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January 23, 2019 719-852-3531 835 First Ave. Monte Vista, Colo.
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Agriculture Progress
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Iceberg lettuce offers many health benefits
By Teresa L. Benns
CENTER— Southern Colorado Farms near Center produces primarily iceberg lettuce, with a little spinach, some romaine lettuce and organic carrots thrown in. While iceberg lettuce is said to be of less nutritional value than other varieties, it may be a safer choice than romaine, the subject of several recalls recently. But is iceberg lettuce really a bad choice for the health conscious? Not according to an article at https://healthroot.com/iceberg-lettucenutrition-benefits/. The article begins with an interesting history of the lettuce, which traces its name to the mountains of ice used to keep it cool during transport from coast to coast. Beginning in the 1940s, iceberg or crisp head lettuce was the only variety that could survive the shipment from growers in California to the East Coast. Loose leaf lettuce just couldn’t make the trip. Only those eating in expensive restaurants were able to order loose-leaf into the mid-1970s. Once better shipping methods were developed and loose leaf became more popular, iceberg had to take a back seat. Although often described in online and health literature as the least nutritious member of the lettuce family, iceberg lettuce has its own benefits and some believe these have been overlooked in the rush to consume kale, romaine, spring mix and other varieties. To begin with, iceberg lettuce is high in water content and low in calories, just 14 per average serving. It keeps up in some respects with vitamin content in other lettuce varieties and is higher in mineral content. Higher iceberg sodium levels may benefit those whose levels are
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Iceberg lettuce has its own benefits; some believe these have been overlooked in the rush to consume kale, romaine, spring mix and other varieties. found to be too low, something physicians have With drought an ongoing concern in the rado Farms, the main supplier of iceberg been observing in routine blood tests lately. southwestern U.S., lettuce may be a crop farm- lettuce in the Valley, was founded in 1977 Iceberg lettuce also contains vitamin K, ers choose over other more water-intensive to focus on key specialty crops for regional which helps blood clot correctly, helps prevent vegetables. An article by Bloomburg shows eastern markets. Major crops grown are in heart disease and builds stronger bones. It is that alfalfa acreage, a low-value forage crop, its California, Arizona and Colorado locaalso a good source of folate, essential to the has declined 25 percent to 148,642 acres since tions. development of the fetus during pregnancy. A 2001, December 2017 figures show. But lettuce The farms grow organic carrots for Gerber lack of folate during pregnancy can result in growth has increased 79 percent to 31,382 acres Baby Foods as well as other organic food spina bifida, a life-altering birth defect. in the same period. suppliers. Southern Colorado Farms also is a Iceberg lettuce also keeps longer in the vegThe article credits the switch to lettuce in contract grower for Fresh Express, Dole, and etable bin than other lettuce varieties because Nevada for bringing drought relief to water Taylor Farms pre-packaged lettuce and spinach of its closely layered leaf structure. For the consumers in the Lake Mead area. So lettuce, products. guacamole salads so popular in Southern Colo- even iceberg lettuce can be the hero, and all Farm workers process and package the letrado, there is no substitute for iceberg lettuce. lettuce varieties are a great source of vitamins, tuce on conveyor/processing plants brought For other iceberg recipes there are a wealth of minerals and fiber. right to the fields. The vegetables are then imdressings and other selections on the Internet mediately transported to the Skyview Cooling to choose from. Southern Colorado Farms warehouse in Center for refrigeration until it According to its website, Southern Colo- is shipped.
CDA announces approved certified hemp seed varieties
COLORADO— The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) is announcing that six industrial hemp seed varieties have passed the 2018 statewide THC validation and observation trial and are now eligible to be grown by the members of the Colorado Seed Growers Association for production of “CDA Approved Certified Seed.” In 2018, the CDA Approved Certified Hemp seed program trialed eight varieties of hemp across Colorado’s diverse growing conditions to validate if they would grow mature plants that test at or below 0.3% THC concentration on a dry weight basis. During 2018, the program approved six new varieties approved to be grown as a class of “CDA Approved Certified Seed.” 2018 CDA APPROVED SEED VARIETIES (Shown in order: Variety, Country, Company, Contact) B 11, CO, USA, Potent 2018 LTD, Yoav Giladi CRS-1, CANADA, Hemp Genetics International, HGI Henola, POLAND, The Polish Institute/ International Hemp Solutions, Bija Hemp Medicine Mother, CO, USA, Mountain Flower Botanicals, Jan Vandenberg Rajan, POLAND, The Polish Institute, The Polish Institute VC Star, CO, USA, GrowHempCO, Veronica Carpio To be CDA Approved Certified Seed, hemp varieties must be produced and labeled by members of the Colorado Seed Growers Association according to Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA) standards. The seed varieties were grown and tested in the Northeast, Arkansas Valley, Front Range, the San Luis Valley and on the Western Slope. These five locations with distinct differences in daytime and nighttime temperatures, in altitude, length of growing season, and soil types, provide the CDA with a broad representation of Colorado’s growing conditions. Growers planting with CDA Approved Certified Seed would be considered very low risk for testing purposes. For seed availability please contact the seed
companies listed. The CDA Approved Certified Seed program requires that all individual seed packages be tagged with both CDA tags and certified seed tags. CDA does not sell seed and has no information about seed availability or variety performance; please check with the individual seed companies listed. For more information on the certified seed program, visit the CDA’s Industrial Hemp web page or contact Terry Moran, Industrial Hemp Certified Seed Specialist, at 303.869.9078 or email Terry.moran@state.co.us.
