FREE-Take One
2018
SAN LUIS VALLEY
FAIR AND
SUMMER AGRICULTURE See What’s Happening at the Fair, and Get Updates on Agriculture Valley Publishing 835 First Ave. • Monte vistA, Colo.
719.852.3531
Summer 20I8
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SLV Fair & Summer Agriculture
Summer 2018
‘Blue Jeans ‘N Country Dreams’ headed to Ski Hi
By Ruthanne Johnson
MONTE VISTA—The 116th annual San Luis Valley Fair is being held Aug. 4 to 11 at the Ski Hi Complex in Monte Vista— to the theme “Blue Jeans ‘N Country Dreams.” Kids ages eight to 18 from 4-H and Future Farmers of America (middle and high school ages) will converge on Ski Hi from six counties---Rio Grande, Alamosa, Saguache, Costilla, Conejos and Mineral— to compete in an array of animal and non-animal programs. The fair also has an open-class division that allows competitors of all ages, who may or may not be in 4-H or FFA clubs, to compete in everything from table setting to cupcake decorating, flower arranging, Lego building and photography. The fair is free to spectators, who can expect to see 4-H participants vying for grand and reserve championships with their top pigs, cows, turkeys, rabbits, goats and sheep. “It’s a very family-oriented event and fun for everyone, whether they’re five or 70,” said Swine Superintendent Heather Tillman. “There are just so many interesting things going on.” There’s a dog show on Sunday to highlight canine-training skills and horse shows on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. “The horse shows are my favorite” said Amy Henschen, the Valley’s 4-H youth agent with Colorado State University. “Tuesday are our working-ranch horse shows, which speak to the Valley’s heritage and how people here use their horses.” The kids show off skills such as riding a horse while opening and shutting a gate “and going over logs and through bushes and all kinds of stuff.” Wednesday are the Gymkhana competitions, which are timed speed events such as barrel racing. “The events are fast and fun and really cool to watch.” As with the open-class competition, 4-H competitors have an assortment of non-animal categories in which they can compete---everything from canning and quilting to leatherworking, scrapbooking, archery, muzzle loading and robotics. “I love the quilting, photography and table setting competitions,” Tillman said. “Some people use those throw-back decorative melamine plates.” And the settings could vary from white tablecloth to red and white gingham, or different themes such as spring, fall and pioneer days. Henschen’s favorite indoor competitions are the cake- and cupcakedecorating contests. “People bring in their cake and then decorate them live on site. “While that’s happening, we have an open cupcake decorating contest,” she said. The fair provides the cupcakes and people pay one dollar to decorate each one. But it’s the animal competitions that are the most popular, Tillman said, especially the pigs, who people
love because they are so clean, intelligent and gregarious. “We typically have about 120 hogs who we show in about three hours,” she said. “Later in the afternoon, when the pigs are resting in their pens, folks can ask the kids questions and possibly pet the pigs.” Fair competitors are not only judged on their animals but also on personal presentation as well. “The animals have to be washed, cleaned and clipped---and contestants need to be dressed in nice clothes, too,” Tillman said. “That usually means nice jeans, boots belt and a longsleeve button-up shirt,” which is too cute when it comes to the eightyear-olds. “A lot of what we do in 4-H is making sure our kids learn the life skills,” said Tillman, who coordinates the 4-H program in Mosca. “I have kids who come from just about every county around here, and we do a lot of mini shows where the kids bring their animals and do presentations.” This not only helps the kids and animals prepare for the bigger shows, she said, “it teaches them skills that will help them excel in the larger world.” 4-H kids are also expected to do demonstrations, community service and fundraisers for their club. National clubs such as 4-H and FFA support hands-on projects in areas like science, health, agriculture and citizenship as a way of teaching kids important life skills. The 4H programs are typically available through local 4H clubs, 4H camps and in-school and after-school programs. Mentors in the local chapters help kids build confidence, creativity and curiosity, as well as leadership skills and resiliency. The inspiration for 4-H began in the early 1900s, as young Americans lost interest in farming and ranching and began moving into cities. A school principal in a rural Ohio town formed corn and tomato growing clubs for his students to do outside of school hours. Clubs began sprouting up around the country as the idea caught on. Events such as the San Luis Valley Fair allowed club participants to show off their agricultural skills. 4-H clubs now exist in every state, and notable 4-H’ers include former President Jimmy Carter, astronaut Alan Shepard, Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walks and actress Julia Roberts. The variety of programs in 4-H and the San Luis Valley Fair are intertwined with the Valley’s heritage, Tillman said, especially the indoor contests. “The fair also teaches kids about what the markets are asking for with livestock—what it takes to raise livestock, as far as feed amounts and weight gain so the animal gets to market-ready weight.” And then there are the more modern programs: robotics, engineering and computer science programs. “At
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Kylee Christensen works a cow at the Working Ranch Horse Show at the 2017 fair. the same time, we’re embracing our heritage; we’re adding new things so that we’re evolving with the times,” ,” Tillman said. In the 4-H animal-related competitions, there are 15 dogs and their trainers are in the dog show and more than 40 horses and trainers competing. In the market livestock show, there are 51 steers, 102 goats, 84 sheep and 121 pigs and 10 rabbits. There are more than 80 indoor 4-H exhibits. Prizes run the gambit, from ribbons to money, belt buckles and 4-H branded items. The numbers of entries in the openclass division won’t be available until Monday, Aug. 6.
