Farming is a necessary activity and in most countries, they are also a politically influential group.

The case for data centers in the age of AI is weaker, and the only effects for the average person are noise, pollution, higher electricity costs, higher water costs, for the ultimate "benefit" of losing your job.

▲ arjie 2 hours ago | parent [-]

The necessity of alfalfa exports from water-scarce US states is certainly not obvious. Why do you believe this is essential?

▲ 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

[deleted]

▲ bsder 26 minutes ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I'm all about stomping on the agribusiness water usage and think that whole swathes of agribusiness in CA should get shut down.

However, as I understand it, the alfalfa is a soil restorer that the agribusinesses are going to grow anyway. The question is whether there is any benefit to forcing the agribusinesses plow it under vs exporting it.

▲ throwaway2037 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

    > alfalfa exports from water-scarce US states

Which states are those?

	▲	hvb2 an hour ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Arizona... https://floodlightnews.org/saudi-owned-corporate-farms-are-d...
	▲	messe 2 hours ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		California for one.
	▲	xahrepap an hour ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		Utah