Madera County has also taken notice of agave’s potential and is allowing farmers to apply for funding from the Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program if they plan to transition their agricultural land for agave growing. Stephanie Anagnoson, director of water and natural resources for Madera County, told farmers last week that, with the county being home to three critically overdrafted basins, “we are looking for options to keep basins replenished and also keep (agriculture) thriving.” Agave’s potential as a crop that uses far less water than others is one of the features Herman hopes to benefit from. “If this works out, this could enable me to continue to farm a part of this ranch as trees with an adequate water supply, and then still have a source of revenue from the agave plant itself,” Herman told a group of fellow farmers last week.

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