One blue ribbon winner from each project class will be chosen to go to the Colorado State Fair, to be held in Pueblo in late August. Last year, about 70 competitors went to state from the six counties represented in
Courtesy Photo
the San Luis Valley Fair. “These kids invest money and time in their projects,” Tillman said. “And this fair is how they get to show everybody all of their hard work and dedication throughout the year.”
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SLV Fair & Summer Agriculture
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Winter kill affects San Luis Valley alfalfa crops
By Lyndsie Ferrell
SAN LUIS VALLEY—Due to a late cold that came to the Valley this past spring, over 60 percent of alfalfa crops were affected and killed, leaving farmers no choice but to file insurance claims and result to planting backup crops for the 2018 growing season. “We had several crops affected by the winter kill and we consider that a tragedy as alfalfa is one of the biggest crops in the Valley next to barley and potatoes,” said crop consultant Maya ter Kuile-Miller. “All other crops from around the Valley are actually doing really well this season. Potatoes are about a week ahead of schedule and for the alfalfa that survived the winter kill, they have already had their first cutting and are working on the second. Moisture is a bittersweet thing for grass crops like alfalfa, but we are hoping to get rain soon to help with late season harvest,” explained ter Kuile-Miller. Precipitation can be a bittersweet enemy for many ranchers and growers in any agricultural area like
the Valley. Alfalfa crops require a certain amount of time to dry on the ground once the plant has been cut. During the drying process, growers must watch the cuttings for signs of mold, mildew and insect infestation. Alfalfa is typically used to feed livestock and must meet certain health standards before it can be shipped to other areas. High precipitation can cause any number of issues within this area of agriculture. The first cutting of the season rated at 87 percent, which is down from last year. The second cutting has only just begun and ter Kuile-Miller did not have numbers as of July 20. “A lot of ranchers had to plant backup crops that don’t produce as much as if they were able to keep the alfalfa,” said ter Kuile-Miller. According to the crop progress report, the state fell into a drought in the middle of January, having no recordable precipitation for months. Alfalfa crops cover roughly 130,000 acres of the San Luis Valley and create a large portion of economic income for the farmers that grow it. This year’s crops have had
significant challenges to face so far, yet seem to be maintaining a healthy growth. Even with the winter kill taking out a majority of crops this season, the ones that did survive will be healthy. Once the alfalfa has been planted, growers leave the plant alone for three to five years. After a considerable amount of time the plant is removed from the crop and replaced with potatoes. The alfalfa provides many nutrients that the potato crop needs to be healthy. According to the market report from the USDA, “Compared to last week, trade activity and demand are good. According to the U.S Drought Monitor for July 17, 2018, 82.50 percent of the state falls in a D0D4 Drought Category compared to 35.53 percent a year ago. Of those percentages, 60.62 percent falls into the D2-D4 categories. The NASS Colorado Crop progress report for week ending July 15, 2018, stored feed supplies were rated eight percent very short, 22 percent short, 68 percent adequate and two percent surplus. Second cutting alfalfa
Unless spring rains begin soon. The drought will impact ag producers of all types, not just lettuce growers. This week lettuce growers are busy in the fields supervising harvest. A no-hail year means a good year for lettuce, CEO Don Drake with the Farm Service Center says, so even if acreage is down this year, at least there
will be no losses from hail. Lettuce acreage has not changed much over the past five years. Southern Colorado Farms General Manager Amy Kunugi reported in 2017 that 950 acres of lettuce were harvested at the from the farm’s various acreages, a little better than average. Southern Colorado Farms is the primary lettuce grower in the Valley. Some 820 acres of iceberg and some romaine lettuce were planted at the farm near Center, Mike Jones with Skyview Cooling in Center said last spring. Summer weather was favorable in 2017 and the yields were good. Some 200 seasonal laborers were brought in with the federal H2A program, “so we had plenty of help,” Kunugi reported last fall. According to its website, Southern Colorado Farms was founded in 1977 to focus on key specialty crops for regional eastern markets. Major crops grown are lettuce, romaine, spinach and organic carrots in its California, Arizona and Colorado locations. The farms grow organic carrots for Gerber Baby Foods and Hain Celestial, as well as other organic food sup-
Photo by Teresa L. Benns
This alfalfa operation enjoys a first cutting, but many alfalfa farmers were hit with winter kill this year for lack of adequate snowfall. progress is at 44 percent. Pasture and range conditions percentages are 30 percent Very Poor, 24 percent poor, 25 percent fair, and 21 percent good. The next available report will be Thursday, July 26, 2018. All prices reported are FOB at the stack or barn unless otherwise noted. Prices reflect load lots of hay.”
