2019
FREE-Take One
SAN LUIS VALLEY
c
FAIR AND SUMMER AGRICULTURE See What’s Happening at the Fair, and Get Updates on Agriculture
Valley Publishing 835 First Ave. • Monte vistA, Colo.
719.852.3531
July 31, 2019
Page 2
SLV Fair & Summer Agriculture
July 31, 2019
Potatoes tough out a rough start
By Rebecca Copley
SAN LUIS VALLEY— It’s been a bit of a bumpy start for this year’s potato crop in the Valley. “Things are looking pretty good but they’re a little slower,” said Jim Ehrlich, executive director for the Colorado Administration Committee. The cooler than usual spring the Valley experienced this year initially put potatoes a little behind on their usual growth. The year started wet but has been really dry since then. “The crops are progressing pretty well. They’re just about a week or 10 days behind where they were last year,” said Ehrlich. The late frosty weather the Valley had this spring set the crops back a little as it hit after they had begun growing. The frost and a few hailstorms that have already hit the crops this year have made things a bit rougher than usual. But they seem to have toughed it out and are making progress. The plants seem to be doing well and are healthy. “It was not as severe as it could have been. So far we’ve dodged some bullets,” Ehrlich noted. Besides battling the hailstorms and spring frosts, farmers had to suffer a drier than usual June. During the
entire month of June the Valley didn’t get even an inch of rainfall. Thankfully the snowpack and run-off this year have been better than usual. The crops should be ready to harvest by Sept. 15 if all goes well. Frost damage is always a threat when it comes time to harvest the spuds, especially in the Valley where the unpredictable weather means frost could come at any time. “It’s kind of been a strange weather year, so we’re not really ruling anything out,” said Ehrlich. When the unpredictable weather threats were discussed, Linda Weyers, assistant director of the Colorado Potato Administration, said, “That’s the life of a farmer.” Potato farming is the third largest employer in the San Luis Valley. There are 10 good sized warehouses and they each employ around 30 to 40 people, plus other growers and farms in the Valley. All of them together probably employ somewhere between 1,200 and 1,500 people. That’s over 1,000 people that depend on the Valley’s potato industry for their livelihood. Weyers commented on what makes the San Luis Valley such an ideal
place to grow potatoes, “It’s our elevation. Because we’re so high we don’t have the pest pressures or disease pressures that some other areas have. We’re also cooler at night which helps. Our harder winters also kill bugs and diseases.” The Valley also provides the crops with lots of cool sunshine. Potatoes like temperature swings and grow best when there are warm days and cool nights. They’re also a fast growing crop and can grow in about 90 days, which works perfectly with the Valley’s short growing season. The San Luis Valley ranks fifth or sixth in overall potato production. The Valley is the second largest producers of fresh market product, since there isn’t a processing sector in the Valley. In Washington about 90 percent of what they grow goes into French fry processing. In Idaho about 60 percent of their crops goes into the processed market. With no processing in the Valley the potatoes mainly go to retailers and institutions, like schools. Every year farming becomes more and more modernized as the technology becomes more developed. Nowadays many farmers have GPS in their tractors. They also can check
Agricultural tours announced for the 2019 San Luis Valley Potato Festival
MONTE VISTA— It’s that time in Monte Vista and all the other fun of year again! The 2019 Potato Fes- activities it has to offer. There will be tival will be held Saturday, Sept. 7 at a 5K race, kids’ games, the famous Chapman Park in Monte Vista. As the mashed potato dunk tank, profesdate is fast approaching, be prepared sional chef demo, bouncy houses to enjoy the day! and a trampoline quad jumper. The There is another exciting oppor- event will also include food and craft tunity available at the potato festival vendors, games for the family, live to those who want an in-depth look animals, an antique tractor display at the potato industry. The annual with homemade ice cream, a truck agriculture tour will be departing from Chapman Park by bus in Monte Vista at 8 a.m. and returning at 11 a.m. Hosted by the Colorado Potatoes Executive Director Jim Ehrlich, this tour will visit the San Luis Valley Research Center and a local grower’s field. Passengers will get to talk directly with growers and researchers and get to see firsthand how potatoes are grown in the San Luis Valley. This tour is free of charge as well, but spots are limited. Those interested should contact Colorado Potatoes at 719-852-3322 or info@ coloradopotato.org to reserve a space. File photo by Ruthanne Johnson After the tour, passen- Chef Christopher Moore and his son David gers can stay for the 2019 loved getting their hands dirty as they dug San Luis Valley Potato up fresh potatoes from CSU’s research Festival at Chapman Park farm during last year’s farm tour.
