1. Do not irrigate when water is not needed.
2. Encourage deeper rooting of crops.
3. Plant annual crops that could be fallowed in severe drought periods when no water is available.
4. Plant a diverse array of crops.
5. Choose a high-value crop to maximize return and offset costs of irrigation, etc.
6. Introduce low water use or drought tolerant varieties.
7. Buy crop insurance. (Note: Insurance is not available for all crops.)
8. Plant on both high ground and low ground if possible.
9. Have money in savings to carry you through a loss year.
10. Call your local Extension for instructions on how to salvage a crop.
11. Invest in water conservation practices, like drip irrigation, so that overall water use during the high-evapotranspiration periods is reduced.
12. Harvest rainwater if legal in your state, harvest rainwater (review your state laws).
13. Recycle water on your farm; capture unused water from greenhouses and reuse it.
14. Collaborate with area farmers, or join an existing network, like California Climate and Agriculture Network, for support and ideas.