Spring Agriculture in the Valley 2019

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Agriculture W e salute the dedicated men and women of the agriculture industry, who play such an important role in keeping our Valley’s economy strong. Their commitment to producing a thriving variety of crops and livestock requires long hours, risk and hard work. For all of their contributions and for all the fruits of their labor, we thank our farmers and ranchers for bringing so much to the table.

in the

San Luis Valley

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

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Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Spring Agriculture in the San Luis Valley

Not a new crop, hemp is coming back

SAN LUIS VALLEY— As fields around the San Luis Valley turn green this spring, many of them are devoted to hemp, which until recently has remained on the list of federally controlled substances.

Common sense prevailed when the Hemp Farming Act of 2018 removed the plant from the Schedule I status afforded to drugs such as heroin under the Controlled Substances Act. Under the Farm Bill, hemp is treated like other agricultural commodities in many ways. While there are provisions that heavily regulate hemp and law enforcement has expressed concerns that cannabis plants used to derive marijuana would be comingled with hemp plants, this legislation makes hemp a mainstream crop.

Several provisions of the Farm Bill include changes to existing provisions of agricultural law to include hemp. One of the most important provisions from the perspective of hemp farmers lies in section 11101.

This section includes hemp farmers’ protections under the Federal Crop Insurance Act. This will assist farmers who, in the normal course of agricultural production, face crop termination (crop losses). As the climate changes and as farmers get used to growing this “new” product, these protections will be important.

Hemp and its beneficial uses are nothing new, despite recent reality.

Although it is commonly claimed that humans have used hemp for 12,000 years, archaeological evidence suggests that hemp has been used for more than 29,000 years.

Only since the mid-1930s has hemp been banished by law.

Researchers have suggested hemp was likely the first plant to be cultivated for textile fiber. Archaeologists discovered a piece of hemp cloth in modern day Iran and Iraq (ancient Mesopotamia) that is estimated to be 10,000 years old. Excavations on the island of Taiwan uncovered evidence that settlers used the plant, as a team of researchers found broken pieces of pottery with twisted hemp fiber embedded in its sides. The site was believed to be over 10,000 years old.

Edible seeds of the hemp plant have long been sold. They have a mild, nutty flavor and can be used to make oil, cheese and even protein powder. Hemp seeds contain an amazing array of nutrients including

protein, potassium, zinc, magnesium, calcium, iron, and phosphorus. They also contain vitamins A, C, E, and a handful of B vitamins. Also, hemp seeds contain the ideal ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

Paper is another unheralded use for hemp. History shows the Chinese have been responsible for an incalculable number of important inventions, but paper is unquestionably one of the most crucial.

Chinese legend states that a court official by the name of Ts’ai Lun invented the paper-making process in 105 AD, while federal legalization of hemp arrived in the U.S. just last year.

In 1916, Lyster Hoxie Dewey and Jason L. Merrill of the United States Department of Agriculture made paper from hemp pulp. They concluded that it was a better option than wood, yet laws have forced society to cut down trees to make paper.

The industry has been lost in the proverbial woods.

One of the goals of the 2014 Farm Bill was to generate and protect research into hemp. The 2018 Farm Bill continues this effort. Section 7605 re-extends the protections for hemp research and the conditions under which such research can and should be conducted. Section 7501 extends hemp research by including hemp under the Critical Agricultural Materials Act, recognizing the importance, diversity and opportunity of the plant and the products that can be derived from it.

San Luis Valley Hemp Company Monte Robertson from San Luis Valley Hemp Company, a local farm, processing plant and which oversees the farmer outlet store, SLV Trading Post in Del Norte, said local hemp growth is currently set to grow by over four times the 600 acres grown in 2018.

Robertson, however, advises caution with the rapidly growing CBD industry, comparing it the gold rush.