For all your Chemical, Fertilizer, Seed & Application Services. 852-3921 2701 E. Cty. Rd. 1 S. • Monte Vista
and semi show and much, much more! That evening, as an added feature, there will be a motorsport aerial freestyle show featuring X-Game medalists! This will be held at the Ski-Hi Park Arena; tickets can be purchased at potatofest.eventbrite.com.
Potatoes bloom in a field near Center. the location of their sprinklers on their phones. “They’re really embracing technology,” said Ehrlich. They also continue to explore better irrigation practices to try and save water, which is an especially important effort in dry places like the San Luis Valley. There has also been research conducted with drones. They are taking pictures of fields and trying to get information they can share with
Photo by Rebecca Copley
growers to see how they can use drones in their own farming operations. They may be able to use the drones to get pictures of insects or spot disease damage. “A few years ago they walked their fields or they drove by, it was harder to check them,” said Weyers. “They still do that but we’re trying to embrace what’s out there and
See POTATOES on Page 6
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July 31, 2019
SLV Fair & Summer Agriculture
Page 3
FormationAg makes headway in hemp equipment
By Lyndsie Ferrell
gineered to process the plant from planting equipment to processing equipment that extracts the oil from the whole plant. “The plant is extremely fibrous, which makes it difficult to harvest. We have created CleanCut CBD Headers and GrassHopper Chaff carts; both are designed to cut hemp crops without damaging the stalks of the plant. We engineer each piece of equipment to meet the needs of the farming and gain feedback from each customer so that we can adapt and change where needed. Our designs change regularly, as does the industry itself,” said Hefner. The company has also designed Decorticators that separate the hemp fiber and hurd faster than one ton-perhour, according to their website. Each machine is designed with new features and customized to crop needs, which makes each and every one that leaves FormationAg slightly different. “We also have planters that are custom made for each of our farmers to make planting crops easy and fast. We are working on some new designs and try to keep up with new technology. We have innovated flower and stem extraction and seed cleaning equipment.” “One of our main focuses is to look at what we call the bottlenecks in the industry and try to engineer ways out of them. We find solutions to problems in harvesting the plant and then fix them,” continued Hefner. The facility is located on the north FormationAg is making headway in the hemp harvesting industry side of Monte Vista in an old tractor by engineering equipment specifically for processing the fibrous supply building. The set up is that of plant. Pictured is the decorticator. MONTE VISTA— Hemp is a growing industry here in the Valley and across the nation since its legalization earlier last year. Several farms have begun to pop up around the area, making it one of the newest growing agricultural opportunities for the Valley. On Jan. 1 of this year, FormationAg opened their doors after branching off of their sister company Power Zone saw a decrease in the oil industry. “We had so many good people working for us at the time at Power Zone and we wanted to give them some kind of stability. We saw the possibilities in making hemp harvesting machinery and took a chance. Now we are making machines for people across the world,” said Vice President Corbett Hefner. Oil
