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2015
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Page 2
Agriculture Progress
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Valley ranchers enjoy light winter – so far BY JOHN MCEVOY
SAN LUIS VALLEY – This year’s winter weather has been a blessing for ranchers. Livestock is still able to graze and forage without troubling deep snow, which saves money in the short run. Heavy snows in the mountains would be very welcome in relieving the year’s long drought however. In an interview on Friday, Jan. 9, Marvin Reynolds, area director for the CSU Extension office, gave his optimistic report on livestock in the Valley. “Calving season is going to be starting up soon,” said Reynolds. “A lot of guys are probably having a few early calves that are on the ground, or they will be before official calving season starts.” Reynolds said many ranchers shoot for the first three weeks of February to start calving. “Calving season typically goes for 90 to 120 days, depending on how many animals they have,” said Reynolds. “It’s always a busy time for the ranchers. It is also an exciting time because they get to see the results of what they have been working on the last year.” Reynolds said some of the sheep producers are also going to start lambing soon. “Anybody that runs sheep up on the higher elevations, whether it is National Forest or private land, typically like to get their calves or lambs on the ground early so they can get size and strength to them before they turn them out,” said Reynolds. “The higher elevations have rougher terrain and those animals need to have the strength to traverse that terrain.” Reynolds said it is a lot of work for the ranchers during this exciting time. “There are a many early mornings and late nights sometimes,” said Reynolds. Producers have not had to feed much hay this year because of the mild weather. “We have had an open winter this year. We have not had the snow on the ground,” said Reynolds. “Last year, we had snow before Thanksgiving that stayed on the ground all winter long.” Most of this year it has been mild and what little snow there has been was a small amount that melted off in the sun. “They (ranchers) have not had to feed a lot; they have had open winter where they have been able to utilize that forage that is out there and it has helped save them some money,” said Reynolds. “It was a really nice fall and beginning of winter.” Reynolds said the Valley produces mostly cattle and sheep, but there are a few horse,
Photo by John McEvoy
Sheep are seen grazing in a field just outside Monte Vista in early January. chicken, goats and pig producers too. “Most of the people who raise horses, their foaling season probably won’t start for a little while yet,” said Reynolds. “There have been some folks who raise performance horses and even race horses in the past. They like to have those horses born as close to the first of the year as possible, because a horse’s age is always based on Jan. 1.” Reynolds said if a horse is born on Dec. 31, of 2014, its birth year will be 2014, essentially making it a year old to start with. “It does not matter what day it was born in the horse world,” said Reynolds. “In the case of a race horse, you would be at a disadvantage if it was born late in the year compared to one born early in the year.” There are only a few poultry producers in the Valley. “Some folks are looking at putting in larger
chicken houses and are looking at producing eggs year round,” said Reynolds. “Some of the talk I have heard is that they mostly will try to target spring, summer and fall, rather than the winter months.” The length of day has a great deal of influence on how many eggs the chickens produce. Reynolds said some of the folks who have small flocks and sell eggs “here and there” put lights and heaters inside the chicken coops so the animals have a longer sense of daylight which encourages laying eggs for an extended time. There are also not many pigs in the Valley according to Reynolds. “There may be 200 pigs or so,” said Reynolds. “Most of our pigs are farrow two or three times a year, depending how intensive the producer wants to be.” Reynolds said some of the people who are
raising 4-H pigs that they want to sell at the county fair in August may be looking to have farrowing happen in January or February. “We have a few goats in the Valley,” said Reynolds. “If their goal is to have animals for 4-H, they will be having them pretty quickly. If not, they will wait until March or April when the weather is a little warmer.” Reynolds said goats, sheep and cattle only have a little competition as far as forage is concerned. “Most of it is a complement in forage,” said Reynolds. “The cattle are grazers and the first thing they are looking at to eat is grass and not a lot of shrubs. Goats are on the other end of the spectrum and are usually looking at eating the brush and shrubs before they graze on grass.” Reynolds said sheep are in the middle and eat a little of both grass and graze items.