Lettuce crop enjoys a no-hail year
By Teresa L. Benns
CENTER —Despite the arrival of the monsoon season, southern Colorado is still experiencing severe to extreme drought conditions, with water restrictions and crop losses a concern for farmers and ranchers. In the past, drought has meant a downward turn in lettuce production.
Photo by Teresa L. Benns
Lettuce harvest is now underway in the Center area.
pliers. Southern Colorado Farms also is a contract grower for Fresh Express, Dole, and Taylor Farms pre-packaged lettuce and spinach products. Farm workers process and package the lettuce on conveyor/processing plants brought right to the fields. The vegetables are then immediately transported to the Skyview Cooling warehouse in Center for refrigeration until it is shipped.
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SLV Fair & Summer Agriculture
San Luis Valley Fair Schedule th
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8 a.m.-Noon 10-11a.m. 11 a.m.-Noon 6 p.m.
Saturday, August 4
Summer 2018
August 4-11, 2018
Set Up - all 4-H/FFA exhibitors Mandatory Livestock Exhibitors’ Meeting Horse Exhibitors’ Test Truck & Tractor Pull
Sunday, August 5
INDOOR BUILDING 7-8 a.m. 4-H Dog Check In 8 a.m. 4-H Dog Show
MCMULLEN BUILDING 4-6 p.m. Breeding Livestock Check In 1-3 p.m. Dairy Goat Check In 4 p.m. Dairy Goat Judging followed by Milking Competition
Monday, August 6
INDOOR BUILDING 7:30-9:30 a.m. Open Class Check In 8-11 a.m. 4-H/FFA Project Check In 9 a.m.-2 p.m. 4-H/FFA Project Interview Judging 10 a.m.-Noon Open Class Judging ARENA 8-8:30 a.m. 9 a.m.
Courtesy photos
Horse Check In 4-H Horse Show
LIVESTOCK PAVILLION 9 a.m. Breeding Beef Show MCMULLEN BUILDING 9–11 a.m. Rabbit & Poultry Check In
Kendra Yund talks to her steer at the 2017 Market Beef Show.
1 p.m. 3 p.m.
Breeding Sheep Show Breeding Swine Show/Mike Kelley Memorial Open Barrow Show 5 p.m. Production Meat Goat Show BREEDING STOCK CHECK OUT BY 9 p.m.
Tuesday, August 7
*All market animals may be checked in and penned starting at 8 a.m.. Exhibitors are responsible to have animals ready for scheduled weigh in. INDOOR BUILDING 7-10 a.m. Rainbow Girls Breakfast 10 a.m.-Noon 4-H Fashion Revue 7:30 p.m. 4-H Fashion Show ARENA 8-8:30 a.m. 9 a.m.
Madison Kyffin shows her dog at the 4-H Dog Show.
Horse Check In 4-H Working Ranch Horse Show
MCMULLEN BUILDING 8-10 a.m. Market Beef Check In/Weigh In
Summer 2018
SLV Fair & Summer Agriculture
Page 5
San Luis Valley Fair Schedule
Team REKT of Matthew Jones and Daniel Chavez watch their robot tackle the challenge course at the Fair Robotics Challenge.
August 4-11, 2018
Continued
8-11 a.m. 9 a.m. Noon-2:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 3-4 p.m. 4-5 p.m. 6:30 p.m.
Market Swine Check In (Swine must be in pens by 11 a.m.) Poultry Show Market Swine Weigh In All La.m.bs and Goats must be in pens Market Goat Weigh In Market La.m.b Weigh In Market Swine Showmanship
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ARENA 8 a.m. 4-H Gymkhana The Horse Awards Ceremony will be held after completion of the Gymkhana on the Indoor Building Stage. MCMULLEN BUILDING 10 a.m. Rabbit Shows 2 p.m. Market Sheep Show followed by Market Sheep Showmanship Courtesy Photo 5:30 p.m. Market Swine Show Kristine Hoffner models the dress Release non-sale rabbits & poultry 5-6 p.m. she sewed in the 4-H Fashion Revue.