prices dropped and the pump business stalled but we didn’t want to lose the crew we had worked so hard to form. They have families they need to support and so far, this has turned out to be a good business.” After spending some time looking at new markets as a possibility for a new business Hefner and the other five owners of Power Zone settled their eyes on the hemp harvesting industry. “We saw the potential after the legalization of hemp and though we have only sold a few machines locally, we usually make one per day out of our facility for other customers world-wide,” stated Hefner. FormationAg builds made-to-order harvesting equipment for hemp crops. The machines are specifically en-
Courtesy photos
As of July, FormationAg is building one machine a day for sales around the world; pictured here is a CleanCut header. an assembly manufacturing facility, each employee having a set of jobs to perform before machines are moved from one station to the next. “We have found this way to be the most efficient and the employees are the most productive all day long. The building is a work in progress, but every day is closer to the set up we want when we are done,” said Hefner. “We crew about 18 people as of right now but as the business grows so will our demand and more hiring will be done. So far, there is no particular focus area as to where we ship our equipment. We have sold about four machines here locally and we get more and more orders everyday from around the world. The first machine we build was shipped to Lithuania.” Power Zone opened in 2015 and has supplied some of the top leading
oil pumps and equipment since its inception. “We will still be creating oil pumps and other equipment for Power Zone. FormationAg will focus on the hemp industry.” “FormationAg was built organically. We have six owners between the two businesses and are now separate from Power Zone. We like to hire people. We put a lot of time and energy into each person we employ, and it is our top priority to keep them busy so that they can continue to build the economy and support their families. We have a great thing going here.” As the hemp industry continues to grow, many of the smaller businesses like FormationAg that are here in the Valley have a head start on a very successful future.
Water a case of flood or famine
SAN LUIS VALLEY— According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) official survey, Colorado’s reservoirs are officially above-average levels, largely thanks to melted snow from a significantly above-average winter. Most are full and some may overflow, the NRCS reports. It has been flood or famine. It’s the first time statewide reservoir storage has been above average since May of 2018, according to NRCS data. The situation has continued to improve and some snowpack still lingers in the mountains. According to the NRCA, most of northern and central Colorado’s reservoirs are at or near capacity. The Yampa, White, Colorado and North
Platte reservoir storage systems were at 92 percent or above. But the biggest improvement from 2018 comes in southwestern Colorado, which was ravaged by drought and wildfires last summer. The San Juan reservoir storage areas were at full capacity at the end of June, nearly double last year’s levels. Hefty improvements were noted in the Upper Rio Grande and Gunnison storage systems as well. Artesian wells Increased withdrawal from the Valley’s confined aquifer system has apparently resulted in a decrease in the amount of artesian water leaking upward to some reaches of the Conejos River. The magnitude of withdrawal of
water from the confined aquifer is not the only cause of streamflow depletion of the Conejos River, a condition that has improved this year. The NRCS reports it is probable that increased consumptive use of water in areas adjacent to the Conejos River has resulted in a decrease of irrigation return flow and thereby caused part of the depletion. This depletion in flow of the Conejos River has created difficulties in the delivery of guaranteed volumes of water to New Mexico and Texas under the terms of the Rio Grande Compact. Increased withdrawal of water from the confined aquifer also has caused a decrease in flow of most artesian springs. It is estimated that the decline in flow of all artesian springs in the Valley has