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Agriculture Progress
Page 3
Potato farmers hoping for good snowpack
By Ruthanne Johnson
SAN LUIS VALLEY— Last year, the San Luis Valley’s total potato crop acreage was 51,785 acres— up by more than 100 acres from 2017. The increase and success of the crop was largely due to a mild winter and temperatures that rarely dropped below zero. “The warm temperatures continued through May and June, resulting in a fast-growing potato crop,” said Andrew Houser, manager of the Colorado Potato Certification Service. Year to date, growers have shipped some 11,700 potato loads. “If you multiply that out, it comes to about 560,000,352 pounds of potatoes,” said Jessica Crowther, marketing administrative assistant with the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee (CPAC). “The average potato weighs 5.3 ounces, so that means about 1.7 billion potatoes roughly that have been shipped from the Valley.” The 2017 season had brought decent snowpack and rain, filling reservoirs and ditches, which meant potato growers had plenty of water for their crops this past summer. But the 2018 drought also meant that farmers relied heavily on reservoirs, drawing them down to low levels but with no regeneration in sight from Mother Nature. This fall and winter have been colder and wetter. But there still hasn’t been enough snow to bring the reservoirs back to 100 percent. According to a water supply outlook compiled in January by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, (NRCS), November and December brought snowfall accumulations that are close to only half of normal amounts for the Rio Grande and combined San Miguel, Dolores, Animas, and San Juan River basins. Snowpack in the Upper Rio Grande River basin is below normal at 70 percent of the median— and the reservoir storage at the end of December was only 80 percent of average, compared to 123 percent this time last year. “We really worry about snowfall where the snowpack is, which is above the Creede area,” Crowther said. “We need quite a few more feet to make the water situation good here.” At this stage, the 2019 potato crop is still in its infancy, with the seed certification process just winding up. Seed certification begins with growers submitting samples of every seed lot that passed summer inspection for a PostHarvest Test in the fall. The inspection provides an estimate for virus-spread that occurs late in the summer growing season, after summer inspections but before vine-killing. The results are used to determine seed sales eligibility of
lots already in storage and recertification eligibility of seed lots for the following growing season. “Basically, the certification process is to make sure that we are shipping and growing quality seed here in Colorado,” said Jessica Crowther with the Colorado Potato Association Committee. The seed potatoes are planted in Hawaii because of climate and low testing costs and the plants are typically inspected in mid-January. The test readings from this year’s crop took place Dec. 18 and 19. Last year’s top five certified potato varieties in Colorado were Russet Norkota, Canela Russet, Centennial Russet, Teton Russet and Lamoka. Test results were sent to growers just before Christmas but results for this season’s certified seed potatoes have yet to be revealed. Seed potatoes brought from outside of Colorado must adhere to regulations outlined in the Colorado Seed Act, one of them being a postharvest test or winter grow-out. There is also a late-blight quarantine in effect for all seed coming into the San Luis Valley. Growers planning on shipping seed into the valley are required to have testing done by a qualified lab prior to shipment. For now, potato growers are in their down time. “This time of year, we work on equipment and taxes. And there are ag conferences where we can check out the newest and greatest equipment and get continuing education,” said Karla Shriver with Pro Mountain Farms. This year’s Southern Rocky Mountain Region Ag Conference is being held Feb. 5-7 at the Ski Hi Complex in Monte Vista. Potato seminars include topics such as soil health, drought analysis and biologicals used in crop production. “A lot of ditch companies also have their annual meetings this time of year,” Shriver said. Topics discussed include things like how the ditch operated and what kind of capital improvements are needed for the upcoming year. “We also discuss annual assessments for the year, which are set based on expenses.” Spicy sausage, potato and kale soup Potatoes will be planted from late March through April, depending on the weather. Early potatoes that flower above ground before the cold weather breaks are typically covered with soil to protect them from being damaged by the cold, Shriver said. This year, CPAC is holding a potato video contest for school-aged kids addressing the question of how potatoes power performance. The top video wins $300 for the sponsoring teacher and $500 for the winning class Please see POTATO on Page 4
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Agriculture Progress
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Potato pathogen researchers awarded $8 million grant
SAN LUIS VALLEY — For several years, Colorado State University agricultural researchers have been scrutinizing the nutrientrich soil that feeds the state’s flourishing potato business. Colorado is among the top potato producers nationwide, but growers in the San Luis Valley face perennial threats to their crops, including soil-borne pathogens that kill plants before harvest, as well as drought and other challenges. For nearly four years, plant pathologists Courtney Jahn and Jane Stewart have worked closely with Colorado potato growers, leading state-funded research to assess soil health, disease mitigation and crop rotation strategies. Now, together with researchers from nine other universities, Jahn and Stewart will continue exploring best practices for strong, disease-resistant potato crops in Colorado and beyond, as co-recipients of an $8 million national grant. Jahn and Stewart, both faculty members in the Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, are sharing in the four-year grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, under the Specialty
Crop Research Initiative funding program.
SAN LUIS VALLEY— The San Luis Valley Water Conservancy District (SLVWCD) is seeking farmers for a pilot project in 2019 to cost-share on the purchase and installation of soil moisture probes. The project will include soil mapping and placement of probes that will give farmers immediate access to soil moisture data in their fields through an online portal and smartphone app. The goal of the effort is to determine if this data can help farmers with their irrigation decisions and lead to water conservation. The project is open to farmers in parts of Alamosa, Conejos, Rio Grande and Saguache counties. The SLVWCD will contribute up to $2,000 per quarter section of land. The financial cost to the farmer will vary, depending on the selected vendor. Farmers are allowed to leverage other incentive programs such as RCPP to meet their cost-share requirement. Participating farmers will select a vendor who is able to complete detailed soil mapping of each field. The vendor will then install soil moisture probes in accordance with the recommendations from the soil mapping. The vendor will also provide soft-
ware that will allow farmers to access realtime weather information and soil moisture data from either a cell-phone application or a web-site portal. Participants will be required to share the following data with the SLVWCD: The Water District Structure Identification (WDID) of the well or diversion structure used to irrigate the field; the annual quantity of water applied in water years 2013-2018 by the WDID structure and other water sources; the quantity of water applied on a minimum of a monthly basis for any year(s) enrolled in the pilot program; and soil mapping and soil moisture probe data. At the end of the program’s first year, the average water application data will be compared to 2013-2018 in an effort to determine if use of the soil moisture probes improved water conservation. Funding for the project was provided by the San Luis Valley Conservation and Connection Initiative and the Colorado Water Conservation Board Colorado Water Plan Grant Program. To apply for the program contact Matt at the SLVWCD at 589-2230 or matt@slvwcd. org by Feb, 28.
Healthy soil, healthy potatoes The project’s aim is to marshal interstate expertise to fully understand all factors affecting soil health and soil-borne potato diseases, which account for half of all annual U.S. potato crop losses. In the U.S., potatoes are grown on more than 1 million acres in 30 states, with a farm-to-gate value of $4 billion. The t o p producing states, comprising four major growing regions, include: Washington, Oregon, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine and Colorado. The overall goal of the four-year project, which is led by researchers at the University of Minnesota, will be to enhance the environmental quality and economic viability of potato operations in the U.S. Specific growing challenges vary by region, according to Jahn. For example, regions outside of Colorado have relied on soil fumigants to kill pathogens, such as potato
Soil moisture probe pilot project coming to Valley
early die, or certain nematodes. Such fumigants, including methyl bromide, are being phased out by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency due to human and soil health concerns, putting pressure on growers to devise alternative soil-health practices. Colorado growers do not typically use fumigation to protect their plants, due to the state’s drier climate and higher elevations. However, Colorado does encounter other soil-borne diseases including common and powdery scab, and soft rot. “The thing that has been so amazing working with Colorado growers is how willing they have been to talk to us about the specific challenges they face,” Jahn said. “They have been instrumental in helping us make the best choices, so we can best help them in the long run.” Cover crops, rotational strategies In Colorado, the researchers have been looking at soil fertility, microbial changes, and whether pathogen pressures increase or decrease from various cropping schemes, Stewart said. For example, they have explored the use of cover crops and rotational crops like barley and quinoa, and have experimented with bringing in cows to graze cover-crop fields. Stewart leads the collection of soil samples to analyze microbial populations for bacteria, fungi
and nematodes, and how those populations change with different rotational cropping systems. “With the new grant, we can apply some of the same techniques we’ve been using, but now we can test even more rotational schemes,” Stewart said. “Previously we could only do so many, but now we will have the opportunity to do more treatments and build our datasets.” The Colorado Potato Administrative Committee (CPAC) has been a key partner in connecting Jahn and Stewart with local growers. Using the new federal funding, the researchers will expand their datasets to other growers, as well as conduct further experiments at the San Luis Valley Research Center farm. The farm is part of CSU’s Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station center and facilities network. The Department of Agriculture grant involves 24 collaborators and includes soil scientists, plant pathologists, potato agronomists, economists and social scientists.
