому

    For how many years are these leases for?

  • @ScottArmas107
    @ScottArmas107 Рік тому +21

    I hauled teff seed off that ranch, it’s also on the California side by Blythe. They were talking about this last year already. Pretty ridiculous when American ranchers are going broke.

    • @blank1778
      @blank1778 Рік тому

      They don’t care about Americans only money. This government is a joke

  • @curiouscat3384
    @curiouscat3384 Рік тому +13

    Outrageous! That lease for $25 per acre? Who was the legislator/administrator who got the bribe? This should actually be a national issue - so glad it appeared here. Not sure where to start to find out if sweetheart deals like this exist in my state NC but I'm going to investigate!

    • @dom1abc1mbc
      @dom1abc1mbc Рік тому

      25 dollars per acre is actually expensive for a lease, you could outright buy land with that price

    • @curiouscat3384
      @curiouscat3384 Рік тому +2

      @@dom1abc1mbc well that's interesting! In North Carolina, agricultural land goes for $12,000 and up per acre. But of course we don't have the wide open dry spaces like Arizona. Very little land left here between cities and sub-rural subdivisions.

    • @lissaglasgow5492
      @lissaglasgow5492 Рік тому

      Agree

    • @j.a.3138
      @j.a.3138 Рік тому +1

      @@dom1abc1mbc Maybe back then. $25 per acre is dirt cheap in today's world.

  • @onebylandtwoifbysearunifby5475

    *Her taka-away was "Gotta have faith"!?*
    What a frikin' airhead.
    We need _REAL_ journalists back.

  • @Itsyoutube952
    @Itsyoutube952 Рік тому

    Lets get a closer look at the water consumption of golf courses in Arizona as well.

  • @jakebrakebill
    @jakebrakebill Рік тому +3

    Closing the barn door after the animals are out ???

  • @smokingjoe9864
    @smokingjoe9864 Рік тому +62

    We used to have alfalfa in Southern Minnesota. Everything is corn now.
    We have to go back growing produce in the Midwest. We have 10 thousand lakes. Plus ground water. And the Great Lakes.
    Right now, it is an ocean of corn fields. Stretching a thousand square miles.
    Those corn fields is our wheat fields of the dust bowl.
    I remember as a boy in the mid 70s smelling the alfalfa plant in Southern Minnesota.

    • @serpentrae
      @serpentrae Рік тому +1

      gmo corn

    • @serpentrae
      @serpentrae Рік тому

      and only because the government subsidizes the corn

    • @skankhunt3624
      @skankhunt3624 Рік тому +4

      ​@@serpentrae why so fearful of GMOs?

    • @serpentrae
      @serpentrae Рік тому

      @@skankhunt3624 gmo corn is registered as a pesticide with the EPA
      GMO Bt corn was registered for use as a pesticide with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1961. Bt corn came on the market in 1996. There is Bt sweet corn (eaten directly by people) and Bt field corn (used in fuel, animal feed, other products and processed foods).
      the way the gmo corn kills the caterpillar a part of the plant that contains the Bt protein (not all parts of the plant necessarily contain the protein in equal concentrations) must be ingested. Within minutes, the protein binds to the gut wall and the insect stops feeding. Within hours, the gut wall breaks down and normal gut bacteria invade the body cavity. The insect dies of septicaemia as bacteria multiply in the blood. Even among Lepidoptera larvae, species differ in sensitivity to the Bt protein. so what is it doing to your gut, it can't be good

    • @ReflectedMiles
      @ReflectedMiles Рік тому

      135,000 acres of alfalfa and mixed alfalfa just in new seedings in MN in 2022. Other types of hay production came in at 1.22 million tons for the year. We grow according to market demand, including government-incentivized demand, not philosophies and demands on the Internet--especially in the social-media space being one of the greatest lying machines ever invented because the public doesn't know or care what a credible source is.

  • @goldylocker
    @goldylocker 11 місяців тому

    Is it possible to dig a lot of wells all along the farms and pump the water out?

  • @BrielViens
    @BrielViens Рік тому +1

    Here our country is debating and highlighting issues that we will all forget about within a few years because they are small and unimportant. Yet issues like these very few even know of. Other countries should not own/lease valuable land assets in our country. Period.

  • @aikotoba99
    @aikotoba99 Рік тому +30

    This isn't Saudi Arabia's fault at all. It's the fault of the people who signed the deal. I'm no fan of MBS but to blame another country for our own internal failure seems to be the underlying theme here. Just change it already and cancel the deal instead of trying to point the finger.