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Agriculture Progress
Page 3
Rockeys win national stewardship award STAFF REPORT
ORLANDO, Florida—Rockey Farms was honored in January for outstanding environmental stewardship at the 2015 National Potato Council (NPC) annual meeting in Orlando, Florida. Each year, NPC honors a family farm with its Environmental Stewardship Award for demonstrating a commitment to stewardship of its land and protection of the shared environment. The award winner is a leader in adopting innovations that reduce the risks associated with pesticide application, support wildlife habitat and promote improved water quality and water conservation. Their leadership by example encourages other producers to focus their attention on what the industry considers important environmental values. The annual award is a component of the Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program, a partnership between NPC and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to protect the environment and promote the safe and effective use of pesticides. “We are honored to receive this award,” said Brendon Rockey, who is head of production at the Center farm. “The practices we are being recognized for are environmentally friendly, but they also promote soil health, which allows us to maintain an efficient yet productive ecological system. We also feel that these practices help the San Luis Valley function as a whole.” Rockey, and his brother, Sheldon, are third generation farmers taking a “biotic” approach to their potato fields. Believing “cides” were nothing more than a costly addiction, Rockey Farms shifted its practices several years ago to grow a crop focused on soil health, human nutrition and customer satisfaction. Potatoes are sown with legumes to replace expensive synthetic nitrogen applications with symbiotic nitrogen fixation, and the fields are amended with biological inputs to enhance soil fertility, which green manure and the grazing of livestock complement in the rotation while eliminating the need for deep tillage. Soil nutrient test results prove Rockey Farms’ approach meets and often exceeds the needs of its cash crop, which has continued to increase in quality and consumer popularity over the seasons while no longer adding nitrates to the environment. One of the most important results from Rockey Farms’ shift in practices is improved water efficiency achieved without sacrificing yield. In 2014, Rockey Farms planted a strip of flowers to lure beneficial insects like ladybugs, lace wings, predatory wasps and other beetles to its seed potato fields to control aphids, which was a success. Although the pests were not entirely eliminated, a more balanced predator/ prey population and reduced aphid damage to the seed potato crop was observed. Before they made it to the field, Rockey Farms introduced beneficial flowers into its greenhouse mini tuber production. The flowers are sown with the mini tubers to attract beneficial insects to control thrips and aphids,
Courtesy Photos
Brothers Brendon, left, and Sheldon, right, of Rockey Farms are featured in a video courtesy of DuPont Crop Protection about their environmentally sound agricultural practices. eliminating the need for an insecticide and ensuring healthier potato seed that often finds it ways into fields producing for farmers’ markets across the nation. “Rockey Farms is very deserving of this award,” said CPAC Executive Director Jim Ehrlich. “Their efforts to work with nature to enhance their farming practices have created a model for other farmers nationwide. Every farmer knows soil health is at the heart of their own successful farming.” He added, “Rockey’s have created a system where soil health is their priority. They practice what they preach and are passionate in sharing their story with other farmers to help educate and assist them.”
Rockey Farms’ methods for specialty potato production were recognized in Orlando, Florida at the 2015 National Potato Council annual meeting. A video of Rockey Farms practices was created through a sponsorship from DuPont Crop Protection. Schools, agricultural organizations and civic groups will be able to use the video to demonstrate the potato industry’s commitment Flowers have replaced pesticides and to sound environmental stewardship. NPC is involved in a number of different are attracting beneficial insects like ladybugs to Rockey Farms to help control efforts to develop a workable definition of sustainability, and is actively participating in pests like aphids.
the Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops (SISC), the National Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (NISA), and the Field to Market project. Potatoes are the first specialty crop to be evaluated using the Field to Market tools. NPC is encouraging these groups to develop a common set of metrics that are grower-friendly, use largely available data, measure results over time and do not set bright-line standards.