amounted to about 27 hm3 per year since 1951 . According to an old report compiled in 1881, artesian water was discovered accidentally in the San Luis Valley in the fall of 1887, while an ordinary sand point was being driven. This discovery brought about such prompt and widespread development that by 1891 there were an estimated 2,000 flowing wells in the Valley. The accelerated use of artesian water led to the classic study of the geology and artesian water supply by Siebenthal (1910). At the time his field work was completed in 1904, there were 3,234 flowing wells in the Valley. The geothermal quality of some wells led to recreational development, as well as heating of homes and businesses. Please see WATER on Page 6
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Page 4
SLV Fair & Summer Agriculture
San Luis Valley Fair Schedule P.O. Box 875 1525 E. Hwy. 160 Monte Vista
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Saturday, Aug. 3
July 31, 2019
August 3-10, 2019
Set-up all 4-H/FFA Exhibitors (MB) MANDATORY LIVESTOCK EXHIBITORS MEETING (MB) 11 a.m.-noon Horse Exhibitors’ Test (IB) 4 p.m. Truck & Tractor Pulls (A)
Sunday, Aug. 4
8-9 a.m. 4-H Dog Check– in (IB) 9 a.m. 4-H Dog Show (IB) 1-3 p.m. Dairy Goat Check—In (MB) 4 p.m. Dairy Goat Judging followed by Milking Competition (MB) 4-6 p.m. Breeding Livestock Check—In (MB) 4-6 p.m. Open Class Indoor Projects CheckIn (IB)
7:30-9 a.m. 8-11 a.m. 8-8:30 a.m. 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 5
Judging (IB) Rabbit & Poultry Check—In (MB) Open Class Indoor Projects Check— 9-11 a.m. 9 a.m. 4-H/FFA Breeding Beef Show (LP) In (IB) Pedal Tractor Pull (Vendor Area) 4-H/FFA Indoor Project Check—In 10 a.m. 10 a.m.-noon Open Class Indoor Project Judging (IB) (IB) Horse Check—In (A) 1 p.m. Breeding Sheep Show (MB) 4-H/FFA Indoor Project Interview 3 p.m. Breeding Swine Show Followed by Mike Kelley Memorial Open Barrow Show (MB) 5 p.m. 4-H/FFA Production Meat Goat Show (MB)
7-10 a.m. 8-8:30 a.m. 8-10 a.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 6
Rainbow Girls Breakfast (IB) Horse Check-in (A) Market Beef Check-in/ Weight-in (MB) 8-11 a.m. Market Swine Check-in (all swine must be in their pens by 11 a.m.) (MB) 9 a.m. 4-H Working Ranch Horse Show (A) 9 a.m. 4-H Poultry Show (MB) 10 a.m. Open Poultry Show (MB) 10 a.m.-noon 4-H Fashion Revue (IB)
July 31, 2019
SLV Fair & Summer Agriculture
Page 5
San Luis Valley Fair Schedule
August 3-10, 2019
Continued
12-2:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 3-4 p.m. 4-5 p.m. 5:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
Market Swine Weigh-in Market Lamb & Goats Check-in (all lambs and goats must be in their pens by 2:30 p.m. (MB) Market Goat Weigh-in (MB) Market Lamb Weigh-in (MB) 4-H/FFA Market Swine Showmanship (MB) 4-H Fashion Show (IB)
Wednesday, Aug. 7
8 a.m. 4-H Gymkhana (A) 9:30-10:30 a.m. Open Cake Decorating Contest (IB) 9:30-11 a.m. Cake Decorating Contest (IB) 10 a.m. 4-H Rabbit Show (MB) 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 2 p.m.
Volunteer Luncheon (IB) 4-H Market Goat Show (followed by Market Goat Showmanship) (MB) 5-6 p.m. RELEASE OF NON-SALE RABBITS & POULTRY 5:30 p.m. 4-H Market Swine Show (MB)
Thursday, Aug. 8
9 a.m. 4-H Market Beed Show followed by Market Beef Showmanship (LP) 12-4 p.m. Mud Volleyball (Behind Arena) 2 p.m. 4-H Market Lamb Show followed by Market Lamb Showmanship (MB) RELEASE OF NON-SALE ANIMALS MAY BEGIN AFTER LAST SHOW. NON-SALE ANIMALS MUST BE OUT OF MCMULLEN BUILDING BY 12:30 PM, FRIDAY, AUGUST 9TH.