POTATO
Continued from Page 3 or individual. For more information, visit Instructions: coloradopotato.org/videocontest/ Heat a large heavy-duty pot over mediumThis winter season, as folks hunker down high heat and add the casing-free sausage. from the chill, Crowther wanted to share her Break up the sausage with a wooden spoon favorite potato recipe to help everyone stay and cook until fully browned, stirring occawarm and well fed on one of the San Luis sionally. Remove the crisped sausage from Valley’s staple crops. the pot and set it aside. Lower the heat to medium, add the oil, Spicy Sausage, Potato and Kale Soup onions garlic, salt, pepper and crushed red Ingredients: pepper flakes. Cook until soft and translucent 1 pound spicy Italian sausage (about 3 to 5 minutes). Sauté until the onions 2 tbsp. olive oil have caramelized. Add the chopped kale in 1 large onion, chopped batches, allowing it to wilt down as it cooks. 3 garlic cloves, minced Add the nutmeg and stir. Cook the kale for 1 tsp. salt another 3 minutes until it has turned bright 1 tsp. freshly cracked black pepper green and completely wilted down. Add 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes sliced potatoes and cooked sausage. 2 large bunches of kale, stemmed and Pour in the broth and bring it up to a boil. chopped Lower the heat and allow the soup to simmer 1/4 tsp. grated nutmeg until the potatoes are tender. If desired, add 4 medium russet baking potatoes, sliced more seasoning to taste. Once the potatoes 8 cups chicken or vegetable broth are fully cooked, stir in the heavy cream. 1/2 cup heavy cream Serve immediately with bread as a side.
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Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Agriculture Progress
Page 5
Baby animal season, high feed costs impact San Luis Valley ranchers
By Ruthanne Johnson
SAN LUIS VALLEY— Birthing, hay and the U.S. trade war with China are top issues when it comes to San Luis Valley livestock operations in the 2019 winter and spring seasons. “Cattle ranchers are getting ready to start calving, which typically starts in early February,” said Marvin Reynolds, director and livestock range agent for the Colorado State University San Luis Valley Area Extension Office. “That means checking regularly on pregnant heifers, probably several times a night. It’s a lot of work but it’s the time of year when the rancher’s breeding program comes back to them and they can start to see the fruits of their labor.” Reynolds estimates there are roughly about 23,000 cattle in the Valley and nearly the same number of sheep, which are raised here for their meat and wool. Goats are another growing industry in the Valley, for dairy production. Baby season continues through May and even into June for the various species— cows, sheep, goats and commercially-raised wild game such as bison, elk and deer. Pigs, however, don’t adhere to the spring schedule and can have up to three litters a year, Reynolds said. Birthing season continues through May and even into June for the various species raised here in the Valley— cows, sheep, goats and commercially-raised wild game such as bison, elk and deer. Pigs, however, don’t adhere to the spring schedule and can have up to three litters a year, Reynolds said. And then there are the chickens, which don’t normally lay eggs in winter because of diminished daylight and colder temperatures. Only operations that provide artificial light to extend the chicken’s perceived daylight hours will have continued egg production. Organic farmer Melinda Meyers with Sundance Farms in Moffat likes to give her chickens a break
from egg-laying during the winter months for a variety of reasons. Not only does it save money in energy costs, it’s better for the hens. “They live longer and have more productive lives when they get that winter break.” Some of the other challenges facing ranchers and their animals this time of year include cold temperatures, snow and impacts from last year’s drought. “We had a mild winter just up until New Year’s, with some snow,” Reynolds said. “But now we’re getting below zero temperatures— and that makes a big difference for the animals.” Keeping warm requires more energy, Reynolds explained. “Digesting food helps because it basically becomes an internal heat source.” But more energy also means more food, which means higher feed costs. “Feeding is the most expensive input into livestock outside of real estate, so the longer you can graze your animals on native grasses and other forage, the less you have to provide them with hay and other feed like alfalfa.” But last year’s drought depleted the Valley’s natural grasses and other vegetation. “The grazing [season] was short— just through May, June and a little into July,” Reynolds said. “As we got into the late summer, we had a little more rain, which helped in the later season. But by the time December rolled around, a lot of pastures were getting pretty short.” The drought also impacted hay and alfalfa crops. “We lost a lot of hay in the spring because it was so open and dry and there was no snow cover,” Reynolds said. The shortages have resulted in ranchers scrambling to find enough affordable feed for their animals. Meyers downsized her small goat herd last summer to save money. “I sold two wethers and a little doe,” said Meyers. “This year— because of drought, lack of hay and the expense of hay— it’s been really hard on everyone, especially small producers who don’t have their own fields.” One riding stable in Crestone is shipping hay in from the Gunnison valley. “It’s to the point where we’ll pretty
much kill for hay.” So for now, ranchers and farmers in the ValOther ranchers are doing the same as Meyers. ley are praying for snow and readying for the “In response to last year’s drought, ranchers torrent of animal babies. are culling their herds down, basically selling them off,” said John Noffsker with Two Creek Ranches in Monte Vista. “They are reducing their herd size so they don’t run out of feed.” But just because ranchers are spending more money on feed doesn’t mean higher sell prices for their livestock. “We don’t have a lot of control over the national price of beef, which is a commodity,” said Chad Cochran with Cochran Ranch in Monte Vista. So, making a decent OF AMERICA profit this year will be more about timing. “You Fresh Ideas. Fresh Results. just have to pick your market windows.” Selling off stock to adjust for feed costs may also take a toll on beef prices. “Those kinds of actions can result in a drop in the price of beef in the commodity market,” Noffsker said. “Also, right now the ag bankers across the country are tightening up because of lower commodity prices and the trade tariff issues that Trump has imposed. These things have had a pretty significant impact on our market.” Last year’s drought also resulted in depleted reservoirs, which can only replenish if there’s 15 Washington, Suite 207 Monte Vista sufficient snowpack this winter and rains come Email: customerservice@ffdllc.net spring.
