Yuma agriculture contributes $4.4 billion to Arizona, study says

YUMA, AZ (AZFamily) — A new University of Arizona study is highlighting the critical role Yuma’s agriculture plays in Arizona’s economy.

Researchers report that Yuma agriculture generated $4.4 billion in economic activity for the state in 2022. $3.9 billion of that came directly from Yuma’s on-farm activities.

Agriculture professor George Frisvold from UofA said their research also points to Yuma farmers as leaders in water efficiency.

The study found Yuma only uses 8% of the region’s irrigation water.

“Yuma, for the water they use, they get more than double the crop value that the basin gets on average. Per acre foot Yuma generates over $1,500 in sales a year,” said Frisvold.

While Yuma remains a cornerstone of agriculture, concerns are rising over how shifting immigration policies and tariffs could impact the nation’s farming industry.

According to the USDA, about 40% of the nation’s crop farmworkers are undocumented.

Frisvold notes that while these changes could impact farm labor in other states, Yuma’s border workforce is expected to remain stable.

“You have this legal flow of people coming back and forth across the border every day,” he said.

However, he said widespread tariffs could not only impact exported produce but also drive up overhead costs for growers.

“Farmers use fertilizer. Farmers use farm machinery. So, if there are tariffs on the imports of those things coming in then that means everything farmers buy to produce crops is going to be more expensive,” he said.

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