“There are a lot of people chasing the CBD trend and some of those people have misguided intentions. They’re not in it for the long term and for everyone else, so it’s not likely to work out for some of them. Just like the gold rush, two or three guys hit a vein, 103 guys don’t, but people only hear about the most successful ones… The industry is sustainable in

Courtesy Photo

Featuring hemp, this photo was taken on the Wright-Oakes Farm near Center, owned by Shanan Wright and Dion Oakes, during the 2017 growing season. the long term with adequate planning variety of products, then sending it out and avoid falling for “the shiny new but CBD prices are likely to tank of the area for processing and getting object syndrome.” He encourages after this growing season because it shipped back to them. We need to farmers to “first, make sure to have farmers are likely to overproduce and work toward a more efficient system.” a proven end-market before you put Although Robertson noted federal anything in the ground. Otherwise will drive the prices down.”

“My goal is to make small, mea- regulatory agencies like the FDA you could be exposing yourself to sured steps and be consistent and and USDA are still sorting through a lot of risk and potential financial that’s what I encourage farmers to do. the process and comment periods losses. Second, start small and third, Don’t be in it for the quick buck, be in needed to make significant changes start with a product or variety that it for everyone else and the long-term in the CBD market, farmers can still matches your existing equipment or future. We have a real opportunity be successful if they are cautious locally available equipment.” with this industry to improve on the way things have been done in the past.

We want to focus on localizing our food, introduce food buyers to those farms so they can get to know their farmer and where their food comes from. I’m most interested in the food aspect of Hemp and that’s why we’re doing processing for food products.”

Robertson stated San Luis Valley Hemp Company has letters of intent for processing about 300,000 pounds of hemp at the end of this growing season with most of the products available locally.

“My goal is to build the market locally and bring some value-added ag to the Valley and keep it here. One of the issues here are farmers growing a

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Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Page 3

Spring Agriculture in the San Luis Valley

Karla Shriver: A look at a woman farmer

Staff Report

MONTE VISTA — Although not large numbers statistically speaking, women play a crucial role in the farming community.

Dr. Tessa Conroy, assistant professor and economic development specialist for the University of Wisconsin, has analyzed the numbers and influence of women in agriculture including those in the San Luis Valley.

She shared some of her findings during this year’s Southern Rocky Mountain Agricultural Conference & Trade Show in Monte Vista.

Conroy found that about 14 percent of the farms in the San Luis Valley showed women as the principal operators. (Nationally about one-third of businesses in general are women owned, she said.)

Conroy added that women have a significant role especially in rural areas in providing off-farm income to farming households. They might be working in other industries but are providing income to the family farm, she explained.

Many women, like Karla Shriver of Monte Vista, have worked multiple jobs while remaining active in agriculture.

“For me, the idea of wearing multiple hats has been beneficial as a lot of the areas I am involved in also interact with each other. By being involved in multiple areas, it has allowed me to connect dots between various issues and organizations,” she said.

Shriver is from the Burlington area “where you blow over to Kansas one day and blow back to Colorado the next day,” she said. Her father managed a commercial cattle feedlot, as well as farming dry land acreage and some alfalfa, and she and her siblings worked at the feedlot while growing up “learning about responsibility, fairness, hard work, social, financial, and family values.”

Shriver was also active in 4-H where she showed cattle and horses and participated in rodeos when she was young.

She also enjoyed spending time with relatives who farmed and ranched in the Arkansas Valley.

After graduating from CSU with an agricultural business degree, Shriver was employed with the Farm Credit System – the branch known as Federal Intermediate Credit Bank which worked with Production Credit Associations (PCAs). She initially completed a three-month apprentice program in Monte Vista and was then assigned to work as a large loan specialist in Wichita. She

later also worked in the audit department analyzing Associations for loan credit quality and portfolio risk.

After approximately five years, she transferred to Montrose where she eventually became the Vice President of Credit, which at the time had the largest agriculture short-term credit volume in the four states that made up the Ninth District.

“I always kept in contact with some good friends that I had met in my early career years while assigned in Monte Vista,” she said. “These friends introduced me to my late husband Doug. We got married and I traded corporate life for one of being on the farm, and entering the business of selling farm and ranch real estate.”

Karla moved to the San Luis Valley in 1986, got married and was offered the opportunity to purchase into the partnership of Pro View Real Estate with Floyd Getz and Don Schulz.

