Arizona governor terminates state land leases with Saudi-owned farm over groundwater pumping violations

Arizona governor Katie Hobbs canceled one lease and declined to renew three others held by Saudi-owned Fondomonte Arizona.
The governor's office found Fondomonte violated lease terms related to hazardous materials storage and unchecked groundwater pumping.
Fondomonte continues farming on other Arizona land it owns and is appealing the lease terminations.
The terminated leases had allowed Fondomonte unfettered access to pump groundwater to grow alfalfa for export to Saudi Arabia.
Arizona faces concerns over foreign ownership of farms, drought conditions, and the state's dwindling groundwater supplies.