    • @jeffreyhusack2400
      @jeffreyhusack2400 Рік тому

      Our own people selling us out

    • @jl333_
      @jl333_ Рік тому +4

      Exactly. Unfortunately, money makes the world go round and due to Arizona’s own incompetence, SA saw the opportunity and pounced.

    • @jakelong6860
      @jakelong6860 Рік тому

      Check out Texas they bought oil refineries 4 years ago.

    • @-Stop-it
      @-Stop-it Рік тому +3

      Nobody is faulting the Saudis. The fault lies with the Arizona state government.

    • @bondrewdthelordofdawn3744
      @bondrewdthelordofdawn3744 Рік тому

      ​@@-Stop-it the other comments seem disagree with you

  • @fredreinke4150
    @fredreinke4150 Рік тому +7

    If in this day and age, Arizona has "no regulations on how much water can be pumped out of the ground " they are responsible also. Poor resource management.

  • @samertallauze729
    @samertallauze729 10 місяців тому

    Heartbreaking 💔

  • @Gen-yh1jz
    @Gen-yh1jz Рік тому

    Oh I haven’t been able to get alfalfa sprouts for years. Why is that getting shipped out!

  • @cynthiarowley719
    @cynthiarowley719 Рік тому +21

    I guess it's legal. Nestle does this, too.

    • @amandahealey2216
      @amandahealey2216 Рік тому +2

      To be fair, people aren't happy about that either

    • @waleed8530
      @waleed8530 Рік тому +1

      @@amandahealey2216 feelings don't matter, its business after all, and yanks love money.

    • @danieluffner3298
      @danieluffner3298 Рік тому +1

      ​@@waleed8530HUMANS love money. Greed existed long before the term "yanks" was coined.

  • @wallacegrommet9343
    @wallacegrommet9343 Рік тому +9

    When a state bans agricultural water usage monitoring, this is what happens.

  • @AllenHanPR
    @AllenHanPR Рік тому

    You would think someone down the chain would ask "why would someone rent 6000 acres of land from me?
    There is a saying in Chinese "If an oil company wants buy land from you, there is oil underneath it"
    This is not too far from the truth.

  • @christiancastaneda4055
    @christiancastaneda4055 Рік тому

    Saw this on ticktock before the news made it a segment.

  • @ceja03
    @ceja03 Рік тому +59

    It’s the same thing that happens in Mexico, there’s many company’s in Mexico that extract Mexico’s resources and have them shipped back to the states! Mexico should put a stop to that as well because those resources never come back again!

    • @Jeanne90275
      @Jeanne90275 Рік тому +4

      Uh, are you referring to foodstuffs shipped to and sold in the US for profit or just the deadly illegal drugs and illegal aliens.

    • @TORNTOA
      @TORNTOA Рік тому +7

      Excellent example GCL! I swear some American truly believe the world revolves around America.😂

    • @sociolocomtsac
      @sociolocomtsac Рік тому +4

      As an American, I agree. Mexico should stop growing so many water-intensive crops (e.g avocados), whether it's American companies or Mexican farmers.

    • @dskains
      @dskains Рік тому +1

      stealing really? paying royalities for minerals and paying farmers for produce isnt stealing.

    • @uncoveredtruth2088
      @uncoveredtruth2088 Рік тому

      @@sociolocomtsac It’s impossible to stop, the US government is putting the gun on Mexico’s head and forcefully stealing all the water. Just like how we are taking Iraq and Syria’s oil.

  • @mcampos60
    @mcampos60 Рік тому +9

    I don’t know what our previous Attorney General was doing while in office, too busy worrying about revoking women’s reproductive rights. He should have been focusing on this!

    • @jasonlarsen4945
      @jasonlarsen4945 Рік тому +4

      He was probably vacationing with Saudi Money.

  • @coryferguson
    @coryferguson Рік тому

    As a rancher I 100% agree on stopping this. Alfalfa root system goes 13 feet under ground!!
    Farmers here in America are paying 150$ a bale for wheat straw..... per bale! When in 2017 I could buy it for 45 dollars a bale.... alfalfa good quality leafy not steam. Even green. 😍 125 a ton if bulk.... it's now 300 if you can find it.
    Tbh yall. Between the historic nation wide drought and cost to produce. Farmers and ranchers like Meares suffering.
    Thank yall for reading. Have a nice day.

