At Riverview,  stewardship is core to everything we do - caring for the land, protecting water, and supporting neighbors and communities where we operate. Those values guide our work everywhere, including in the Sulphur Springs Valley of Cochise County, Arizona.

Water has always shaped life in the Sulphur Springs Valley. For more than a century, agriculture has been the cornerstone of this region, supporting generations of families and rural communities. The town of Willcox, Arizona, is known as the "Cattle Capital of the World," reflecting how deeply farming and ranching are woven into the Valley's economy and identity.

Recently, there has been media coverage about a voluntary agreement between Riverview and the State of Arizona focused on water conservation and long-term water security in the Sulphur Springs Valley.  To understand that agreement, it helps to understand the history, facts, and shared concerns that brought it together.

Riverview became part of the Valley's agricultural community ten years ago through the purchase of an existing dairy farm that included irrigated farmland. We did not introduce irrigation in this Valley; the land we farm today was irrigated long before our arrival. In fact, water use in the Valley today represents only a portion of what it has been historically. In 1974 - more than 40 years before Riverview's arrival - the Sulphur Springs Valley had roughly double the number of acres under irrigation compared to today.

From the outset, Riverview has worked to be a responsible steward of water. Over the past decade, we invested heavily in upgrading wells and irrigation systems to improve efficiency and reduce water use. These investments include low-energy precision application systems, drop hoses, variable frequency drives, and automated pivots. Together, these efforts improved water-use efficiency by approximately 30% across the cropland we manage.

It is also important to understand scale. Riverview is, and always has been, a minority water user in the Sulphur Springs Valley. The majority of groundwater pumped annually is used by others. From a historical perspective, 95% of groundwater used for agriculture in this Valley has been used by others - not Riverview. Groundwater dynamics today reflect decades of use combined with unprecedented drought, not the actions of any single operation.

Arizona is now in the midst of what experts describe as a "mega-drought," the most severe multi-decade drought in more than a thousand years. These conditions affect everyone who lives and works in the state.

Because of these challenges, Riverview has spent years engaging with state agencies, elected officials, and agricultural organizations to support thoughtful groundwater management. Since 2018, we have been actively encouraging responsible policy. We have also supported local efforts to improve water access, including the creation of a rural water district and direct financial assistance to neighbors in need.

More recently, we have taken additional voluntary steps to conserve water, including modifying crop rotations, fallowing acreage, and sourcing feed grown outside the Sulphur Springs Valley (including 50,000 tons of beet pulp pellets largely produced in the Red River Valley over the last two years). These decisions were not without cost, but they reflect our commitment to being a good neighbor.

Against this backdrop, shared concerns about water sustainability led to conversations between Riverview and the Arizona Attorney General's Office. What emerged was common ground and a collaborative approach focused on solutions rather than conflict.

Those conversations resulted in the recently announced voluntary agreement. The agreement includes meaningful financial commitments to help ensure reliable water access for homes and schools for decades to come, while formalizing Riverview's ongoing commitment to conservation best practices. It is not an admission of wrongdoing or an assignment of fault, but a proactive step to support the Sulphur Springs Valley and its residents.

The water challenges of the Sulphur Springs Valley are complex, and no single entity can solve them alone. Riverview remains committed to being part of the solution - working alongside fellow farmers, residents, regulators, and policymakers to protect the Valley's most precious resource while preserving its agricultural heritage.

We invite anyone with questions about our farms to reach out, and we welcome continued dialogue with our neighbors and community members.

(Janzen is a partner in Riverview LLP.)

Opinion or analysis by Brady Janzen, agricultural economist and guest contributor.