Friday, Aug. 9
9 a.m. Round Robin Showmanship (A) 4-7 p.m. 4-H Dinner (IB East Side) 5 p.m. FCE Pie Auction (IB) 6 p.m. SLV FAIR JUNIOR LIVESTOCK AUCTION (MB) Dance immediately following the Sale (IB)
Saturday, Aug. 9
8-10 a.m. Release of 4-H/FFA Projects (IB & MB & PV) 8 a.m. Tear Down/ Clean-up (all 4-H and FFA exhibitors are expected to help) 6:30 p.m. Mountain States Ranch Rodeo (A)
(MB) McMullen Building (A) Arena (IB) Indoor Building (LP) Livestock Pavilion
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Page 6
SLV Fair & Summer Agriculture
July 31, 2019
This year looking good so far for alfalfa
By Teresa L. Benns
CENTER—This year is looking good for alfalfa, Center farmer Dick Ramstetter said, and while growers are looking forward to harvesting their second cutting soon, they are crossing their fingers and hoping summer showers won’t limit the yield. Ramstetter owns property along County Road C and 44 and other ground from Highway 285 to Highway 112 and La Garita. Last year he said that if the Valley had sufficient snow, it would keep expenses for 2019 down. Alfalfa ran “a little higher” in 2018, Ramstetter said, estimating it will sell for around $210 a ton this year. He explained that hay prices are a little lower for 2019 because while the market is reasonably good and the demand is there, more alfalfa was grown. Hemp seems to be replacing some alfalfa fields, Ramstetter observed. But as a general rule, the average alfalfa producer must invest about $2.5 million dollars in equipment needed to harvest alfalfa. So given equipment depreciation, it is not easy to move over to other crops. “We raise some of the best alfalfa in the world here,” he 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, estimating they will spend “years” in water court.
sion at (303)869-9175, e-mail Loretta. Lopez@state.co.us or visit www.coloradoagriculture.com. The following is the hay directory listing for 2018, some of which will change, but much will remain the same. 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, (719) 589-4938 or (719) 580-5977 (cell) (producer/dealer/sell on delivered basis only)
Conejos County Salazar Ranches — Alfalfa, 4,000 tons, 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, Vergil — 207 tons alfalfa, 4x3 bales, packed in shed, rain free. Lab analysis available La Jara 81140 (719) 274-5680
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 (719) 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 File photo by Teresa L. Benns Schaefer 1604 County Rd. 28 Monte San Luis Valley grown alfalfa is said to be some of the best in the Vista 81144; (719) 588-4648 or (719) world; good quality alfalfa sold to dairies makes for good quality 242-3324 MJSFarms@gmail.com milk and milk products. Moonlight Farms, LLC — Alfalfa, 6,000 to 7,000 plus tons, 3x4x8 1,200 lb. VALLEY TRACTOR REPAIR bales, 4x4 bales, barn-stored or tarped; 2573 South County Rd. 6E • Monte Vista alfalfa grass, 1,000, tons, 4x4 bales, 719-852-0200 barn-stored or tarped; forage hay, 1,000 WORLD’S #1 SELLING TRACTOR. tons, 4 x 4 bales; straw 700 plus tons, 7-Year Limited Powertrain Warranty • 98% Customer Loyalty Rating 3x4 and 4x4 bales Will Albertson, 8101 Advantages of the County Rd. 45, Center 81125 (719) 850Mahindra Common 2548 moonlightfarmsllc@gmail.com Rail Diesel Engine Orth Limousin Ranch — Native grass, 50 tons, 55-65 lb. 14” small bales certimCRDTM - The Simple fied weed free; native grass, 60 tons, 55Green Solution 65 lb. 14” small bales. Ed Orth, 1086 CR • Less Complexity - mCRD does not have a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF), reducing complexity, heat and filter replacement 29 Monte Vista 81144 (719) 852-3069 • No Operator Involvement
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Rio Grande County D & S Farms — Alfalfa, 3 x 3 bales, 70 lb. small bales, lab analysis available on both. Scott Davis, 8482 North County Road 5 West Del Norte 81132 (719) 580-5379 scottdavis5379@gmail.com E Q C Ranch — Alfalfa, 400 tons, 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 (719) 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
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, (719) 580-3329 ramfarm@gojade.org.