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Page 6
Agriculture Progress
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
This year looking better for alfalfa crops
By Teresa L. Benns
CENTER— Last year was not a very good alfalfa year, Center farmer Dick Ramstetter said recently. Alfalfa producers experienced losses caused by a lack of sufficient snowfall, which helps protect the crop from winter kill. Ramstetter owns property along County Road C and 44 and other ground from 285 to Highway 112 and La Garita. Alfalfa is a perennial that comes up every year. When the plant suffers winter kill, it dries out and dies. Replanting it can run into tens of thousands of dollars, Ramstetter said, with the average cost of replanting at $20,000 per 125-acre field. This year’s snow cover has helped protect the plants and Ramstetter says if it keeps snowing this will keep expenses for 2019 down. He expects alfalfa this year to run about $200 a ton. Even though there are water worries if the drought continues, Ramstetter says he doesn’t see farmers moving to other crops from alfalfa. He explained that the average alfalfa producer must invest about $2.5 million dollars in equipment needed to harvest alfalfa and with equipment depreciation, it is not easy to move over to other crops. “We raise some of the best alfalfa in the world here,” Ramstetter pointed out, explaining that good-quality alfalfa sold to dairies in Colorado, New Mexico and other states makes for good-quality milk and milk products, too. When asked about the renewed prospect of selling Valley water to the Front Range, Ramstetter noted that would-be exporters “have a long, hard road” to travel before their proposition could become a reality. They must receive state approval, he said, and estimated they will spend years in water court.
According to Center farmer Dick Ramstetter, the Valley “raises some of the best alfalfa in the world here.” Alamosa County Ed Buhr Trucking — 1,000 tons of alfalfa, 4x4x8 1,900-lb. bales and 2,500 tons of certified straw 4x4x8 1,100-lb. bales 14x18x36 2-tie string bales 5030 S. 105 Rd., Alamosa 81101, 589-4938 or 580-5977 (cell) (producer/dealer/sell on delivered basis only) Conejos County Salazar Ranches— 4,000 tons of alfalfa, 3x4 1,250-lb. bales; native meadow grass, 1,000 tons, 3x4-1,000 lb. bales and peas and oats, 300 tons, 3x4 1,100-lb. bales. Lab analysis available and certified organic on all. John Salazar, 20616 CR M, Manassa, 81141, 719-937-1591 johntsalazar@gmail.com www. salazarranches.com Valdez, Virgil — 207 tons alfalfa, 4x3 bales, packed in shed, rain free. Lab analysis available La Jara, 81140, 274-5680
Hay sellers in the Valley The following sources for hay locally and Rio Grande County from other Colorado locations are listed in the D & S Farms — Alfalfa, 3 x 3 bales, 70-lb. 2018 hay directory at: https://www.colorado. gov/pacific/sites/default/files/Colorado%20 small bales, lab analysis available on both. Scott Davis, 8482 North County Road 5 West Hay%20Directory.pdf
Del Norte, 81132, 580-5379 scottdavis5379@ gmail.com E Q C Ranch— 400 tons alfalfa, 3 x 4 bales, lab analysis available; oats 600 tons, 3 x 4 bales, lab analysis available; alfalfa, 200 tons, 16 x 18 bales. Gary Dickey 4725 W RD 8 N Center, 81125 850-1722 Matthews Farms — Alfalfa, 3 x 4 bales, lab analysis available; Brome/Garrison grass, grass/afalfa Mix, grass Sainfoin grass mix, all available in 14x18 65-70 lb. bales; grass/alfalfa mix, Sainfoin grass mix, 3 X 4 bales, all barn stored Steve Matthews 2350 W. CR 1 S. Monte Vista, 81144 852-5494 Michael Jay Schaefer Farms — Alfalfa, 3 x 4 1,250-pound bales, lab analysis available; alfalfa/grass mix, 3 x 4 1,250 pound bales, lab analysis available; native meadow grass, 3 x 4 1,100 pound bales, certified organic on all, delivery available Michael or Brady Schaefer 1604 County Rd. 28 Monte Vista 81144; (719) 5884648 or (719) 242-3324 MJSFarms@gmail.com Moonlight Farms, LLC — Alfalfa, 6,000 to 7,000 plus tons, 3x4x8 1,200 lb. bales, 4x4 bales, barn-stored or tarped; alfalfa grass, 1,000, tons, 4x4 bales, barn-stored or tarped;
Valley Publishing file photos
forage hay, 1,000 tons, 4 x 4 bales; straw 700 plus tons, 3x4 and 4x4 bales Will Albertson, 8101 County Rd. 45, Center 81125 (719) 8502548 moonlightfarmsllc@gmail.com Orth Limousin Ranch — Native grass, 50 tons, 55-65 lb. 14” small bales certified weed free; native grass, 60 tons, 55-65 lb. 14” small bales. Ed Orth, 1086 CR 29 Monte Vista 81144 (719) 852-3069
Saguache County Mineral Hot Springs Farm— Alfalfa, 1,700 tons, 3x4x8 1,200 lb. bales; oat hay, 170 tons, 3x4x8 1,200 lb. bales — certified organic on both. Jeremy Uhlenbrock, 58919 CR EE.2, Moffat 81143; (303) 444-4333 ext. 16 Jeremy@bouldervalleyre.com Ramstetter Farms — Alfalfa, 6,000 tons, 4x4x8 1,900 lb. bales; oat hay, 500 tons, 4x4x8 1,400 lb. bales, lab analysis available; straw barley, 2,000 tons, 4x4x8 1,100 lb. bales, certified weed free; straw barley, 1,000 tons, 16x18 50 lb. bales, certified weed free; straw barley, 1,000 tons, 16x18 50 lb. bales. Richard Ramstetter 5519 E Rd. 9 N Center 81125, 5803329 ramfarm@gojade.org
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BROOMFIELD, Colo.– The Colorado form, contact Loretta Lopez at 303-869-9175 Department of Agriculture annually publishes or visit www.coloradoagriculture.com. the Colorado Farm Fresh Directory, which promotes Colorado farmers’ markets, roadside stands, u-picks, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) producers, agritourism activities, wineries and farms and ranches that sell direct to the public. The 2019 edition is being organized, and producers are encouraged to submit their information for inclusion. “We are celebrating the 35th anniversary of this popular publication this year,” said Wendy White, marketing specialist at the Colorado Department of Agriculture. “We hope to make it the biggest and best edition ever.” More than 100,000 copies of the publication will be distributed in June to consumers RPM ANNEX™ through libraries, extension offices, farmers’ RPM ADVANCED PLUS™ Utilizing markets, welcome centers, chambers of comWith a simple to use the backend touchscreen display, the RPM merce, home milk delivery services and other components of Advanced Plus Main Control an existing control businesses. In addition, Farm Fresh will be Panel comes equipped with all panel, the RPM available as a mobile app for smartphones the advanced features needed Annex allows you for your smart irrigation and online. to upgrade to the latest pivot control practice. technology for a fraction of the cost. The fee to be included in the directory is $25, and the listing deadline is February 15, 2019. For more information or to request a listing
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Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Agriculture Progress
Page 7
Page 8
Agriculture Progress
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Biofuels have many forms and uses
By Sylvia Lobato
SAN LUIS VALLEY— As a climateconcerned population moves away from fossil fuels, biofuels, synthetic fuels and other means of creating clean energy come into play. A biofuel is a hydrocarbon that is made by or from a living organism that we humans can use to power something. In practical consideration, any hydrocarbon fuel that is produced from organic matter such as living or once living material, in a short period of time is considered a biofuel. In the San Luis Valley, Costilla County has established a biodiesel plant at Mesita and Alta Fuels, located on State Avenue in Alamosa, is a leading marketer of petroleum products to wholesale customers throughout Colorado and northern New Mexico. With state-of-theart terminals, Alta Fuels is a major supplier of transportation fuels and a pioneer in bio-fuels, both E85 and bio-diesel. Henry Ford originally designed his Model T to run on ethanol, creating the concept of flex fuel. For example, E85 or flex fuel is a term that refers to high-level ethanol-gasoline blends containing 51 percent to 83 percent ethanol, depending on geography and season. It can be used in flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs), which are available from domestic and foreign manufacturers. Wood was the first biofuel, though everything from non-edible parts of plants, to vegetable oil to coffee grounds and even hemp can be used to produce biodiesel. So long as the plant produces triglycerides, fats and oils, it can be used. There are several factors that decide the balance between biofuel and fossil fuel use around the world. Those factors are cost, availability and food supply. Bioethanol is more popular in the Americas, while biodiesel is more popular in Europe. The U.S. and Brazil produce 87 percent of the world’s fuel ethanol. Ethanol is added to gasoline to improve octane and reduce emissions, while biodiesel is added to petroleumbased diesel to reduce emissions and improve engine life. Wood pellets Made by a distillation process, biofuels are designed to replace gasoline, diesel fuel and coal, which are called “fossil fuels” because they are made from animals and plants that died millions of years ago. Biofuels are made mostly from plants that have just been harvested.