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Page 4
Agriculture Progress
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Potato prices edging up, acreage up BY TERESA L. BENNS
SAN LUIS VALLEY— A strong 2014 potato crop in Idaho sent San Luis Valley potato prices down last year around harvest time, but since then Valley potato prices have been slowly climbing as Idaho’s supply dwindles. While local potato prices did initially decline this year over last year, overall growing conditions this year were good, Colorado Potato Administrative Committee (CPAC) Executive Director Jim Ehrlich said. The crop was slow to progress because of cooler temperatures and potato size is down, but acreage was up eight percent, with 54,200 acres planted. “We had pretty good growing conditions this year,” Ehrlich commented. “We got more rain this year than we have in several years in July and August.” About 20 percent of the acres planted this season received hail damage, Ehrlich reported, with damage varying from severe to slight. “Most growers have federal crop insurance,” he said, so the impact on the crop was not that great. Aphids were not a problems this year, and there were no other notable pests that farmers battled, either, he added. More specialty acres were planted this year, including fi ngerlings, reds, yellows and purples. Harvest began in September and continued until early October, with rain causing only a few delays. Once the crop is harvested, farmers place them in their own storage facility
or ship product to local warehouses. Ehrlich explained that it takes about two months for potatoes to “gradually cool down.” Storage temperatures run 38-40 degrees at 95 percent relative humidity.
Local varieties CPAC’s website at http://www.coloradopotato.org/colorado_potato_varieties_of_ the_san_luis_valley.php, shows the different varieties of potatoes grown in the Valley. Some of these include oval russets with tan skins, used for baking; reds, CPAC’s biggest seller, in Colorado Rose, Rio Colorado and Sangre varieties; yellows, or Yukon Gold, one of America’s favorites; also specialty potatoes. These include All-Blue and Fingerlings, growing in popularity. The website lists as the most recent Valley “star” CPAC’s Purple Majesty, “deep-hued inside and out, and doesn’t lose its color when cooking, also Mountain Rose: a red-skinned, light red flesh versatile potato that can be used in almost any recipe.” Potato lovers who would like to try some of those recipes will find plenty of selections on the CPAC website. According to the website, CPAC was founded in 1941 with the key goal of organizing the then more than 175 Colorado Potato Growers and Colorado Potato ShipPhoto by Teresa L. Benns pers throughout Colorado under a common San Luis Valley potato prices have been slowly climbing as Idaho’s potato supply purpose and industry. dwindles.
Will potato industry step up to the challenge?
DENVER—United States Potato Board (USPB) President/CEO Blair Richardson surprised attendees at the USPB-sponsored Thursday Keynote Luncheon at POTATO EXPO 2015 in Orlando, Fla., Jan. 8, with an industry challenge to install 3,000 potatofriendly salad bars in school lunch programs across the United States. Taking to the stage following Fox News Sunday anchor and keynoter Chris Wallace and in an unprecedented move since the beginning of POTATO EXPO after eight years of USPB sponsorship of the Keynote Luncheon, USPB Chairman Brett Jensen of Brett Jensen Farms, Idaho Falls, Idaho, brought Richardson to the stage to issue the challenge to the entire potato industry. The challenge: Put 3,000 “potato-friendly” salad bars in elementary, middle and high schools across the country over the next five years. Targeting 300 salad bars per year for five years, for every one of those 1,500 salad/potato bars donated by growers, potato industry agribusinesses or others vested in the U.S. potato industry, the USPB will match one-for-one for a total of 3,000 potato-friendly salad bars installed by 2020. But the challenge doesn’t stop with the donation of the salad/potato bar, putting it in a school of the donor(s)’ choice and walking away. No. For every donated salad/potato bar installed by U.S. potato industry stakeholders, the USPB will continuously work with school lunch personnel and school district nutritionists to deliver a nonstop stream of potato-serving ideas, recipes and themes. Imagine the salad bars with Mexican-themed