  • @hikingandlookingatrocks
    @hikingandlookingatrocks Рік тому

    In California, we estimate farm demand (or vol water used by crop) using LiDAR because people don't want to put meters on their pumps and new groundwater pumping laws require it. So, they know how much water these foreign farms are using.

  • @michellelester243
    @michellelester243 Рік тому +7

    This is happening in Eastern Washington State as well, draining the Yakima River Valley.

  • @nyspice1966
    @nyspice1966 Рік тому +28

    We need all our water to feed our own cities!!

    • @V8V88
      @V8V88 Рік тому +4

      But we need this water to feed our cows. No offence, but our cows are more important.

    • @magesalmanac6424
      @magesalmanac6424 Рік тому +2

      What… cows aren’t more important than humans.

    • @shyrafrancisco2248
      @shyrafrancisco2248 Рік тому

      We need to reduce human overpopulation before they destroy the planet.

  • @DougGrinbergs
    @DougGrinbergs 28 днів тому

    3:30 crazy irony: Arizona leasing 6000 acres of land to Fondamonte for $25/acre!😡

  • @guitarlessonswith4480
    @guitarlessonswith4480 Рік тому +1

    Ironic that Arizon of all places, is one of the poorest water managers in the Western U.S.

  • @carlsanders7919
    @carlsanders7919 Рік тому +7

    Same thing with mining. Water usage not regulated. And most minerals shipped over seas and most mining companies foreign owned.

  • @Cp-jv6mf
    @Cp-jv6mf Рік тому +4

    Wtf??? $25 an acre rental that is insane

  • @AzFigz
    @AzFigz Рік тому

    This upsets me deeply

  • @williamcarlin9030
    @williamcarlin9030 Рік тому

    As an Arizonan this is the first time I'm hearing about this.

  • @kristinamikkelsoncasanova6287
    @kristinamikkelsoncasanova6287 Рік тому +7

    I hope they stop them. I am a Arizonan and water is becoming very difficult to find.

  • @jaaqess2525
    @jaaqess2525 Рік тому +3

    Something tells me the people that allowed this to happen got a handsome cut of the profits

  • @jesusrincon6659
    @jesusrincon6659 Рік тому +1

    the same happened in mexico with the groundwatwer use to make craft beer and are american companys and
    the pay only $995 dollar a year ..

  • @theairmechanalyst3937
    @theairmechanalyst3937 Рік тому

    $25 an acre with unlimited access to water? Gee never could of guessed that could been abused.

  • @fourbirdstos
    @fourbirdstos Рік тому +29

    It would be interesting to know who acted in behalf of the state of Arizona to set this up.

    • @greedo2660
      @greedo2660 Рік тому

      Jared Kushner was probably involved.

    • @Synthwave89
      @Synthwave89 Рік тому +4

      It's quite convenient they didn't give out any names. Someone made a killing with Saudi money, mark my words.

  • @johnwayne3904
    @johnwayne3904 Рік тому +26

    Things like this make me more angry than anything else I can think of right now. What these vultures are doing is VERY inconsiderate and SO disrespectful to all the other land owners in the area. 😡

  • @maximiltalmi5759
    @maximiltalmi5759 Рік тому +1

    Silly reporters…someone tell them how their oil kept our cars moving and out homes warm…gratitude people.

  • @IrushKansas
    @IrushKansas Рік тому

    $25 an acre makes the deal very suspicious.

  • @cassandrajackson8560
    @cassandrajackson8560 Рік тому +13

    Why is the US allowing this, just why? 😡

    • @derekh1593
      @derekh1593 Рік тому +1

      @Neil Deep Says the person who don't know about California and China as well as California and Saudi Arabia's deal 😂

    • @hadtosaythis
      @hadtosaythis Рік тому +1

      capitalism

    • @fan.80s_90s
      @fan.80s_90s Рік тому

      Red states need Saudi money.

    • @derekh1593
      @derekh1593 Рік тому

      @@fan.80s_90s Including blue states like California when Saudi Arabia bought land there in 2015 for water 😂

    • @fan.80s_90s
      @fan.80s_90s Рік тому

      @@derekh1593 Republicans are obsessed with the Saudis.

  • @CatJuarez
    @CatJuarez Рік тому +4

    WOW when I lived in AZ years ago ..locals were against California using their water. Now this😮

  • @chrisharris1419
    @chrisharris1419 Рік тому

    Why aren't they in Iowa or somewhere else?

  • @jbeyond7402
    @jbeyond7402 Рік тому +1

    While they gouge us with oil prices we give them our water for 25/acre, might as well be free. That scale is not balanced.