Doug’s family had farmed in the San Luis Valley since the early 1950s. His family also used to have a registered Angus cow herd but in the late 1960’s decided to concentrate on farming only.

Karla began farming potatoes, small grains, and canola on a 30-acre tract that Doug and his brother Randy were not farming and later crop shared an additional 17 acres with a neighbor.

In addition to potatoes, small grains and canola, she raised native grass seed for reclamation projects.

“There were times I would try a new crop such as canola or yellow potatoes to try it before Doug and Randy would raise it on a larger scale on their farm,” she said. “I later raised native grass seed to be used on reclamation projects throughout the United States in collaboration with Terry Hillin at Colorado Seed who knew the markets and had the supply chain.”

She farmed this acreage until her husband’s death when she and Randy reorganized the partnership farming operation. She has been farming about 1,000 acres since 2011 on her own “with support from a great team of people.”

Observing changes in agriculture over the years, she said she believes famers now are more soil health conscious “and cognizant of utilizing water more efficiently.” She said conservation practices have improved, “and we are always looking for ways to be more efficient and good stewards of our resources that we manage – land, water, and people.”

Karla Shriver has been one of the San Luis Valley’s water warriors.

She said Getz and several others

were mentors to her in the water business, and she learned a great deal while selling farm and ranch real estate. She also did her homework, spending time in the Division of Water Resource offices looking up information and going to numerous water meetings.

In 1998 she was asked to be the Valley coordinator to fight Ballot Initiatives 15 and 16. “At that time, I learned a great deal from Bill Paddock, David Robbins, Walley Steely, Dick McCravey, and others,” she said.

Also about that time she was appointed to the board of the San Luis Valley Water Conservancy District and the Commonwealth Irrigation Company. After winning the initiative battle, an effort began to study and assess the Rio Grande for restoration work, and Shriver was a founding board member of the Rio Grande Courtesy Photo River Restoration Foundation and the Colorado Water Trust. She was Karla Shriver also instrumental in forming the Rio Grande Roundtable.

Farming is a risky business, Shriver said, because farmers are at the mercy of Mother Nature “who is really in control,” and the prices others set for their commodities. “Our expenses keep escalating higher, yet Give us a call for the prices we receive either decline your spring or basically stay the same,” she said. planting needs!

She added that the water situation in the San Luis Valley also adds a Custom Chemical Application huge challenge. “I feel farming as Custom Fertilizer Application we knew it in the Valley is and will Variable Rate Mapping and Application continue to change because of the Full Line of Crop Protection Products Top of the line Application Equipment new State Rules and Regulations for water use.”

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Please see SHRIVER on Page 8A

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Page 4

Spring Agriculture in the San Luis Valley

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Carrot crop up in acreage, lettuce the same

By Teresa L. Benns

SAN LUIS VALLEY— Grimmway Farms’ carrot crop will jump by almost 300 acres this year according to farm manager Clint Kerrick, from 960 acres to 1,200 acres, and lettuce will remain at about 1,000 acres, a spokesperson for Southern Colorado Farms said recently.

Last year Grimmway planted about 960 acres or eight circles of carrots.

The carrots are grown north of Center, at Consaul and Lobo Farms and also near Monte Vista.

The farm aims each year to harvest 1.56 million carrots per acre.

At harvest, carrots are trucked to the farm’s local processing plant on County Road 4N where they are cut into two-inch pieces and shipped to the main plant in Bakersfield, Calif.

From there the carrots are trimmed into baby carrots and shipped all over the U.S., Kerrick said.

Carrots are planted in stages to spread out the harvest dates. Planting begins in early May and the carrots are harvested from August through October.

Long, thin baby carrots are encouraged to grow by planting carrots thickly in narrow rows, several rows on one wide bed. Sunny days and cool nights help produce a carrot that is very sweet and crisp.

Grimmway Farms came to the Valley in the 1990s to escape the drought in California. The company then weathered the Colorado drought that began here in 2002, to see plentiful harvests again in 2015-2018.

