Across the Southwest and West Coast, tens of millions of people are dealing with unprecedented drought and water restrictions - and perhaps no one is feeling the brunt of that more than farmers. Agriculture in Arizona has an estimated economic value of about $31 billion, according to the Arizona Farm Bureau, but the job of farming is getting tougher and tougher with external obstacles like the ongoing drought and inflation ever-present. … According to a state tracker, there is at least some level of extreme long-term drought now in all 15 counties across Arizona. … Nancy [Caywood, farmer] says at times, it’s easy to feel “hopeless.” “You have your water assessment, rising costs, and no water – How do you keep going?” Nancy asks.

Other drought impact and response news:

• Colorado Springs Gazette (Colo.): Palmer Lake declares water emergency
• The Equation (Union of Concerned Scientists): Blog: How climate change is drying up the Western US
• Water Education Colorado: Take all you want: State rolls out more emergency orders to catch fish as drought dries up lakes