Continued from Page 3 Subdistricts For generations, the aquifer proSince farmers and ranchers can’t vided enough water to sustain the arid depend on moisture above ground, farming community. But a multiyear they have to make up the difference drought shrunk the nearby streams and beneath it. water table. Some wells throughout the The valley sits on a vast aquifer, valley abruptly stopped working. which is punctured by more than 6,000 The aquifer dwindled so much that wells that pump water onto crops and the Closed Basin Project, a Bureau of support the valley livelihoods. Reclamation pumping effort that had
long met downstream water diversions and delivered flows to the Rio Grande to maintain the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge, failed to convey enough water to the valley’s farms and ranches. The well users began regulating and taxing themselves, becoming more aware of water use and misuse, seeking to recharge the dwindling aquifers.
Hay sellers in the Valley The Colorado Hay directory will not be published until sometime in August. For more information or to receive a Colorado Hay Directory listing form, contact the Markets Divi-
WATER
POTATOES see if it works and whether it’s costeffective,” said Ehrlich. Since potato farming is such a big part of life in the Valley there is an annual Potato Festival put on by the Colorado Potato Administration. This year will be the administration’s 12th year of hosting the event. The festival will be at Chapman Park in Monte Vista Saturday, Sept. 7. Almost all the events are free except the motorcycle stunt show, which will happen the
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Continued from Page 2 same day at Ski-Hi Park. which provides “pre-biotics;” these The Potato Festival has something help feed your gut microbiome. Chef for everyone to do. There’s fun activi- Carley has a blog all about her health ties for the kids, tours of potato farms, journey called https://www.fairyguta 5k fun run, food and craft vendors mother.com/about-1. and much more. This year there will even be a mashed potato dunk tank. Chef Carley Smith will also be there putting on a food demonstration all about healthy eating for your gut. Potatoes fit that perfectly as they are a good source of resistant starch
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July 31, 2019
SLV Fair & Summer Agriculture
Page 7
Lettuce crop impacted by heavy rains
By Teresa L. Benns
CENTER— An unusually cool and rainy year postponed the planting of some of the Valley’s lettuce crop, but everything is on track now for harvest and the yield this year is actually a little better than average. Southern Colorado Farms (SCF) is the primary lettuce grower in the Valley. This year, farm manager Amy Kunugi said, rains posed a problem for the Iceberg lettuce crop, which was planted two weeks late owing to heavy rains, freezing temperatures and strong winds. Lettuce acreage has not changed much over the past five years, Kunugi reports, with about 1,000 acres of Ice-
berg and Romaine lettuce planted each year. In the past, drought has meant a downward turn in lettuce production, but not this year. This year, despite a slow start, 1,100 acres of lettuce will be harvested. This season, SCF employed 275 seasonal workers to thin, weed and harvest the product. Harvest runs from early July to early September. According to its website, Southern Colorado Farms was founded in 1977 to focus on key specialty crops for regional eastern markets. Major crops grown are lettuce, romaine, spinach and organic carrots in its California, Arizona and Colorado locations. The farms grow organic carrots for
Gerber Baby Foods and Hain Celestial, as well as other organic food 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. Lettuce information, history Lettuce is usually planted in stages starting May 1 and harvested beginning in mid-July. After the heads are cut, the
Reap the sunshine in the Valley
By Sylvia Lobato
SAN LUIS VALLEY— Commercial, community and individual solar arrays are basking in the Valley’s more than 300 days of sunshine. Industry is sprouting up across the San Luis Valley, individual companies are offering solar installation and the government is offering some subsidies while the Amish are offering materials and components. Alamosa School District has its own large solar array and huge panels have shown up on the roof of banks and other big businesses. Rises in energy costs have paired with environmental concerns to turn collective eyes toward the sun and ways to harvest sunbeams. Aware of this, energy companies have gotten into the game and one of the nation’s largest arrays is near Mosca. In effect, solar development has put the San Luis Valley on the map. As the nation’s industry is struggling to get away from coal and petroleum, the Valley is leaping forward with giant steps. Living “off the grid” has become more than just a fad, as it was considered when it first emerged in the 1970s. Studying the history of solar development is interesting. While solar power was recognized before the 1900s, its existence spurred research. In 1953, Calvin Fuller, Gerald Pearson and Daryl Chapin discovered the silicon solar cell, which actually produced enough electricity and was efficient enough to run small electrical devices. By 1956, the first solar cells became available commercially; however, the cost was out of