Like any other crop, carrot production could be down if the drought continues. A lack of sufficient water can make carrots less sweet to the taste. But having survived previous drought years, carrot producers will no doubt get through 2018 as well.

Grimmway Farms is the primary producer of carrots in the Valley.

California produces 85 percent of all carrots grown in the U.S. Southern Colorado Farms The farm, which grows lettuce northeast of Center, usually plants about 1,000 acres of lettuce each year, mostly iceberg lettuce and some romaine. Crop size and harvest amounts differ very little from year to year.

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 Ce-

Carrots tumble down the conveyor belt at Grimmway Farms.

lestial, as well as other organic food suppliers. 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.

Workers box head lettuce in a field near Center.

Lettuce facts Head lettuce yields average about 290 cwt per acre. Although the lettuce is planted and cultivated with machinery, migrant labor is used for weeding, thinning and harvest.

Lettuce is usually planted in stages starting May 1 and harvested from mid-July to October. After the heads are cut, the boxes are transported on special trucks to a vacuum cooler.

Head lettuce is then shipped in refrigerated trucks to Midwest and Eastern markets.The cold winters and dry climate minimizes disease and insect problems. Sprinkler irrigation is used to produce a more uniform and higher quality head of lettuce.

Lettuce production is centered in Center because of the location of the vacuum cooler plant there.

File photos by Teresa L. Benns

Rio Grande State of the Basin Symposium videos now available online ALAMOSA— If you missed the chance to attend the first Rio Grande State of the Basin Symposium at Adams State University (ASU) in February, you’ll be glad to know that the keynote talks are now available for viewing oNline. They are posted on ASU’s Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center YouTube channel at: http://bit.ly/ASUSalazarCenter.

The link will take you to the fol-

Please see VIDEOS on Page 7A Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, General Manager of the Rio Grande Water Conservation District Cleave Simpson, and Secretary Ken Salazar shared information at the Rio Grande State of the Basin Symposium.

Photo by Linda Relyea

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Spring Agriculture in the San Luis Valley

Page 5

Potato industry still going strong

By Anthony Guerrero

MONTE VISTA— Even though harvest is still quite a few months away, that does not mean there is no movement in the Valley’s most important crop. The potato industry, an economic lifeline to the area, continues to prepare for a new year of planting and offering a valuable contribution. Local potato producers are already being spotted cutting seed, planting grain and anticipating the next year’s work in the fields.

Every year around 52,000 acres of the potato crop is planted in the San Luis Valley. The potatoes produced in the Valley are also of great quality, and hardly any diseases are seen.

“We are so lucky with our elevation, and the great care that our growers take of their crops that we don’t see a lot of diseases in the fresh market potatoes,” said Linda Weyers, assistant director of the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee (CPAC).

“The growers have had a good year. Prices have been good and steady throughout the season. We hope that will continue through the summer and as we start the new season,” said Weyers.

A good amount of winter snow has definitely been beneficial to agriculture. However, the Valley is still very much in a drought situation, which makes growers be aware and frugal with their water supply. “I think it’s a common misconception that one

good snow year, like this year, could potentially get us out of the seven bad years we’ve had. It’s important to remind people that we’ve had really good snow, and we’re really thankful for it, but we can still use all the moisture we can get. We need a good year every year, forever,” stated Jessica Crowther, marketing administrative assistant at CPAC. An item of national importance for the potato industry is that the USDA recently eased dietary restrictions in regards to school breakfasts. This includes allowing more potatoes to be served. They were previously limited due to being starchy in nature, but new federal guidelines allow their increased use. With the new legislation, “basically potatoes are treated as a vegetable, rather than a starchy vegetable,” said Crowther.

Internationally, potatoes are fighting some battles. The Mexican government continues to not allow United States potato exports beyond a limited radius. Mexican potato growers feel threatened, but many of the citizens desire the quality product. “The Mexican Supreme Courtesy Photos Court has agreed to hear the case,” A SLV decal was recently placed on a Stand By Me Trucking trailer (owned by Noel and Natalie Herrera); this said Crowther. The case will be heard sometime in 2019, according to the trailer will travel across the nation spreading the message of SLV Colorado potatoes.

