The article states that 50% of hay grown in Southern California is exported to China, and another 10% is exported to Saudi Arabia. If American meat consumption decreases, the portion of hay that gets exported will likely just increase. I think water intensity should be taken into account when determining export policies. Every time I read an article about water usage in an industry, the biggest or one of the biggest users ends up being the export market. We're shipping one of our most precious resources away.