Not narrowly defined as a biofuel, yet gaining favor for home heating as well as recycling of raw material that would otherwise go to waste, wood pellets offer efficient and consistent burning. Truckloads of raw materials are brought to pellet mills every day and can arrive in many different forms. Some of the raw material may be sawdust, wood chips, lumber mill scrap and even full trees unsuitable for lumber. The raw materials may be green, or freshly cut, may be partial dry or even kiln dried. By processing these raw materials all in the same way, each pellet has consistent moisture content, heat value, ash content and burn characteristics. There are many different configurations to pellet manufacturing plants depending on their raw material source. While many don’t have large chippers, almost all of them have a hammer mill at the beginning of their milling process. These machines take sawdust and wood chips and break them down into a consistent smaller size, making drying and pressing through the pellet die quick and consistent. Photo by Sylvia Lobato Usually, the pellets are put into 40-pound Pellet fuels in a stove hopper are a combination of biofuels and making use of wood plastic bags and stacked them on pallets or products that would ordinarily go to waste. skids, which may contain anywhere from one to one and a half tons of fuel, depending on the distributor. Bagging pellets adds between $25 and $30 per ton in plastic bags, pallet, outer cover bag, shrink wrap, and the labor and equipment to Proudly serving the San Luis Valley since 1979 stack and wrap them. These skids are then • Machine Work of All Types • Driveline Specialists shipped out and delivered all over the country • Welding of All Types including • Surface Brake Drums, Rotors for consumer pick up at retail locations or ALUMINUM & STAINLESS and Flywheels home delivery. • CUSTOM FARM EQUIPMENT • CRANES - 7/50/75/100 Ton AND REPAIR Capacities By the same token, the woodpile behind 0839 N Hwy 285 • Monte Vista grandma’s farmhouse was biofuel, which (719) 852-4990 • www.mvmachinetool.com heated the home, baked the bread and was easy to manage. Many modern homes have fireplaces, continuing the popularity of wood as a non-fossil fuel. In the past, petroleum based fuel originally won out over biofuel due to cost and convenience; however, it is slowly turning around as fossil fuels become more expensive. Biofuels surged in popularity during the energy crisis of the 1970s and are currently making a comeback. The most recent surge in biofuel popularity occurred in the 1990s in response to tougher emissions standards and increasing demands for enhanced fuel economy. It is holding on due to environmental concerns surrounding exploration and drilling for fossil fuels, as well as the emissions from petroleum burned in internal combustion engines.
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Workshops help businesses get started and grow
COLORADO—A variety of food companies call Colorado home, and the state continues to be an incubator for food entrepreneurs. The Colorado Department of Agriculture is organizing two workshops to help food and agricultural businesses get started and grow. “I hope these workshops inspire entrepreneurs and help their businesses thrive,” said Danielle Trotta, Business Development Specialist with the Colorado Department of Agriculture. “Workshop speakers are actively engaged in the food system, and they are excited to share their expertise with others.”
Taking the Leap into Retail and Beyond Jan. 29, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Colorado Department of Agriculture 305 Interlocken Parkway Broomfield, CO 80021 This one-day workshop is perfect for businesses and producers looking to take their products and commodities to retail and beyond in the food and agriculture industry. The agenda includes topics such sales analysis and research, marketing and positioning strategies, logistics and transportation efficiencies, buyer meetings and brokerage, and package design and artwork. Colorado Food and Agriculture Entrepreneurs Feb. 13, 2019, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. CoBank Center for Agricultural Education 4492 East County Road 56 Fort Collins, CO 80524
This one-day workshop is designed for start-up businesses and producers considering a path into the food and agriculture industry. This workshop is organized to be fast-paced and packed with vital information needed to begin a food or agricultural business. The agenda includes topics such as resources for start-up businesses, business organization and finances, building a brand, working with retailers, labeling and beginning production factors. Guest speakers include Mike Hardin, Director of Business and Licensing with the Secretary of State’s Office; Peter Mohr, Director of Operations for Naturally Boulder; Dawn Thilmany and Becca Jablonski from the Department of Agriculture Resource and Economics at Colorado State University; Brianne Rael with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment; and many more experts from state and county entities critical to establishing a food business. Registration is $55 per person per workshop. Registration includes the program, workshop materials, a light breakfast and lunch. Online pre-registration is required for each event, and processing fees for electronic checks and credit card orders apply. Seating is limited and space is expected to fill fast. For complete agendas, more information and to register, visit www.coloradoproud.org or contact Danielle Trotta at 303-869-9176. The workshops are sponsored by the Colorado Department of Agriculture, Valley Packing and Catering and Colorado State University Agriculture Resource and Economics Department.