reach for ordinary people. At $300 for a one-watt solar cell, the expense was still far beyond anyone’s means. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, satellites in the space program were powered by solar cells and, in the late 1960’s, solar power was basically the standard for powering space bound satellites. In the early 1970s a way to lower the cost of solar cells was discovered. This brought the price down from $100 per watt to around $20 per watt. The period from the 1970s to the 1990s saw numerous roadside signs powered by small solar panels. These grew to power homes, advance telecommunications and even bring water to remote locations by powering pumps where pipes could not reach. Summitville Mine Gold mining at this 1,400-acre site released metal-laden mine water into the Alamosa River. In 1994, EPA began cleaning up the area, which included capturing and treating contaminated water. Water treatment requires consistent, year-round power sources, while Superfund and Green Remediation Green remediation strategies maximize the environmental benefits of cleanups. Best practices include the use of renewable energy and cleaner burning fuels, water conservation, green reuse designs following cleanup, greenhouse gas emission reduction technologies, and waste reduction and recycling programs. The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) developed Mobile solar units that provide 24/7 power security, even during inclement weather.
Summitville Mine is first in the nation to get power from a community solar garden. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Abandoned Minelands Team seasonal snow accumulation limits solar energy opportunities. EPA and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) researched other renewable energy options and designed a micro-hydroelectric power plant. The plant, which consists of a pipe penstock and turbine, began operating in September 2011. Today, it provides up to 32 kilowatts (kW) of power to help run the site’s water treatment system. Recently, CDPHE and EPA reassessed ways to lower costs and fossil fuel consumption associated with ongoing water treatment. CDPHE and EPA partnered with a community solar garden in Antonito, some 40 miles south of the site. Using virtual net metering, subscribers who invest in the shared solar array receive energy credits as if the panels are located on their own property. CDPHE and EPA invested in a 10-kW subscription of about 40 panels. The power produced by those panels feeds into the local utility With the cost of solar cells well within everyone’s budget, solar power has never looked so tempting. Recently new technology has given screen printed solar cells and a solar fabric that can be used to side a house as well as solar shingles that can be installed on roofs. International markets have opened up and solar panel manufacturers are now playing a key role in the solar power industry.
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 minimize disease and insect problems. Sprinkler irrigation produces a more uniform and higher quality head of lettuce. Lettuce production is centered in Center because of the location of the vacuum cooler plant. The vacuum cooler, trucks and crews move seasonally from Yuma, AZ, to southern New Mexico to the San Luis File photo by Teresa L. Benns Valley for the summer, then back to New Mex- Despite a slow start this year, 1,100 acres ico and back to Yuma, of lettuce will be harvested at Southern AZ, for the winter. Colorado Farms. At one time, head lettuce production flourished in places like Buena averaged in the 10s of thousands. But changing market conditions and Vista, Nathrop, Salida and Westcliffe. The crop return in some places aver- refrigerated rail cars brought the lettuce aged as much as $500 an acre, an ar- boom in central Colorado to a close in ticle at https://cozine.com/2014-june/ the 1940s. Today the widest variety of lettuce-harvest/ reports. Crop acreage lettuce is produced in Yuma, Arizona.
