Utah is the second driest state. A way of conserving water would be to eat less beef. The U.S. Geological Survey website lists the gallons of water required to grow different foods and beef requires the most water.
1/4 lb beef: 460 gallons, 1 egg: 50 gallons, 1 lb corn: 110 gallons, 1 potato: 100 gallons.
Most of the alfalfa grown in Utah is used to feed cattle. The Utah Foundation points out that 82% of the developed water resources in Utah are used for agriculture and half of that is used to irrigate just one crop: alfalfa hay. It consumes more water each year than all the cities and towns in Utah put together.
Russell Patterson, West Valley City
Submit a letter to the editor
sltrib.com is now free to access — no subscription required. We made this decision because we believe access to trustworthy, independent news shouldn’t depend on what you can afford — especially as misinformation and AI-generated content continue to rise.
Free to read doesn’t mean free to produce. Our reporters show up every day to ask hard questions and hold powerful institutions to account. That work takes resources. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on support from people who believe it matters. Make a donation today to fund local news that serves Utah communities.
You can help us bring more local news to more communities today.
