[dw1]

I am very suspicious of the blanket statement "Most of those less arid areas can't hold a candle to the yield/efficiency/profitability of food production in the desert (as along as water is available)."

This sounds like a statement made by someone who knows nothing about farming.

I have my doubts about the comparative fertility of the soil in the desert versus, say, Kansas or Nebraska. It would be interesting to look at the yield per acre, and total produce cost per acre (including water costs) of corn, for example.

It also should be noted that different things grow in different climates. The comparison (above) mentioning Wisconsin and New York makes me wonder how well apples, potatoes, or cranberries grow in the desert.

Literally an apples and oranges comparison, I think.