National Potato Council.

Committee is an excellent represen- trailer. “It says ‘Explore the San Luis participating in is Potato USA’s tative of the potato industry, and as Valley Difference.’ It travels to South “What Are You Eating?” campaign.

CPAC updates such works on many potato-related Carolina and Florida, so we feel “The campaign discusses potatoes The Colorado Administrative projects. Jim Ehlrich, executive di- that’s a really good way to advertise,” powering performance, and how the rector of CPAC, traveled to Washing- she said. complex carbohydrates in them are ton, D.C. in early April to meet with CPAC is also working on a video really good for athletes, and actually the congressional delegation and talk contest, scholarships, education and everyone,” said Crowther. “They about the importance of Colorado planning the 2019 San Luis Valley help with brain power and energy. potatoes. This helps legislators be in- Potato Festival. The potato festival Potatoes have been behind an eight formed of the impact potatoes have, will again occur in early September ball with some thinking the carboand to keep those details in mind marking the harvest season. The fun hydrates are bad. We’re trying to get when making any decisions that can and popular activities at Chapman the message out there that they really affect the industry.

Park will again be offered, and this aren’t,” stated Weyers. They plan Crowther stated something new year Octane Additions will join with to be present at athletic events, and CPAC is newly excited about is a exciting new events. other community activities to educate decal that has been placed on a semiAnother big project CPAC is on the health benefits of potatoes.

Seed planted in 2018— planting for this year has not begun just yet; it’s typically in late April/early May.

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Spring Agriculture in the San Luis Valley

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Opposition to water transport dominates meeting

By Teresa L. Benns

SAGUACHE — Renewable Water Resources (RWR) managing partner Sean Tonner made his water export presentation to an overflow crowd at the Saguache Road and Bridge Building Tuesday evening, but nearly all those attending made it clear they were not receptive to the plan.

Many of those residents attending the meeting wore the RWR logo, a drop of water with the red circle and crossbar running through it, that distinguished AWDI opposition in the nineties.

Tonner opened the discussion by telling county residents the plan is “still in the formation stages and has years to go.” He said he has already held 150 meetings to explain the project.

A former chief of staff for Gov. Bill Owen, who supported the plan, Tonner also worked with former State Senator Greg Brophy and other government officials on the project.

Currently Tonner owns the 11,500acre Gary Boyce ranch, purchased from Boyce’s wife following his death. He also leases grazing land in the same area.

Tonner claims less than two percent of the annual confined aquifer recharge — 500,000 acre-feet — is needed by the Front Range. Farmers could sell all or a portion of their water rights to RWR for twice the going amount. A total of $60 million has been set aside to procure water rights.

Already enough Saguache County

farmers and ranchers have agreed to sell their water rights to satisfy the proposed 22,000 acre-feet project, Tonner reported. The plan is said to be able to retire more than 30,000 acre-feet, reducing the overall usage from the basin. This would presumably lessen the pressure on existing rivers and streams now providing water to the Front Range.

A pipeline along Highway 285, restricted to a 22,000-acre-foot capacity, would carry the water up over Poncha Pass into Chaffee County and from there it would eventually make its way into the Platte River. There would be no adverse impact on wildlife, Tonner claims.

The project would create a $50 million community fund for the county that could be used for a variety of purposes including education, law enforcement, tourism, economic development, conservation and other worthy cause. The county would manage the fund. Just the interest would generate $3-4 million annually which is twice the amount of the county’s sales tax grants, he pointed out.

Commissioners question Tonner Citizens were asked to listen only during the meeting, although there was one uninvited comment by longtime water consultant Chris Canaly.

Commissioners then offered their responses to Tonner’s plan, beginning with Jason Anderson.

Anderson asked Tonner if he had

researched the plan to see if any communities in either Colorado or nationwide had ever benefited from water exportation. Tonner could not answer the question, although he told Anderson he is familiar with the history of similar projects.