potatoes for Cinco de Mayo or red, white and blue potato salad for President’s Day— the possibilities are endless. The USPB will ensure schools never run out of exciting, fun—and most importantly—healthy, nutritious potato ideas students will love— and eat. A 2014 Texas A & M Plate Waste Study said that when “comparing fruit and vegetable consumption, it appears fruit is much more popular than vegetables…but when potato products are served (mashed potatoes, potato wedges, tater tots, etc.), just about every student chooses the vegetable.” Why salad bars? Today’s children are referred to by the media as the “Salad Generation,” because they’re so fresh-food focused. There are 55 million of them attending K–12 schools nationwide, and they eat over five billion school lunches each year. If they eat potatoes one more time per week, that will be 3,750,000 cwt more potatoes served each year. The potato industry has a rare opportunity to be on the front lines of getting potato-friendly salad bars and potato nutrition materials in thousands of schools nationwide. Richardson concluded his challenge with a core statement for this program, “It is government’s role to help educate consumers on proper nutrition. As an instrumentality of USDA, Courtesy Photo the USPB is delivering to students, nationwide, The United States Potato Board (USPB) President/CEO has challenged the potato much needed education on healthy eating and the many positive nutrition facts about pota- industry to make “potato-friendly” salad bars common in American schools. toes, ‘America’s Favorite Vegetable’.” For additional information on the proposed challenge, please visit www.uspotatoes.com/ saladbars, call the USPB Marketing Department at 303-369-7783 or email to saladbars@ uspotatoes.com.
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Agriculture Progress
Page 5
Slow to take off, biofuel crops explored
Photo by Lyndsie Ferrell
Large standing sentinels against the foggy sky, solar panels grace most of the landscape on the eastern end of the Valley
Solar power soaking up Valley rays BY LYNDSIE FERRELL
SAN LUIS VALLEY— The San Luis Valley is an ideal location for alternative energy sources. With an average of 350 days of sun and almost a constant breeze floating through the Valley, such things seem imminent. In the East end of the Valley on a patch of 80 acres, 150-ft. solar panels reach to the sky soaking up the radiation from the sun and storing it in the substation near by. These panels produce up to 8.2 megawatts of power for Xcel Energy and other sources around the Valley. Having the substation right next to the site reduces transmission costs. There are now 31 sub stations like this around the valley. The possibility of having more solar sites is in the near future if a proposal to create higher powered transmission lines required to transmit the energy produced to consumers nationwide passes. The government would charge the customers for the high expense as the lines are built. The proposal is now in the court process awaiting approval in order to move forward. Alamosa Land Use office recently renewed a proposal for another solar
site that could produce up to 80 megawatts. The Valley would need to convert the now photovoltaic (PV) plant to a concentrated solar power (CSP) system to achieve maximum use of energy. In a 2011 a study done by the Department of Energy, PV plants are more cost effective and do not require the use of water or fossil fuels in order to store and maintain the energy absorbed. CSP plants, on the other hand, require one or both, and the energy must be distributed through the highpowered transmission lines. The solar developments in the Valley have expanded over the years and now consist of three separate sections. SunEdison, Iberdrola and Cogentrix make up the site near Mosca and Hooper. There is also a hydroelectric site by Creede that supplies electricity to the SLV Rural Electric Coop. The hydroelectric generator is on the Wagon Wheel Ranch located 12 miles out of Creede. The local Ecosystem Council in Alamosa is constantly working towards more alternative energy solutions for the benefit of the San Luis Valley.