719-852-4088 • 2485 East Rd. 4 North • Monte Vista
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Agriculture Progress
Page 9
Farm bill unfetters SLV hemp industry
SAN LUIS VALLEY— With the recent passage of the 2019 Farm Bill, the San Luis Valley hemp industry can grow free from the challenging restrictions pioneers faced when they started business years ago. But for the pioneers themselves, it’s “business as usual” because they are already in compliance with existing regulations. “We’ve always been operating by the book,” said San Luis Valley Hemp Company owner Monte Robertson. “So far, the only big change is that it’s legal. But we were already legal in the state’s eyes.” Robertson started working with different farmers throughout the Valley in 2014. Based on letters of intent, he anticipates 14 circles of hemp in 2019, targeting 20 total. At approximately 120 acres a circle, that’s significant acreage. But Robertson is not alone among hemp pioneers in the Valley. Jim Strang and his wife Lisa have been running Green Acres Hemp Farm in Alamosa since 2014, combining indoor and outdoor operations and expanding their production. Jim said the new farm bill “doesn’t change anything at all for us,” as he fielded questions while driving to Rio Rancho in New Mexico. With postal service and delivery companies struggling to connect rural areas lately, Jim had a customer in Rio Rancho with a dog whose medication ran out. The seizure count was going up daily, so Jim decided to make the delivery himself. “I will do whatever it takes,” Jim said. “I’m not in this for the money.” As pioneers, Robertson and the Strangs routinely educate curious farmers while creating markets for their own products. Robertson said hemp is “the perfect fit for the valley.” Requiring between eight and 13 inches a year, hemp circles use half as much water as canola and potato fields (and a third of what alfalfa needs). Hemp requires no pesticides, herbicides or fungicides, and it’s a revenuegenerating rotation crop. Although Robertson anticipates expanding production for his company, he predicted cautious movement for the industry while state and federal authorities iron out details across the country. But a CBD rush is happening at the same time, luring interested farmers to cultivate hemp while the plant’s diversity satisfies different markets. Until the new farm bill singled out hemp, the industrial benefits of cannabis spent years sharing illegal company with its intoxicant cousin, marijuana. A precursor to President Richard Nixon’s signature to declare marijuana illegal in 1970, the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 heavily taxed anyone running a commercial enterprise with cannabis, hemp or marijuana. The 1937 Act also penalized noncompliant enterprises, potentially imposing a $2,000 fine and five years in prison. Ruled unconstitutional, the Marijuana Tax Act soon died. But a few decades later the Controlled Substances Act lumped cannabis with other intoxicants considered most addictive and dangerous. The 2019 farm
bill decoupled hemp from the Schedule 1 list of serious drugs defined in 1970. Sensibly separating hemp from heroin took years in legislation, and consumers are learning to separate THC from other CBDs today. Considering how hemp plants contain 113 identified cannabinoids to date, it’s no surprise that different products can confuse consumers. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) gets acronym-recognition for its intoxicating effects, but other CBDs help patients manage seizures and different medical conditions without getting high. By definition, hemp becomes marijuana when a plant’s THC content exceeds 0.3 percent. But Robertson warns of snake oil salesmen, noting how the process defines the product and some manufacturers misrepresent CBD Courtesy photo qualities. CBD oil extracted from the green Featuring hemp, this photo was taken on the Wright-Oakes Farm near Center, owned parts of the plant creates pharmaceutical- by Shanan Wright and Dion Oakes, during the 2017 growing season. grade products. Food-grade CBD oil is processed from hemp seeds. In other words, Improve Irrigation Efficiency customers cook with seed oil and rub plant with GMX Magnetic Water Treatment oil on sore joints. Improves Penetration To simplify the distinction between CBD through soil Scouting is products, the San Luis Valley Hemp ComImproves Nutrient pany separates products into “Food” and • effective Mobility & Uptake “Farma.” The company grows and processes • precise Improves Fertilizer hemp nuts, hemp oil and protein powder Effectiveness • revolutionary for consumption, leveraging the nutritional After two successful seasons with GMX What is Proactive Crop Management? value of hemp seeds. On the opposite shelf, Magnetic Water Treatment: Being proactive means you have the information and the will to take the company also creates balms, capsules, “Using GMX magnets action as soon as you see something going wrong with your crops. in our pivots I’ve seen tinctures and other CBD products to alleviate You can only be proactive if you know. improved plant health and And you can only know if you can see. improved soil health, even across fields with inconsistent pain, inflammation, convulsions, anxiety and That’s where AirScout® comes in. AirScout augments groundsoil types. They have definitely helped with clodding and other conditions. I’ve seen less dry rot and pink rot in our potatoes. I’ve seen scouting by providing new kinds of aerial crop imagery, an improved product quality and improved yields and I’m every two weeks throughout the growing season. CBD products processed from the entire excited to see the new system going on more pivots this AirScout provides Thermal, Visual and new ADVI images straight to year. I would definitely recommend a set.” plant can have the “entourage effect,” which your computer in 24 hours, each serving a specialized function from ~ Cody Carpenter the farmer’s point of view, providing images that show very early plant enhances medicinal effects for people and stress from irrigation problems, disease or insects. Made in America Get More from Your Permanent Equipment Get Thermal Images delivered right to your phone with the Airscout animals because the cannabinoids work toNo Maintenance Water with GMX Access App. By using our custom GPS mapping and guidance Lifetime Replacement Warranty gether. However, the subtle science of canna- Irrigation Treatment system, you can make the most of your investment and plan precise Established 1992 treatments for your fields while you are standing in them. binoid interaction with whole-plant products can reveal trace amounts of THC in drug test (719)589-0661 office results, depending on the testing process and (626)484-7744 cell the time elapsed after using the CBD product. larry@gmxinternational.com 4624 Cty. Rd. 9 S. • Alamosa Sophisticated tests can isolate the intoxicant, but crude tests lump cannabinoids together in the same way the Controlled Substance Act of 1970 paired hemp with heroin. Hemp plants follow their DNA, and CBD and THC strains self-segregate sexually as well. It’s unlikely that a farmer growing marijuana outdoors would ever plant next door to an existing hemp farm. Marijuana manufacturing cloisters female plants to maximize the psychoactive agent in the flowers. But most CBD producers prefer harvesting seeds, so they let the male plants propagate like unneutered tomcats. No fence between outdoor fields can separate male and female plants from pollination, and marijuana growers do not want their female plants to go to seed. For more information about hemp farming and other agricultural issues in the San Luis Valley, the Monte Vista Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the 2019 Southern Rocky Mountain Agricultural Conference & Trade Fair at the Ski Hi Complex from Feb. 3–5. Hear guest speakers, watch equipment demonstrations and learn how technology can refine monitoring and testing procedures.
GMX
By Patrick Shea
Larry Brown, R&L Enterprises Inc.
Program supports agricultural intern opportunities
COLORADO— The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) introduces the new Agricultural Workforce Development Program, which provides incentives to agricultural businesses, including farms and ranches, to hire interns. Qualified businesses may be reimbursed up to 50% of the actual cost of hiring an intern, not to exceed $5,000 per internship. “Investing in the future is integral to continued progress in agriculture,” said Tom Lipetzky, CDA Markets Division Director. “With this cost-share incentive, we hope agricultural businesses see this as an opportunity to help build a talent pipeline and pathway for educating our next generation of agricultural leaders.” The program is the result of legislation introduced during the 2018 Colorado Gen-
eral Assembly by the Young and Beginning Farmers Interim Study Committee, aimed at providing hands-on educational opportunities for individuals aspiring to a future career in agriculture. Approximately $40,000 is available for the first round of internships through June 30, 2019. Information on additional funding will be provided at a later date. Qualified internships must include at least 130 hours of work experience and provide a focused learning opportunity for the intern. The department is now accepting applications from businesses interested in participating in the Program. The application and additional information are available online at www.colorado.gov/agmain. Contact Glenda Mostek at 303-869-9173 for more information.