J. Anderson also challenged Tonner’s statement that there is one to two billion acre-feet of water in the aquifer beneath the Valley, some of it below sea level. “We have a guess about what’s down there, but no one really knows,” Anderson told Tonner, echoing the opinions of several water exports who have advised the county. “And they estimate that all this water is connected, so where are the benefits, say, for Alamosa and Costilla counties?”

RWR replied that the benefit would lie in a lessening of the burden of water replacement. Commissioner Ken Anderson challenged Tonner on his definition of Front Range, reminding him that the San Juans are the higher front range. K. Anderson said he also had questions about the model RWR is using.

Commissioner Jason Anderson then asked Tonner what the county would do about the promised money for the community fund if there is another recession. RWR replied there would likely be another economic downturn, but said he thought it “is pretty bad when we have the ability to solve problems with renewable resources we are not going to use” and fail to do so.

This brought a united protest from

Photo by Teresa L. Benns

Sean Tonner addresses a commissioner’s question at the water export meeting in Saguache. the crowd, who denied the county’s water resources are “renewable.”

Anderson reminded attendees that Tonner had a right as a Saguache County resident to voice his opinion whether they agreed with his ideas or not.

Commissioner Ken Anderson

closed out the meeting, reminding residents there could be another public meeting held with Tonner at any time in the future where questions could be asked and answered. Tonner said he would be glad to meet residents anytime, anywhere to further discuss the issues.

Off Ranches is finalist for Leopold Conservation Award

Staff Report

DEL NORTE — Off Ranches of Del Norte has been named as a finalist for the 2019 Leopold Conservation Award. In an announcement from the Colorado Cattleman’s Association, the ranch was chosen as one of three nominees for the Colorado award.

Off Ranches sits just outside of Del Norte right along the Rio Grande and is a cattle and haying operation that has implemented simple conservation measures that have gone a long way.

The story of conservation process on the Off Ranch began in 1996 when owner Cory Off moved back to the San Luis Valley. He soon noticed that there was a lack of young cottonwood trees on the ranch property and soon began taking steps to mitigate the issue.

In 2006, Off put the property under a conservation easement through the NRCS Wetland Reserve Program. The easement enabled Off to put electric

fence on the ranch’s riverfront property to lessen impacts on the area. Off notes that since that time, the easement process has been very beneficial for the ranch and is “so good,” to be a part of. Off has also worked with Tony Aloia of Colorado Parks and Wildlife who has helped him to better understand the interaction between cattle and wildlife and make the ranches habitat better suited for wildlife and birds. In addition, the ranch has been host to numerous natural resources workshops and has had guests from around the world.

Off was also quick to point out that his biggest mentor throughout the conservation process has been a USDA grazing management expert by the name of Cindy Villa. Villa was also the one who set the Leopold Conservation Award nomination into motion.

In 2011, Villa convinced Off to keep his cattle on the ranch property rather than send them to summer rangeland.

Courtesy Photo

Cory Off and NRCS Range Specialist Cindy Villa discuss grazing plan and drought in 2012.

The result of keeping cattle on the property has since been fewer weeds, which, in turn, has helped to make the grass species more competitive. The increased grazing management has also served to increase forage production significantly with the variety of grass species on the property from 7 to 30. Off refers to Villa as the “grass goddess,” and is deeply grateful for her assistance and insight.

While he usually prefers to stay out of the spotlight, Off is hopeful that the Ranches’ nomination is successful, so that he will be able to highlight the individuals who have played key roles in making the ranch what it is today. Off attributes the success that the ranch has seen to being able to work with many “brilliant and patient people.”

The Leopold Conservation Award is named for Aldo Leopold and is given annually to farmers, ranchers and foresters who “inspire others with their dedication to land, water

and wildlife habitat management on South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, private, working land.” The honor Oklahoma, Texas, Wisconsin, Misconsists of $10,000 and a crystal souri, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania. award. A recipient is chosen in numerThe Sand County Foundation, ous states including California, Utah, Please see OFF on Page 7A Wyoming, Colorado, North Dakota,

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Page 7

Spring Agriculture in the San Luis Valley

Funding your food business ‘One Man’s Junk’ COLORADO— Many food and agricultural entrepreneurs call Colorado home, and they often have questions about funding their businesses. The Colorado Department of Agriculture is hosting a funding workshop as part of its “Breakfast with the Pros” series on Friday, April 26, 8:30 a.m.-noon, in Broomfield.

