>>FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - With water becoming increasingly precious in
California, a rising number of farmers figure they can make more
money by selling their water than by actually growing something.
"It just makes dollars and sense right now," said Bruce Rolen, a
third-generation farmer who grows rice, wheat and other crops in
Northern California's lush Sacramento Valley.
Instead of sowing in April, Rolen plans to let 100 of his 250 acres
of white rice lie fallow and sell his irrigation water on the open
market, where it could fetch up to three times the normal price.<<