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Page 10
Agriculture Progress
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Old Farmers’ Almanac winter 2019 snow forecast
Unpredictable weather hints of future water problems
deficit can be made up with one or two decent snowstorms. Reservoir storage statewide is 81 percent of normal and 46 percent of capacity as opposed to 123 percent of average last year, when the Rio Grande Basin reported the highest average storage at 130 percent since 2008. This year so far, it is 80 percent of average and 23 percent of capacity. On the Rio Grande—historically the wellspring for more than five million people in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Mexico— coping with scarcity has become a reality and water management and use in the region may be a leading example of how to adapt to drier times. Historically, farmers have relied primarily on surface water from streams and run-off, but as population growth and climate change have strained supplies, agriculture has grown increasingly reliant on water pumped from underground. Two aquifers lie beneath the Valley floor. One is the confined aquifer, trapped below a series of clay lenses deep below the Valley floor. The other is the unconfined aquifer that is generally found within the first 100 feet of the surface. Without the water from these aquifers, the San Luis Valley would very likely not have
USDA extends market facilitation program deadline
WASHINGTON, DC— U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue extended the deadline for agricultural producers to apply for payments under the Market Facilitation Program as provided by the trade mitigation program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The original deadline had been Jan. 15, 2019, but farmers have been unable to apply for the program since the lapse in federal funding caused the closure of USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices at the end of business on Dec. 28, 2018. Secretary Perdue issued the following statement: “President Trump instructed me, as Secretary of Agriculture, to craft a program that would protect farmers from unjustified retaliatory tariffs from foreign nations. As
part of that package, the Market Facilitation Program has been making payments directly to farmers who have suffered trade damage. Using existing funds, we were able to keep FSA offices open as long as possible, but unfortunately had to close them when funding ran out. We will therefore extend the application deadline for a period of time equal to the number of business days FSA offices were closed, once the government shutdown ends. “Farmers who have already applied for the program and certified their 2018 production have continued to receive payments. Meanwhile, I continue to urge members of Congress to redouble their efforts to pass an appropriations bill that President Trump will sign and end the lapse in funding so that we may again provide full services to our farmers and ranchers.”
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had the agricultural success known today. Recharge comes from the mountains and the snow that contributes to the runoff, while any well in the San Luis Valley impacts the river flow at some point.
Progress is seen in hydropower, which is coming into use for powering center-pivot sprinklers, and new water administration which has controlled planting and water usage.
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SAN LUIS VALLEY—Weather and water in the San Luis Valley require high-tech equipment or the proverbial crystal ball. 2019 dawned with significant snowfall in the mountains and on the Valley floor, where cold temperatures are expected to hold it for a while. And then there’s “El Niño,” which is developing and likely to continue through the winter. Does this mean more or less snow and what about the snowpack? What about water for the spring and summer crops? Old-timers and newcomers alike know the weather is sporadic. Predicting the climate several months out can be a monumental task that can become a wild goose chase. The experts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), also know as the National Weather Service, explain, while an El Niño offers helpful information that can help steer persons wanting a prediction in a direction, the relationship between El Niño and Colorado winters is not always a perfect one. Winter precipitation during every El Niño has been across the board, though NOAA’s physical sciences division at the Earth Systems Laboratory suggests, for Colorado, an El Niño winter means either an increased risk of wet extremes as well as a decreased risk for dry extremes and western Colorado is a mixed bag. Wet extremes could be good news for drought relief, though the problem may intensify in areas already in drought. It’s hard to predict and even harder due to a federal government “partial shutdown” in which the American model is being affected in ways unrelated to Mother Nature. NOAA’s operations considered “mission critical” are still functioning. They include furnishing the weather.gov website with forecasts and ensuring major weather events are watched and warned about across the nation. Government employees with the status, “mission critical,” are still working, but not being paid. The latest ENSO blog entry at Climate.gov says, “during El Niño, warmer-than-average water in the east/central Pacific results in more rising air, clouds and rain than normal in that region. This weakens the whole Walker circulation, meaning both the upper-level and lower-level winds are slower than normal...” The snow water equivalent as measured by SNOTEL as of Jan. 8, 2019 shows a statewide average of 97 percent, but only 75 percent in the Upper Rio Grande. The measuring experts note that it is still early in the water year and a dry time of the year historically, so a current precipitation
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Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Agriculture Progress
Page 11
CDA announces director Kate Greenberg named for New Laboratory Commissioner of Ag Services Division
BROOMFIELD, Colo.– Commissioner of Agriculture Don Brown announces Eric Petty as the Division Director for the newly formed Division of Laboratory Services at the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA). Petty, a chemist and former CDA employee, took on his new duties on Jan. 14. Petty was most recently the chemistry program manager at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Prior to that, he worked at CDA from 1997 to 2015. As CDA’s Chemical Sciences and Pesticides Work Unit Leader, he developed and maintained methods for the analysis of pesticide residues on environmental, food, and more recently, marijuana matrices in addition to implementing methods for the testing of THC levels in hemp. Petty has also worked at the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) - National Wildlife Research Center and the State of Washington Department of Agriculture. “The majority of my 30-year career has been with governmental laboratory services programs related to agriculture. I am honored to have this opportunity to re-join the ranks at the Colorado Department of Agriculture and continue to serve the Citizens of Colorado. The data generated by this Division is used to make informed decisions, which have a direct impact on industries and the public. The safety of the laboratory staff is my first priority followed by the production of high quality data,” said Eric Petty, CDA’s Director of the Division of Laboratory Services In October 2018, Commissioner Don Brown announced that CDA’s Biochemistry Lab, Metrology Lab and Animal Health Laboratory (formerly called Rocky Mountain Regional Animal Health Lab) would be combined into one division called the Division of Laboratory Services. The Division will be moving locations from Denver to a new state-of-the-art facility in Broomfield, located adjacent to CDA’s main office, in early 2019. The goal of the Division of Laboratory Services is to perform timely and legally defensible chemical, microbiological and instrumental analysis of samples related to animal food, animal health, pesticides,
Eric Petty soil, fertilizer, ground and surface water, industrial hemp and marijuana. In addition, the division serves as the primary source of measurement standards for the department and provides volume and mass calibrations. The Division Director primary duties include: • Create the division strategic plan by developing program performance standards and reporting on how program activities, grants and outcomes measure up to these standards. • Provide management and oversight for various laboratory work units designed to regulate and protect the agricultural industry and consumers. • Provide leadership and serve as the official state government cooperator and liaison at meetings involving federal, state, and local government. • Promote the laboratory, Division, and Department through outreach efforts with the community, other state agencies, other states, federal programs, and national and international professional associations. For more on the Colorado Department of Agriculture, visit www.colorado.gov/ag.