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SLV Fair & Summer Agriculture
July 31, 2019
‘Another Year in Fairadise’ 117th SLV Fair coming
By Rebecca Copley
MONTE VISTA— This year’s 117th Annual San Luis Valley Fair is headed for Monte Vista. The eight-day fair will take place from Aug. 2-10 at the Ski-Hi complex. This year’s theme “Another Year in Fairadise,” promises to be another great year of fair. Young people ages ranging from eight to 18, who are involved in 4-H and FFA will display their projects at the fair. There will be about 300 kids from 4-H alone participating in this year’s fair. The San Luis Valley Fair includes youth from six different counties that come every year. Rio Grande, Alamosa, Saguache, Costilla, Conejos, and Mineral counties will all be represented at this year’s fair. There will also be an open division giving people who are older or who are not involved in 4-H or FFA a chance to participate. It’s a great chance to develop or show off your skills in photography, floral arranging, leather craft or whatever other passions you have. This year’s fair offers something for everyone. Saturday, Aug. 3 will kick everything off at 4 p.m. with the truck and tractor pull. Modified tractors will have a competition where they pull weights and see how far they can go. This event is very popular and tickets will be for sale at the gate to attend. There will also tentatively be a pedal tractor pull Aug. 5 at 10 a.m. for kids to participate in. Be sure to make it to the last Saturday of the fair (Aug. 10) when they will be having their first-ever Mountain State Ranch Rodeo. This
is a special type of rodeo where the events are things an actual cowboy does; there will be competitions in cow milking, trailer loading, branding and more. With more than 30 events, this fair is jammed packed with fun and interesting things to watch and look at. The outdoor animal events make up a great deal of the fair. Come and see competitors show their prized rabbits, goats, sheep, cows, and much more. The hog show has the most animals to be shown with more than 120. Not all of the outdoor events feature livestock; there will also be a dog show Sunday, Aug. 4 at 9 a.m. Probably the most exciting part of fair is the livestock sale Friday night, Aug. 9 when the 4-H kids will have a chance to sell their animals. Last year was one of the biggest sales they’ve ever had, selling more than 150 animals. There will also be plenty of indoor events if livestock shows are not your thing. There will be competitions for floral arrangement, wood working, cake decoration, photography and more. Wednesday, Aug 7 from 9:3010:30 a.m. there will be an open cake decorating contest. The indoor events will also feature a fashion show happening Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 7:30 p.m. “The kids put a lot of time and effort into these projects,” said Nick Malone, president of the SLV Fair Board. “Even the indoor events take a lot of time and effort. There’s a set of parameters they have to follow to meet their project’s requirements.” 4-H is a valuable way for young people to learn skills and responsibility. Malone said, “The respon-
sibility and the work they put into it is the biggest deal. They learn a lot.” Malone participated in 4-H himself growing up and so did his own children. The animal shows especially can give kids a real taste for what it’s actually like to raise animals for a living. They have to follow industry standards when it comes to the weigh-ins of their animals. “The whole idea of 4-H is to teach kids how the industry works,” Malone said. History 4-H began more than 100 years ago as a way for young people to gain the skills necessary for them to be active in their communities and to be able to develop ideas for a more innovate economy. It has been successful since it is still a strong running organization today. The four Hs in its name stand for heads, hearts, hands and health. “Head for clearer thinking,” speaks to the program’s key concept of education. Allowing children the chance to learn new things through projects and programs. “Heart to greater loyalty,” is the second one. In 4-H members are taught to be reliable and loyal in
Courtesy photos by Front Porch Photography
The Barnyard Olympics provide lots of fun entertainment for participants and spectators, alike. their hearts and understand what it means to be responsible and follow through on their projects. “Hands for larger services,” part of 4-H is teaching children the importance of giving back to their community, country, and world. “Health to better living,” is the last one. Learning how to cook and grow food and appreciate art allows 4-Hers to gain an understanding of how the world works, and how to
have a healthy lifestyle. Fair is a great way for communities to come together and support their young people in their interests. This year’s fair is shaping up to be a great time for all.
Savonna Thompson’s Reserve Grand Champion Market Poultry Pen of 3 Chickens was purchased by Cottonwood Dental at last year’s auction.
Caden Cary shows off his steer during the 2018 SLV Fair auction.
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