Utah farmers faced tough choices as water supplies continued to shrink. In Utah County, one farmer replaced traditional crops with something more colorful to conserve water. About 250,000 tulips were in bloom in Spanish Fork.
Farmer Rex Larson had already begun making difficult decisions, cutting back on crops like alfalfa that required frequent irrigation. Some fields sat dry altogether as he worked to stretch limited water. Instead, he tried something different: tulips. Planted in the fall, tulips relied mostly on winter moisture and required far less irrigation than typical crops. That made them a practical option in a dry year, especially as water allocations dropped.
"As far as water usage, they're a very water-wise crop," Larson said. "They'll be through producing, and we won't have to really use any irrigation water to grow."
Larson said the tulips also brought in visitors, giving the farm a new source of income. The festival runs through May 2.
Read more at KUTV
