http://www.king5.com/story/tech/science/environment/2015/06/22/skagit-valley-seed-farmers-crop-drought/29143429/

by Alison Morrow ~ June 23, 2015

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Snowpack runoff is gone. There's been little to no rain. Temperatures have been higher than normal. The combination means irrigation sources have nearly run dry.

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McMoran and his colleagues at Washington State University's Skagit Extension School know that famine there could mean famine for farmers across the world.

The Skagit Valley produces 95-percent of the country's beet seed, and nearly half of the world's beet, spinach and cabbage seed.

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The Skagit River is the emergency backup, but only for senior water rights holders right now because it's below minimum flow. The seed farmers hold junior rights, so the only way they can irrigate with water from the river is by taking someone else's rights to use it.

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Ecology helped strike a deal last week for short term relief with local water authorities. This time, seed growers will have to consult others, like tribal governments, who are concerned about fish.

"Because if you take more water from streams that are already low for fish, you could damage fish runs for the future. So this is a very serious issue," Altose said.