Special Agriculture Edition
Delivering over 30,000 papers to rural Adams, Morgan, and Weld Counties
Volume 8 • Edition 26
January 15, 2014
Water Symposium Reviews HB-1278 Study on South Platte Alluvial Aquifer
by Darlene Ruyle, Editor In 2012, the Colorado Legislature passed HB 12-1278, which commissioned a study of the interaction of the South Platte alluvial aquifer by the Colorado Water Institute at Colorado State University. Members and interested parties of a newly formed Groundwater Coalition met Friday, Jan. 10 at the Southwest Weld County Service Center in Longmont to review the study. The meeting was hosted by Weld County Commissioner Sean Conway. CSU Colorado Water Institute Project Outreach Coordinator Mary Lou Smith gave an overview of the study. According to Smith the main focus of the Colorado Water Institute study was to: • Evaluate whether current laws and rules that guide water administration in the South Platte River Basin achieve the duel goals of protecting senior water rights and maximizing the beneficial use of both surface water and groundwater within the Basin. • Identify and delineate areas within the Basin adversely impacted by high groundwater levels and to conduct a feasibility-level evaluation of the Brighton area vegetable farmer, Bob Sakada comcauses of high groundwater levels in ments on the HB-1278 study that outlines recomthe affected area. mendations for the South Platte Alluvial Aquifier. • Provide information to use as a base for implementation of measures to mitigate adverse impacts in areas experiencing high groundwater levels. • Provide information to the General Assembly, the CWCB, and the State Engineer to facilitate the long-term sustainable use of the South Platte water supplies. The complete report is about 209 pages, according to Smith and can be found at http://www.cwi.colostate. edu/southplatte/ Smith concentrated her presentation on the recommendations made by the study team, which included: Mitigation of localized high water table conditions • The State Engineer or the Colorado Geological Survey should be delegated responsibility by the General Assembly to provide a consultation to the water court regarding new recharge structures before construction and recommend changes in design or operation when a recharge plan is deemed likely to cause or is causing harm. • Two pilot projects should be authorized and funded by the General Assembly to allow the State Engineer to Sen. Greg Brophy and Rep. track and administer high groundwater zones for a speciRandy Fischer respond to fied period of time to lower the water table at Sterling and questions and comments from Gilcrest/LaSalle while testing alternative management the audience. approaches. Increasing augmentation plan efficiency • The State Engineer should be directed by the General Assembly to promulgate new rules for the South Platte to: Cont. on Page 2, See Water Symposium
WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE:
Page 3: Korner Kitchen Talk Page 3: Looking Over the Fence Page 5: IFYE Students Available for Presentations Page 5: Diggin’ Wiggins Scheduled for March 28, 29 Page 6: Lorrie Boyer Returns to KSIR as Farm Director Page 8: Wiggins Ag Instructor Receives Honorary Degree Page 9: Sunflower Demand is Increasing Page 12: Tetra Tech Assists Local Farmers Page 13: SE Weld Chamber - Year in Review Page 14: Weld Food Bank’s Stone Soup
www.lostcreekguide.com
Ag Commissioner John Salazar Comments on Weather Challenges in Colorado Agriculture
What’s the weather going to be like today? For most of us the answer may mean putting on a jacket, grabbing an umbrella, or bundling up the kids for the school bus stop. But for a farmer and rancher, the answer can have a significant impact on their very economic well-being. 2013 showed just how weather can affect agriculture. The year began with a continuation of the severe drought of 2012. Below average snowpack in the mountains pointed to another dry year. A series of April snow storms dumped heavy snow in the high country, elevating snow pack averages in the central and northern mountains. This brought renewed hope for many producers as the late storms added water to reservoirs, rivers, and irrigation ditches. While snow brought some relief, a late freeze in Western Colorado damaged fruit and vegetable crops. Many growers of Palisade peaches suffered significant losses, reducing yields and the number of peaches available in retail stores and farm stands. Conditions in Southeast Colorado continued to deteriorate, with hot, dry winds whipping up dust-bowl like conditions. And in South Fork, a raging wildfire created problems for cattlemen who had moved their cattle into summer pastures threatened by the fast moving fire. In early August, a violent hail storm smashed hundreds of acres of vegetable crops in parts of Northern Colorado. Everything from lettuce, cabbage, squash, and green beans were destroyed, and corn stalks were stripped bare by the hail. Finally, Mother Nature unleashed a historical torrent of rain in early September that resulted in thousands of acres of submerged crop land along the South Platte River and its tributaries. Farmers and ranchers are still struggling with crop losses, damage to irrigation ditches, silt, and debris. Colorado agriculture faced many weather challenges in 2013. But our state’s farmers and ranchers are a resilient bunch. They understand that weather can be unpredictable, and that conditions can drastically change from week to week. Yet, they do the job they love and believe they are meant to do. Their determination in the face of adversity not only puts food on our tables, but results in economic opportunities for our state, as well. For example, in 2013 agricultural exports will reach close to $2 billion, doubling the $1 billion in exports recorded in 2009. More and more of Colorado’s agricultural products are finding profitable markets in over 110 countries across the globe. And while net farm income will fall below what had been projected for the year, it will still be, at $1.58 billion, the third highest in our state’s history. Already, we are seeing beneficial snows falling in the mountains, fueling optimism that this will be a good snow pack year. Producers are looking towards 2014 with high hopes and expectations about the weather and growing conditions. Farmers and ranchers may not always like the weather forecast, but they adapt and keep on doing what they do best – producing the food, fuel and fiber important to our state’s economy. John Salazar Commissioner of Agriculture
South Weld Citizens Meet with Ag Commissioner Salazar
Left to Right: Dr. Keith Roeher, State Veterinarian Tommy Holton Mayor of Fort Lupton, John Salazar Commissioner of Agriculture, Christi Lightcap, Director of Communications Department of Agriculture, Bruce Sparrow, Chair of The Keenesburg Planning Commission and Weld County Planning Commissioner. (not pictured, Bob Grand, Publisher of the Lost Creek Guide)
South Weld Citizens meet with Commissioner of Agriculture John Salazar to discuss an Outreach Effort to improve urban awareness of the importance of agriculture and natural resources. A group of interested South Weld Citizens met with Commissioner Salazar to discuss possibility of the development of an out each effort to increase awareness of the importance of agricultural and natural resource development to our urban citizenry. This was a preliminary information sharing and gathering meeting with more to follow.