alt Hacker News> it can't be cheaply transported from the Midwest to where buyers of alfalfa are
Trains.
Alfalfa isn't the only alternative, and they should switch to higher-value crops anyway. They would if they had to pay for water. We simply need to charge everybody for water usage.
The problem is alfalfa is a high value crop and a water efficient crop relative to value.
So as water/weather gets more unpredictable and beef/dairy rises in price, alfalfa becomes even more attractive to grow.