“I hope these mini-workshops allow entrepreneurs to spend a short amount of time gaining the most knowledge available for each business development topic to be able to have their businesses grow and thrive,” said Danielle Trotta, Business Development Specialist

with the Colorado Department of Agriculture. “Our speakers are actively engaged in the food system, and they are excited to share their expertise with others.”

This half-day workshop is perfect for businesses and producers looking to find more funding opportunities in the food and agriculture industry.

The agenda includes topics such as grant prospects and the application process and other funding resources.

The workshop will be held at the Colorado Department of Agriculture, 305 Interlocken P a r k w a y, B r o o m f i e l d , C O 80021. Guest speakers include representatives from Jefferson

County Health and Human Services, Colorado Enterprise Fund, United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development, Four Points Energy Bars and other experts from within the industry.

Registration is $20 per person and includes the program, workshop materials, and a full breakfast.

Online pre-registration is required, 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.

OFF

Continued from Page 6A

Cory Off is shown with Ft. Lewis socio-ecology graduate students during ecology class.

Colorado Cattleman’s Association, Colorado Cattleman’s Agricultural Land Trust, Tri- State Generation and Transmission Association, and the

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service are the presenters of the $10,000 award for the Colorado recipient.

VIDEO

Continued from Page 4A

lowing talks: Keynote presentation with Secretary Ken Salazar Salazar and Colorado’s Attorney General Phil Weiser on “Past and Future Fights to Protect the Water of the San Luis Valley” Division of Water Resources, Division 3 Engineer, Craig Cotten on “How the Rio Grande Works & the State of the Basin” Cleave Simpson, General Manager of the Rio Grande Water Conservation District (RGWCD) and Chair of the ASU Board of Trustees on “Our Water Future: Groundwater and Exportation Issues” Heather Dutton, Manager of the San Luis Valley Water Conservancy District (SLVWCD) and the Rio Grande Basin Representative on the Colorado Water Conservation Board on the “Water Plans for Colorado

and the Rio Grande Basin” Additionally, the link includes the talk from September 2018 entitled “A Tale of Two Rivers: Groundwater Management in the South Platte and Rio Grande Basins” with Cleave Simpson of the RGWCD and Reagan Waskom of the Colorado Water Institute at Colorado State University.

Adams State University’s Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center and the RGWCD co-hosted the symposium and supported Christi Bode of Moxiecran Media to produce the videos of the event.

For more information about the symposium, upcoming water presentations and ASU’s developing Water Education Initiative, please contact Rio de la Vista, Director of the Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center, at 719-850-2255 or riodelavista@ adams.edu.

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ALAMOSA — The saying goes, “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.” And the Alamosa High Chapter of FFA embraced that last weekend.

The weather was near-perfect Saturday as dozens gathered outside the green house where donated items were auctioned off.

“I’ve been doing the junk auction for about 10 years,” said ag teacher and FFA Advisor Kevin Rice. “All items are donated by friends of the FFA and local businesses.”

Funds go to help pay for events such as participation at contests. In addition, the chapter will attend the state convention in Pueblo the first week in June. He said they’ll most likely have a student compete in the speaker contest and hopefully three ag science participants.

“Funds are directed toward leadership opportunities for the kids,” he added.

“We’ll leave a day early and go do something fun with the proceeds from the auction in the past we rode the Cog Railway up Pikes Peak.”

According to its website, FFA is not

just for students who want to be production farmers. FFA also welcomes members who aspire to careers as teachers, doctors, scientists, business owners and more. For this reason, the name of the organization was updated in 1988 after a vote of national convention delegates to reflect the growing diversity and new opportunities in the industry of agriculture.