Thursday, August 9 SDC FFA Alumni Pancake Breakfast
LIVESTOCK PAVILLION 9 a.m. Market Beef Show followed by Market Beef Showmanship MCMULLEN BUILDING 2 p.m. Market Goat Show followed by Market Goat Showmanship ARENA 7 p.m. FFA Blue and Gold Showmanship Release of non-sale animals may begin after last show. Non-sale animals must be out of mcmullen building by 12:30 p.M., Friday, august 11.
ARENA 9 a.m. Noon-2 p.m.
Friday, August 10 Round Robin Showmanship Kids’ Rodeo
INDOOR BUILDING EAST END 4-7 p.m. 4-H Dinner 5 p.m. FCE Pie Auction MCMULLEN BUILDING 6 p.m. SLV Fair Junior Market Livestock Sale INDOOR BUILDING Dance immediately following the Sale
8-10 a.m. 8 a.m.
Saturday, August 11
Savona Thomson competes in Horse Showmanship at the 2017 Fair.
Release 4-H/FFA Projects Tear Down/Clean Up – all 4-H/FFA exhibitors are expected to help
Tentative Kids Activities Mud Volleyball 8/9 12 p.m.-4 p.m. (behind arena) Barnyard Olympics TBD (Softball Field) Goat Roping TBD (McMullen Building) Pedal Tractor Pull 8/6 10a.m. (Vendor Area)
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Wednesday, August 8
INDOOR BUILDING 9:30-11 a.m. Cake Decorating Contest 9:30-10:30 a.m. Open Cupcake Decorating Contest 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Volunteer Luncheon 12:30-2 p.m. Robotics Competition
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SLV Fair & Summer Agriculture
Summer 2018
Hemp industry continues to strengthen in Valley By Lyndsie Ferrell
SAN LUIS VALLEY— Out of the many crops that grow here in the Valley, hemp has recently come on the market as one of the largest potential crops for the region. In the last few years, the once federally illegal plant has taken leaps and bounds towards becoming legal, and according to one hemp farmer, is only about a year away from being finalized as a federally legal crop. Jim Strang with Green Acres Hemp Farm has been growing and selling legal hemp for several years in and around the Valley. Having the permits necessary to grow his crops has been a constant struggle, but Strang has persevered and come out on top. “We run into people all the time that are growing hemp and don’t have permits. Its one of those things that one person can ruin the entire game for everyone else. Our plants are tested on a regular basis and our permits stay active throughout the year,” explained Strang. Green Acres Hemp Farm has be-
come a staple at several of the local farmers markets in and around the Valley, selling hemp-based products that have helped hundreds, if not thousands of people with a variety of ailments. “One thing that needs to be mentioned to our consumers, is that a lot of these hemp growers extract the cannabinoids or CBDs from the stems or seeds of the plant. That is not what we do. Consuming hemp-based products that are derived from the stem or seeds can make some people sick. We extract directly from the leaf, which is the purest form of the CBD and the kind that can cure illness. If you don’t know the grower, be sure to ask where they extract from. There is a lot of fake stuff out there,” explained Strang. He stated that the hemp industry is blossoming in the Valley and around the US and soon will be one of the biggest markets, matching— if not exceeding— its counterpart marijuana. “I would say we are about a year out from becoming federally legal. They
passed it in Congress 28 to one and then passed it again in the Senate 68 to 11. Now, they will work out the details and hopefully take it off of the schedule one drug list. It will also make it so that businesses like ours can use federal banking, which will help tremendously,” said Strang. Strang has had several clients contact him to say thank you for the work he and his wife Lisa have been doing. Just recently, Strang was contacted by a man who had been in stage 4 cancer before trying some of the products produced by Strang. “He called to tell me that he was now off of his medication and in remission. We get calls like this every day, and it is the only reason why we do what we do. We are out here to help as many people as we can,” finished Strang. Green Acres Hemp Farm can be found each Friday at the South Fork Farmer’s Market located at the South Fork Visitor Center and again on Saturday and Sunday at the Pagosa Springs Farmer’s Market. “Business is picking up and in
