California Farm Water Coalition expands advocacy and outreach for growers

The California Farm Water Coalition said it expanded its role in state and federal water policy discussions in 2025, positioning itself as a central communications and advocacy platform for irrigated agriculture across the state.

In its 2025 impact report, the Sacramento-based organization detailed efforts spanning policy advocacy, media outreach, consumer engagement and education programs designed to bolster support for farm water use in California.

A unified voice in water policy

Founded in 1989 during a prolonged drought, the California Farm Water Coalition was created to increase public awareness of agriculture’s water use and environmental stewardship. Today, it represents farmers, irrigation and water districts, agribusinesses and lenders across regions from Shasta County to Imperial County.

The coalition’s mission centers on three goals: serving as a voice for agricultural water users, representing irrigated agriculture in the media, and educating the public about the benefits of farm water.

In 2025, the group worked alongside the Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley and the San Joaquin Valley Water Collaborative Action Program to coordinate letters and policy positions directed at federal and state decision-makers. According to the report, those efforts were aimed at influencing water allocation rules, advancing infrastructure funding and ensuring agricultural interests were included in negotiations.

Among the policy priorities supported by the coalition were the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes alternative in the Bay-Delta Plan and major infrastructure projects, including improvements to the B.F. Sisk Dam, permitting and construction of the Sites Reservoir, and the Success Reservoir Enlargement Project in Tulare County.

The coalition also backed federal action under Executive Order 14181, aligning with a broader objective of increasing California’s available water supply by 9 million acre-feet annually by 2040.

By engaging early in policy discussions, the organization said it seeks to ensure agricultural perspectives are considered before key regulatory or funding decisions are finalized.

Shaping public opinion through media and digital outreach

Beyond direct policy engagement, the coalition has focused on influencing public understanding of farm water use.

Its consumer-facing digital brand, Cultivate California, continued social media and online campaigns in 2025, reaching more than 5.5 million targeted consumers and generating roughly 25 million views, according to the report. Messaging is developed through ongoing monitoring of media coverage and public sentiment, allowing the organization to respond to emerging narratives around water use, drought and environmental regulation.

The coalition also expanded partnerships with food, lifestyle and wellness influencers, translating technical water issues into content aimed at general audiences concerned about food sourcing and sustainability.

Editorial outreach remains a core component of its strategy. The report said opinion pieces, letters to the editor and commentary achieved a publication rate exceeding 76%, appearing in outlets including the The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Arizona Capitol Times and the The Desert Sun.

Articles and commentaries drew on production data, peer-reviewed research and economic analysis to address topics ranging from Colorado River operations to claims about water intensity in California agriculture.

The coalition said it also adopted a rapid-response approach to counter what it described as inaccurate or misleading reporting. In early 2025, when disputed accounts of water management practices in the San Joaquin Valley circulated, the organization said it coordinated digital and social outreach to distribute corrective information. That effort, it said, was aimed at protecting the reputations of farmers and local water agencies while reinforcing credibility with policymakers and the public.

Education and public engagement

Education initiatives form another pillar of the coalition’s work. Since November 2021, more than 562,000 visitors have attended the Museum of Science and Curiosity in Sacramento, which houses interactive exhibits developed in partnership with the coalition to explain the relationship between water and food production.

The exhibits are designed to make complex water data accessible to families and school groups, helping build awareness of how irrigation supports California’s agricultural output.

Membership and organizational support

The coalition operates as a statewide membership organization representing individual farmers, irrigation and water districts, farm-related businesses and agricultural lenders. Research and analysis underpin its policy and communications work, while administrative and outreach functions support engagement with lawmakers, media outlets and the public.

According to the report, the organization’s continued activity in 2025 reflects a strategy of combining policy advocacy with public education and media engagement. By aligning those efforts, the coalition aims to influence both regulatory outcomes and the broader narrative surrounding agricultural water use in California.