This dilemma and others facing SA irrigators were just some of the topics raised by Mr Whetstone at a Rural Media luncheon in Adelaide yesterday (Wednesday).

"The water issue is out of irrigators' hands," he said.

"That is why we really need Federal Government intervention, to share the water around equally so that we can grow good, local produce and so that we don't have to question the viability of unregulated, imported food."

Mr Whetstone, a Renmark irrigator, fears a mass exit of growers within the State's food bowl and a possible downturn in locally-grown food.

He also thinks the drop could result in consumers turning to unsafe, lower quality, imported produce.

"During these tough times, we are seeing an increase presence of cheap, imported foods on the shelves and that is what people have to deal with when there is no locally-grown produce to turn to," he said.

"As Australians, we take for granted the clean, green food that we produce, and we probably won't realise just how lucky we are until we have to look at cheap produce being imported.

"We need to be vigilant on the needs of irrigators and their communities, and the future of sustainable food production.

"We have to promote local produce."

* Extract from a full report in Stock Journal, March 26 issue.