ALAMOSA — Colorado Division of Water Resources Division 3 Engineer Craig Cotten has been predicting a dryer than normal water year for some time. However, the forecasts are now firmer for the irrigation season, which began early this year so farmers could utilize what little water there will be this year. “We are going to have low stream flows in both the Conejos and Rio Grande. I am sure we are going to dry up the Conejos and potentially the Rio Grande in some spots.” As spring began, Cotten’s current forecasted annual index flow for the Rio Grande was 300,000 acre feet, which is 46 percent of the long-term average, and the forecasted flow for the Conejos River system is 140,000 acre feet or 44 percent of the longterm average. The obligations to downstream states to meet the Rio Grande Compact can easily be met with wintertime flows, Cotten explained, so curtailments during the irrigation season will be zero. He said the obligation on a flow of 300,000 acre feet for the Rio Grande would be 75,000 acre feet and the obligation on the Conejos would be 16,000 acre feet. The Conejos has already delivered 12,000 acre feet to downstream states during January, February and March, Cotten explained, and he expected the Conejos system would deliver about 6,000 acre feet more in November and December, so “we will be over-delivered at least on the
Conejos if the 140,000 turns out to be accurate.” The Upper Rio Grande has a longer history of water shortages and disputes, and of treaties and decrees and compacts to settle those disputes, than any other river in the Southwest. A severe water shortage in Mexico, Texas and southern New Mexico in the 1890’s was attributed to mainly to increasing development and use of water for irrigation in the San Luis Valley during the preceding decade. This water shortage, which also could have reflected below average precipitation, was responsible for the “embargo” of 1896 and also for the Rio Grande Convention of 1906 “embargo” was an order from the US Secretary of the Interior which prevented further irrigation development of any magnitude in the Rio Grande Basin in Colorado and New Mexico; it was not lifted until 1925. Under terms of the treaty of 1906, the US guaranteed an annual delivery in perpetuity of 60,000 acre feet of water in the Rio Grande at the head of the Mexican Canal near El Paso, Texas. In keeping with the ongoing concern over water in the Upper Rio Grande, long records of streamflow are available for many places along the main stem and its principle tributaries. However, the data concerning groundwater supplies are extremely meager. He added that the final flow could vary depending on factors such as future rainfall. He said the National
Weather Service is predicting “equal chances” of average precipitation from July through September. Snowpack as of Tuesday put the Rio Grande Basin second from the bottom in the state. The San Juan Basin sat at 41 percent and the Rio Grande Basin at 42 percent of average while some basins in the state such as the South Platte were at 100 percent. “As you get farther south, it gets less and less,” Cotten explained. Even within the basin, there are areas that are in worse shape than others, he added. For example, the Alamosa/ Trinchera sub-basin, which runs from Alamosa to Trinchera Creek, is at 31 percent of average and the Sangre de Cristo’s at 26 percent. “It’s not real good anywhere,” Cotten said. The Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) forecasts for the rivers in the basin range from 50-51 percent at best for some of the rivers in the basin to 15 percent for Sangre de Cristo Creek, “the worst of all as far as the forecast,” and Cotten believes most of the NRCS forecasts are too high. Much of the problem is reflected in history. Please see WATER on Page 7
Water forces expense, conservation
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Courtesy photos
Owner of Green Acres Hemp Farm holds a clone of the new T1 strain he is growing for his hemp-based products.
After passing through both Congress and the Senate, hemp growers hope to see the plant removed as a schedule one drug and become federally legal.
turn so is our grow. We now have For more information, testiover 400 plants of the T1 strain monials or to purchase products, that will be ready by next season,” please visit www.greenacreshemstated Strang. pfarm.com.
