Idaho ? Idaho Water Resources Director David Tuthill issued orders Friday to farmers, food processors dairies and 13 cities in six counties to shut off their water pumps on July 6.

The order, if carried out, would dry up 16,600 acres of farmland already planted in crops including corn, sugar beets, potatoes and hay.

Tuthill issued the curtailment order under the state’s first-come, first-served water law to meet the demands of two spring-fed fish producers with older, senior rights.

The financial effects of drying up so much farmland in the middle of the season would be dire, said Tim Deeg, a farmer and president of the Idaho Groundwater Appropriators, which represents the groundwater users who would be cut off.

He estimated the cost at $18 million to $20 million not including the losses to the industries and communities.

“The economic impact to these industries and municipalities will have a ripple effect in the tens of millions of dollars,” Deeg said. “State, city, county and local school districts tax bases will be negatively impacted at a time when they can least afford loss of revenue.”