FFA continues to help the next generation rise up to meet those challenges by helping its members to develop their own unique talents and explore their interests in a broad range of agricultural career pathways. So today, we are still the Future Farmers of America. But, we are the Future Biologists, Future Chemists, Future Veterinarians, Future Engineers and Future Entrepreneurs of America, too.

Today, the National FFA Organization remains committed to the individual student, providing a path to achievement in premier leadership, personal growth

Please see FFA on Page 8A

Courtesy Photo

Auctioneer Darrel Plane entertains the crowd while FFA Advisor Kevin Rice assists at the OMJ fundraiser for the local chapter.

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Page 8

Spring Agriculture in the San Luis Valley

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

2019 rebounds relative to record-setting 2018

By Patrick Shea

(NIDIS), most of the San Luis Valley and Rio Grande Basin is classified as “Abnormally Dry.” Aquifer deficits continue, and the pastures and crops compromised last year have yet to fully recover. Planting and growth are not peaking for 2019.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the three-month precipitation predictions for April, May and June for all of Colorado are above normal. NOAA also classified the Rio Grande Basin as likely to be removed from drought status this year.

To start the month, flow through the Rio Grande at the South Fork gage station had risen to 350 cfs on April 10. Based on 96 years of records, the historic peak flow occurs around June 1 and drops to level out

by September. In contrast, Medano

SAN LUIS VALLEY— Snowpack for 2019 improved drastically over 2018, the fourth driest year on record for the Rio Grande Basin. As of April 11, snowpack is above average on both sides of the upper San Luis Valley. Predictions of a slightly wetter summer could ease pressure to meet Rio Grande Compact obligations and possibly open gates for junior rights owners.

Expressed in inch increments, the “Snow Water Equivalent” measurement represents the depth of water when snow is melted. On April 11, the Upper Rio Grande River Basin was 308 percent of the 2018 snowpack. Much of the melting a year ago finished a month ahead of normal.

According to the National Integrated Drought Information System

Creek in Great Sand Dunes National Park is a relative trickle, peaking around 8 cfs so far for the month of April.

With an average of seven to 10 inches of precipitation a year, the San Luis Valley relies on snowpack in all surrounding mountains to replenish drainages and aquifers. Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL) measuring units throughout the high country perform automated snowpack and precipitation monitoring for predicting fire and flood hazards. The first network of canals dates back to the 1850s, but the hydrology has changed drastically since then, flowing less over time.

Compared to 2018, however, flow through the Rio Grande Basin this year is much improved, largely thanks to above-average snowpack.

Gushing waterfalls during runoff (on top of an anticipated wet summer) are music to farmers’ ears this year after a record-setting, dry 2018.

Photos by Patrick Shea

Snowpack on the east side of the San Luis Valley was much brighter and whiter in 2019 than the recordsetting dry year of 2018, as show here above the solar panels.

FFA

SHRIVER

and career success through agricultural education. Our members live the motto Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live and Living to Serve. FFA members rise to the challenge of service embracing members of all walks of life united through FFA. We Are FFA. “Future Farmers of America” was founded by a group of young farmers in 1928. Their mission was to prepare future generations for the challenges of feeding a growing population. They taught us that agriculture is more than planting and harvesting ‚“it’s a science, it’s a business and it’s an art.”

ness is getting less and less. Farmers and ranchers can only do so much by controlling input costs … There are tools available to us that we can try and minimize our financial risk, but they do not guarantee a break-even or profitable price. Without having a way to have value-added to the commodities we raise, we have significant risk in our operations.”

Shriver does not see farming or any other job as gender specific. “I see it as if you want to do something, only you are stopping yourself from doing it. Yes, there may be some physical

Continued from Page 3A

Continued from Page 7A

limitations, but if you have a great team working with you, it can be overcome. Anyone has to earn the respect and trust of those they work with, no matter the job.”

What keeps her in farming?

“I have always loved being outdoors since I was little,” she said. “I always went with my dad when he was working, and looking back he was my babysitter. I love working in the agricultural industry, with the soil, with nature, and finding ways to be a better steward of the land.”

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