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Summer 2018
SLV Fair & Summer Agriculture
Page 7
Valley potato growers seeing good year
MONTE VISTA— Thanks to adequate irrigation water from wells throughout San Luis Valley, there’s good news about this year’s potato crops despite the lack of moisture. Growing conditions have actually been good, said Jim Ehrlich, executive director for the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee. “There’s been no hail, knock on wood, and conditions haven’t been too wet, which is worse for potatoes than when it’s too dry.” This year’s potato crop is just shy of 52,000 acres—totaling some 1.6 billion potatoes that will soon be heading to mealtime plates across the U.S. The crop is similar to last year’s 51,848 acres. As the second largest potato growing region in the country, the Valley’s economy is entwined with the potato
industry, employing some 2,000 people year-round. “We’ve got roughly 160 farms and every farm probably employs at least three or four people,” Ehrlich said “Then there are 21 potato storage sheds, which, depending on the size of the shed, can have crews ranging from 30 to 50 people.” Potato planting typically begins around mid-April and harvesting in early September through mid-October. Recent field inspections revealed this year’s crop is ahead of schedule by about 10 days, Ehrlich said. “We have workers already hilling potatoes, and harvesting will start in three to four weeks.” “Hilling” refers to the process of building soil mounds around potato plants. Maturing potatoes rise from the ground as they grow rather than into the ground. Hilling encourages stalks to produce higher yields and protects the potatoes from damaging weather and exposure to light, which can kill crops. Though higher altitudes keep most
potato pests at bay, aphids can still ravage Valley crops. “We’re starting to see some aphids show up,” Ehrlich said, “but this is normal and there aren’t high levels so we should be ok.” For aphid control, the potato committee and local growers use Agro Engineering in Alamosa. The company sets a network of aphid traps across the Valley. The potato committee partners with the CSU San Luis Valley Research Center on a variety of research projects, such as pest management, soil health, seeding and the cross-breeding of new varieties. “The committee funds about $250,000 in research every year,” Ehrlich said. The center’s breeding program has become the backbone of keeping Valley potatoes in high demand. “We need good potato varieties if we’re going to stay relevant in the market,” Ehrlich said. Varieties run the gambit: small and large russets and reds, purple-skinned and yellow- fleshed spuds. “Something most people don’t know is that fingerling potatoes got a start here in
Luke Runyon writing for KUNC says, in the drought year of 2002 streams that flow from the nearby San Juan and Sangre de Cristo Mountains slowed to a trickle, some of them before the normal irrigation season had even begun. Rushing water created by snow from the previous winter failed to materialize. That left the ditches, creeks and rivers that recharge the valley’s aquifers dry. The precious groundwater had plenty of demands and no supply. Farmers began to cast blame as to who caused the problem. Fingers pointed at the state, water managers, Mother Nature and among the farmers themselves, divided into camps depending on where they got their water. All the while, many farmers kept pumping whatever water they could find and the aquifer continued its unprecedented decline. A group of farmers agreed to pay more money for the water they pump out of the ground by imposing fees, a kind of tax, per acre-foot of water. To get to that point, family farmers had to put aside old grudges and recognize a shared fate in the aquifer under their feet. Seeing hope in the farmers’ efforts, researchers are studying the risky gambit to see if it is working… It became abundantly clear the valley’s farmers were fast approaching a crossroads. Colorado’s top water enforcer, the state engineer, made clear that if the farmers continued to pump from the underground aquifer he would be forced to shut them down.
They were running afoul of the state’s prior appropriation doctrine water laws, which prioritize water rights based on their effective date. Some farmers who held rights to divert water from streams dating back to the late 1800s were seeing their supplies drop, partially thanks to water wells dug decades later in the 1950s and ‘60s. In Colorado, when a younger water right is curtailing an older one, it is a serious problem. For the farmers that depend on the aquifer, the choice was simple: keep pumping until everyone’s supplies ran out and risk the ire of state water officials or find a way to curb their pumping. After years of litigation, court cases and a round of state legislation, the farmers formed a plan. A majority made a painful decision. They agreed that it was in everyone’s best interest to pay more money for water, hoping that the higher cost would cause them to think twice when turning on their pumps. Communities formed a network of subdistricts that could levy fees on water use, self-governed by the farmers themselves. Subdistrict one, the largest and most heavily irrigated in the valley, was the first. The Upper Rio Grande River, with a drainage area of about 35,000 miles, flows through the San Luis Valley, an open, almost treeless, intermontane basin bounded by the San Juan Mountains on the west and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains on the east. The San Luis Valley is 90 miles from north to south and 50 miles from east to west
with an average elevation is 7,512 to 8,000 feet. Although the mountainous areas may have average annual precipitation over 40 inches, mean annual precipitation in the San Luis Valley ranges from only 7 to 10 inches, and hence, it is true desert. The northern portion of the basin (approximately 2,700 square miles) coincides with the “Closed Basin,” an internally drained area that includes about two-thirds of the San Luis Valley. Irrigated agriculture is the largest water user in the basin and consumes about 85-90 percent of water used. The approximately 600,000 acres under irrigation are supplied by conjunctive use of both surface and groundwater. Major crops are potatoes, barley, vegetables, and alfalfa. Most irrigation water comes from managed recharge and pumping of unconfined-aquifer wells. An average of 2 million acrefeet of water is used annually in the basin, of which 800,000 acre-feet is from groundwater sources. About 3,500 of the 6,500 wells in the basin with greater than 50 gallons per minute (gpm) capacity are now in use (Colorado Water Conservation Board, 2002). Administration of water in the upper Rio Grande Basin is governed by Colorado state law and by the Rio Grande Compact of 1938, which establishes Colorado’s obligation to ensure deliveries of water at the New Mexico state line and New Mexico’s obligation to assure deliveries of water at the Elephant Butte Reservoir.
