> Could someone chime in with how these farmers physically get this water?
on my grandparents ranch they dig a hole in the river from which they pump the water.
> Do they own the land the steam is on or does the government own the streams and provide permits for access? Do they own the land the steam is on or does the government own the streams and provide permits for access?
they own the land on either side of the river and have water rights to the river (or at very least they have taking water from the stream for over 100 years ... it's an old family farm). though apparently fish supersede their water rights.
> Is it generally the farmers themselves doing this or is there some middleman (public/private?) water distributor?
no middle man