BRUSH, Colo.— The Colorado Pork Producers annual meeting will be held on Feb. 16 at the Morgan County Fairgrounds in Brush, Colo. from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Attendees will discuss a plan for a secure pork supply in Colorado in case of a disruptive event such as a foreign animal disease outbreak. This is important to everyone involved in the industry from producers, youth, extension educators, veterinarians, research support personnel, etc. Other discussion items will include:
Update on National Pork Board and National Pork Producers Council activities. Election of 2020 Pork Act Delegates and new Board members. Meet the faces of the Colorado Pork Industry Fabulous door prizes and a pork feast! To register, go online to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/colorado-pork-producers-councilannual-meeting-tickets-54916039352 Or email jkelly@copork.org or call 970-3564964 or Eventbrite registration.
Annual pork producer meeting Feb. 16
BROOMFIELD, Colo.– Kate Greenberg was appointed the Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture by Governor Jared Polis. As commissioner, Greenberg will lead the department’s daily operations, direct its 300 employees, and oversee the agency’s eight divisions: Animal Health, Brand Inspection, Colorado State Fair, Conservation Services, Inspection and Consumer Services, Laboratory Services, Markets, and Plant Industry. Most recently, Greenberg was the Western Program Director for National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) where she was involved in water issues. This includes working closely with Colorado’s Basin Roundtables and being involved with state’s Water Plan and Colorado River Basin water policy. In February 2011, Greenberg joined the Sonoran Institute, which connects people and communities with their natural resources. As the Restoration Field assistant, she managed a native tree greenhouse and seed-saving program as part of an international project. Her career has also included managing natural resources field programs at Whitman College and working full-time on a direct market farm in Western Washington. Greenberg also has a lengthy list of awards and community involvement: Quivira Coalition, Board Chair since December 2016 and Board member since 201 Southwest Basin Roundtable, Liaison since January 2015 Southwest Farm Fresh Coop, Former
Kate Greenberg Board Member “Conservation Generation: How Young Farmers and Ranchers are Essential to Tackling Water Scarcity in the Arid West,” 2016 NYFC report “Emerging Leader Award” by the Western Resource Advocates, 2016 Nominated as “Climate Trailblazer” by office of California Governor Jerry Brown, September 2018 “As commissioner, I look forward to meeting with Colorado’s farmers, ranchers, and agricultural organizations,” said Greenberg. Visit www.colorado.gov/ag.
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Page 12
Agriculture Progress
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Solar energy lights up San Luis Valley
By Patrick Shea
SAN LUIS VALLEY— With five major solar power plants in operation and others in development, the San Luis Valley might be among the coldest winter regions in the United States, but the highest intermountain valley in the world stays warm by milking the sun for as much energy as possible. Utility-scale solar plants in the Valley provide a combined 136.7 megawatts of power capability. At the same time, lowwattage installations also power schools, homes and other facilities with smaller footprints. Starting with a SunEdison venture in 2007, the Alamosa photovoltaic power plant generated 8.22 MW, the largest photovoltaic (PV) solar plant in the world at the time. In 2010, SunPower designed and constructed the first of three facilities in the Valley before the close of December. The 19 MW Greater Sandhill Solar Farm covers about 200 acres in northern Alamosa County, providing sufficient power for roughly 5,000 Xcel Energy customers. A year later, SunPower completed the San Luis Valley Solar Ranch before Christmas 2011. The single-axis sun-tracking panels near Mosca generate 30 megawatts. In 2012, a combination of companies built the Alamosa Solar Generating Plant before the end of May. Operating under a power purchasing agreement, Xcel Energy gets 30MW of power from the 225-arce site. At the time, the Alamosa Solar Generating Plant had become the largest in the world. Unlike the other four facilities in the Valley, the plant uses concentrator photovoltaics (more efficient, but more expensive to build). Before the close of 2015, SunPower completed the Hooper solar facility, the company’s third plant in the Valley. Capable of powering approximately 13,500 homes, the Hooper plant supplies 50 MW of power for Xcel Energy customers. Under the power purchasing agreement, SunPower uses local staff to maintain the site while monitoring output from a remote operations center in Austin, Texas. Power purchasing agreements (PPAs) show how utility companies like Xcel Energy can cooperate with providers like SunPower to send service along the grid. PPAs represent sharing at the highest level
Photos by Patrick Shea
Kit Carson Peak, Crestone Peak and Crestone Needle loom east of the Greater Sandhill Solar Farm in the San Luis Valley. for utility-scale facilities. On the other ex- school districts and the towns of Antonito But over the long-term, solar energy treme, individual solar installations can and La Jara. The company hopes to add guarantees consistent opportunity in the San grant energy independence off the grid. another half dozen solar gardens in 2019, Luis Valley because the sun shines nearly But between extremes, customers and solar but this requires careful analysis for larger 300 days a year. Sun-savvy pioneers in the garden operators can share the challenge customers. Depending on the subscription Valley set world records in the past with the through community-scale projects like the agreement and market fluctuations over two largest installations of their time, setting an Solar Rewards Community program spon- decades, solar gardens are not guaranteed expectation for continued innovation and sored by Xcel Energy. to save customers money in the long run. energy efficiency in the future. Under the program, individual customers lease a third-party solar installation for a Monte Vista Cooperative 20-year period and receive credits on their (719) 852-5181 • 1901 E Hwy 160 • Monte Vista • www.mvcoop.com monthly utilities bill to match the energy that they contribute to the Xcel Energy Providing Quality… grid. The program connects solar garden operators with individuals, institutions, Fuels • Fertilizer municipalities and counties. To date, 11 Farm Supply of Colorado’s 64 counties list solar garden Feed • Grain operators. In Conejos County, Xcel Energy Tires • Equipment includes two options — Clean Focus ReCommunity Committed… Seed • Chemicals newables and Community Energy Solar. Agriculturally Driven Community Energy Solar currently operates five community solar farms in the Valley, providing service for Adams State University, the Monte Vista and North Conejos
KUBOTA M7 SERIES GETS THE JOB DONE.
KUBOTA M7 SERIES GETS THE JOB DONE.
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Built at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in 2010, the Greater Sandhill Solar Farm covers about 200 acres in northern Alamosa County.
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Owner/Auctioneer Brady Stagner 719-588-2573
With bigger performance and more the285 M7 will be your top choice for 2607 USpower, HWY row-crop and commercial livestock jobs, hay production and so much more.
Monte Vista, CO 81144 Visit us to find out why the M7 is the right tractor for you. (719)852-5565
Monte Vista Cooperative (719) 852-5565
2607 Hwy 285 • Monte Vista Monte Vista Coop www.mvcoop.com KubotaUSA.com
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