Annual festival set for Sept. 8
By Ruthanne Johnson
WATER Continued from Page 6
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the Valley, and now it’s spread all over the U.S.” Another recent development is smaller potatoes bundled in multi-colored packs, “so buyers are getting reds, yellows and purples,” Ehrlich said. “It’s about convenience and meeting the needs of the consumers.” Potatoes are also gaining celebrity when it comes to health benefits. “There are potato varieties that have been shown to lower blood pressure, like our red-fleshed #1,” said center research scientist Dave Holm. “There has also been research showing how some potato varieties affect enzymes associated with the development of macular degeneration.” Other work suggests that potatoes reduce the likelihood of colon cancer. Look for Valley-produced potatoes in local markets starting in early September. If you can’t find them, try calling one of the local potato farms, like Rockey Farms or JB farms. “I think most warehouses will sell potatoes to people stopping by,” Holm said. You can learn more about Valley spuds at coloradopotato.org. 2018 Potato Festival This year’s annual potato festival— slated for Saturday, Sept. 8— is shaping up to be an exciting year. “For our entertainment, we’ve got the extreme motorsport company Octane Addic-
tion performing in the outdoor arena at Ski Hi complex,” said Colorado Potato Administrative Committee staffer Jessica Crowther. Scheduled to perform are X-Game athletes Nate Adams, Willie Elam, Kyle Demelo and Colten Moore. The athletes will basically be throwing flips and other aerial stunts while riding on motorcycles, four wheelers and snowmobiles. “This is a really big deal having them here in Monte Vista,” Crowther said. “It’s an adrenaline rush and we’re pretty excited.” The motorsport show starts at 6 p.m. The cost is $15 for adults (12 and older), $8 for kids ages six to 11 and free for kids five and younger. Family passes for two adults and two children will be available for $40. The festival will start as usual at Chapman Park with an 8 a.m. Spud Run/Walk. Proceeds from the $20 registration fee and $5 donations for five-pound bags of potatoes from the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee booth will go to support pediatric diabetic patients at the San Luis Valley Health Center. The center sends its young patients to other facilities for treatment. “Proceeds from the run will go toward helping patients and their families with travel, hotels and equipment,” Crowther said. Please see POTATOES on Page 8
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SLV Fair & Summer Agriculture
Summer 2018
Weather: essential, unpredictable
SAN LUIS VALLEY— The San Luis Valley seems almost always in or on the verge of drought. Multi-year drought is common to the area such as the decade-long drought of the 1930s, the severe drought of the mid 1950s and 1970s and the recent intense widespread drought of the early 2000s. Considerable effort is made every year to measure the accumulating snow pack so that water providers and resource managers can plan ahead for the coming summer. Most of the mountain snow melts during May and June causing rivers to reach their yearly peak. In summer, mountain peaks and ranges are effective thunderstorm generators whenever the air mass is sufficiently moist. In some years, local thunderstorms form nearly every afternoon in and near the mountains. Mountain thunderstorms are common from mid-July through much of August, while June is often a much drier month in the high country. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, Colorado’s topography plays a huge role in dictating the State’s temperatures. It is not uncommon for temperatures to differ by 10 to 15° F within a 50 mile radius. Elevation is the main reason for this observed difference. The effect of elevation on temperature is what makes it difficult to summarize Colorado climate. The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) is issuing some initial information on their official winter weather outlook for the 2017 – 2018 season. Official models are currently calling for mostly equal chances for average precipitation with above average temperatures for the months of December, January, February and March. One of the biggest factors affects how much snow we get is the development of an El Niño or La Niña event across North America. The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a recurring climate pattern involving changes in water temperature near the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. On periods ranging from about three to seven years, the surface waters across a large swath of the tropical Pacific Ocean warm or cool by anywhere from 1°C – 3°C, compared to normal. This change in temperature can have a massive impact on the jet stream and thus your winter weather patterns.
