comment: >
  
  Oh for sure. It's not just about 'converted' pastures. Plenty of it is 'new industrialized farms' on ground that may not have even been used for farming five to ten years ago and now is loaded up and sucking up water that wasn't being used there five to ten years ago.
context: We really shouldn't be growing such water-intensive crops in a frequently-drought-stricken area.  Anyone know why we grow so many almonds in California?  It's some ridiculous percentage of the US' total production. >
  
  Money. There are dairy farmers who converted parts (or all) of their pastures to being almond farms because it was cheaper than continuing to be a dairy farm. I think something like 30% or more of the almonds are being exported outside the US.
  In terms of the dairy farm costs. The USDA has certain requirements on how long dairy cows, or cattle have to be allowed to graze in open pastures in order to qualify the product being sold as 'organic' which nets a much higher premium and due to the ongoing draughts it was becoming too expensive to maintain those pastures. >
  
  90% of the US' almonds, %80 of the worlds almonds.
  The almonds account for only 8-9% of California's total annual water usage. The feed/roughage accounts for 13-15%.
  Greedy land developers want to grab up cheap farmland when farms go out of business.
  Also, farms pay less for water usage than say golf courses or sub-developments. Less water going to farms equates to lower rates elsewhere.
  Everybody should question where the money is coming from.