pressure on aquifers will increase as farms try to offset missing precipitation with increased pumping and aquifer recharge rates will decrease there will be major consequences for the livestock sector if forages are depleted and cattle herds have to be reduced competition for scarce irrigation water for crops will require new water allocation schemes if the water supply is not to be exhausted in addition increased variability in rainfall will lead to increased variability in incomes which will make access to credit and insurance even more important if farms are to be viable over a longer time period