Currently the Climate Prediction Center is calling for a ENSO-neutral (neither a El Niño or La Niña event) through the remainder of 2017 and into 2018. Some models predict the onset of El Niño (3-month average Niño-3.4 index at or greater than 0.5°C) during the Northern Hemisphere summer (Fig. 6). However, more than half of the models favor ENSO-neutral through the remainder of 2017. These predictions, along with the near-average atmospheric conditions over the Pacific, lead forecasters to favor ENSO-neutral into the winter (~50 to 55% chance). However, chances for El Niño remain elevated (~35-45%) relative to the long-term average. In summary, ENSO-neutral is favored (~50 to 55% chance) into the Northern Hemisphere winter 2017-18 (click CPC/IRI consensus forecast for the chance of each outcome for each 3-month period). Still, some models are predicting the onset of a weak El Niño by the time winter puts its foot on our snowy doorstep. While those chances for an El Niño event remain slim NOAA says they’re far from calling it. “We still have a fair number of models forecasting at least a weak El Niño through the upcoming winter,” says ENSO blogger Nat Johnson. Colorado straddles the highest mountains of the Continental Divide. These features have an impact on temperatures, wind patterns and storm tracks in all seasons. With an average altitude of about 6,800 feet above sea level, Colorado is the highest contiguous state in the Union. Roughly three-quarters of the 48 contiguous states’ land above 10,000 feet altitude lies within its borders. High ground extends eastward along the New Mexico border to the south and along the Wyoming and Nebraska borders to the north. Colorado is a headwater state. All rivers in Colorado rise within its borders and flow outward, with the exception of the Green River, which flows diagonally across the extreme northwestern corner of the State. Four of the nation’s major rivers have their source in Colorado, the Colorado, Rio Grande, Arkansas and Platte. Generally, the Colorado climate is cool and comfortable. The humidity
Run participants receive a T-shirt and a five-pound bag of Valley-grown potatoes. “It should be an entertaining run because we’ll have fun obstacles along the way,” Crowther said, “like a pit of mashed potatoes runners can dive through and a station where they can pick up a five-pound bag of potatoes to carry as they run.” The festival is offering free train and bus tours to see the potato harvest, and there will be vendors at the park ranging from independent product consultants to food trucks, artists and crafters. The Monte VistaAmbulance will cook up burgers and hot dogs, and there will be face painting for the kids. The festival also contracted with Gravity Play, to offer a variety of activities for kids, like a bungee run, batting cage, human hamster balls and a quad trampoline jumper with harnesses. “One of our vendors is the Rio Grande Watershed Conservation Education Initiative, which is bringing a trailer that shows how water and erosion impact the watershed,” Crowther said. “It’s an educational display that the kids can play with.” Another festival success was securing Chef Carrie Baird for the cooking demonstration. “She was seated 15th on ‘Top Chef,’” Crowther said, “and we’re excited to find out what she’ll be cooking.” About 10 other chefs from the Association of Certified Chefs were invited to the spud fest. “We’ve invited them to go on our ag farm tour. They’ll go to the CSU Research Center to learn about potato breeding and seeding and a local potato farm to watch the potato harvest,” Crowther said.
For more information about the potato festival and Octane Addictions performance, visit coloradopotato.org/ potatofestival. To inquire about potato harvest tours, contact Jessica Crowther at 719-852-3322 or jcrowther@coloradopotato.org.
POTATOES Continued from Page 7
is low and temperatures differ by the altitude.
Mountains moderate climate The mountains are the most significant moderators of Colorado’s climate. They have an effect on all aspects of weather passing through the state and huge variations in weather can be felt in relatively short distances. Storms moving from the north usually carry little moisture and the cold air is frequently too shallow to cross the mountains to the western portion of the state so while the plains are in the grip of a very severe storm, the weather in the mountains and western valleys may be mild — and vise versa. Warm, moist air from the south moves into Colorado infrequently, but most often in the spring, summer and early autumn. For southern and western Colorado, the intrusions of moist air are most common from mid-July into September associated with wind patterns sometimes called the “Southwest Monsoon.” Many of the stations have peak summer mean maximum temperatures from 80 in the mountains to 90° F in the eastern high plains. The position of Colorado with in the North American continent makes for a very comfortable summer. It is rare to see a humid
Farmer’s Almanac map air mass encompass the entire State. So the heat of summer is not quite as oppressive as that felt in the eastern United States. Colorado summers are not free from excessive heat. Several stations report extreme high temperatures well above 100° F. The state’s highest recorded temperature was 118° F at Bennett, elevation 5,484, on July 11, 1888. An important feature of the precipitation in the plains is the seasonal cycle. From early March through early June, periodic widespread storms bring soaking beneficial moisture that helps crops and grasslands. It is more common, however, to be
Courtesy photo
too dry. Many years are drier than average and some years receive less than half the long-term average. Precipitation increases with elevation both winter and summer but the elevation effect is greatest in mid-winter when winds at mountain top level are typically strongest. High peaks and mountain ranges generally receive the majority of their precipitation during the winter months. Snow accumulates without melting in shaded or level areas at elevations above about 8,000 feet. When it melts in the spring, this snow is the primary source of water for much of the population of the state and provides water for extensive irrigation.
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