SAN LUIS VALLEY—Now, with gasoline prices lowest in years, it could be easy to overlook the need to find alternatives to crude oil. Researchers continue to emphasize that the happy phase experienced today may be short-lived, since oil is a fossil fuel and the supply is finite. In the San Luis Valley, interest in growing crops for synthetic fuels remains strong, anchored by Costilla County’s successful biodiesel plant at Mesita and the mixing plant operated by Alta Fuels at Alamosa. While canola has been the top oil crop under production, some farmers have been experimenting with sunflowers. According to researchers at Colorado State University, oilseed research is being conducted on the following varieties: Camelina, Canola, Safflower, Indian Brown Mustard/B. Juncea, straight vegetable oil and other alternative oilseed crops. Timothy Durrett, assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biophysics, is part of collaborative team that has received a fouryear $1.5 million joint U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Energy grant. The project, led by Colorado State University, was one of 10 projects funded this year as part of the federal Plant Feedstocks Genomics for Bioenergy research program. Camelina, a nonfood oilseed crop, can be a valuable biofuel crop because it can grow on poorer quality farmland and needs little irrigation and fertilizer. It also can be rotated with wheat, Durrett said. “Camelina could give farmers an extra biofuel crop that wouldn’t be competing with food production,” Durrett said. “This research can add value to the local agricultural economy by creating an additional crop that could fit in with the crop rotation.” Research is being done on a variety of uses for these crops including biofuel, health benefits and other trials. Each crop and project has been given a dedicated page with updated results and information. A team of researchers at Princeton University has suggested that the United States
could eliminate the need for crude oil by using a combination of coal, natural gas and non-food crops to make synthetic fuel. While the two former energy sources are limited here, the Valley seems to have been created for agriculture, so innovative crops are on the horizon. Since plants absorb carbon dioxide to grow, vehicle greenhouse emissions could be cut by as much as 50 percent in the next several decades by using non-food crops to create liquid fuels, the researchers said. The research makes up an important part of a white paper recently produced by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), the nation’s largest chemical engineering association. In the paper, the chemical engineers call for a greater integration of energy sources and urge policymakers to consider chemical conversion processes as a potential method to produce cleaner and cheaper fuels. “Right now we are going down so many energy paths,” said June Wispelwey, the institute’s director and a 1981 Princeton alumna. “There are ways for the system to be more integrated and much more efficient.” In the Princeton research, it was found that synthetic fuel plants could produce gasoline, diesel and aviation fuels at competitive prices, depending on the price of crude oil and the type of feedstock used to create the synthetic fuel. About two-thirds of crude oil consumed by the United States is used for transportation fuel, according to the federal Energy Information Administration (EIA). The EIA said the United States imports about 45 percent of its annual crude oil consumption. The chemistry is complicated, but it basically takes the carbon and hydrogen from the feedstock and reassembles them into the complex chains that make up fuels like gasoline and diesel. When the price of oil increased in the past, synthetic fuels became more practical. The U.S. government and the Defense Department have studied synthetic fuels as a way to supply transportation fuel without depending on overseas suppliers.
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Agriculture Progress
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
There’s still time for more snow fall BY TERESA L. BENNS
SAN LUS VALLEY — According to various state and federal websites monitoring snowfall, the Colorado snowpack to date is 99 percent of normal overall, but the Upper Rio Grande Basin totals are currently only at 65 percent. The Rio Grande is at 78 percent of normal and the Conejos River is only showing 66 percent of normal. The discouraging news came in a report released by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Jan. 9 and in subsequent updates. Drought maps show a persistent tan thumb area of increased drought risk right where the Valley sits. And without significant precipitation over the next few months, this translates to the fifth year in a row that south central Colorado will experience insufficient snowpack and runoff. The San Juan, Animas, Dolores and San Miguel basins sat at 90 percent Jan. 1, a seven percent increase from the 83 percent reported Jan. 1, 2014. The South Platte reservoirs earned the highest storage levels for reservoirs in the state, reporting 124 percent. The Arkansas Valley also reported above normal precipitation amounts. The combined reservoir levels statewide are doing well with a 103 percent average storage rate. One article at http://www.gjfreepress.com/ news/14568602-113/colorado-drought-riverbasin, says that this year, recent successive dry years will impact San Juan River Basin water deliveries to central New Mexico — a first in
More snow in the San Juans is needed to help alleviate drought conditions in the Valley. Photo by Teresa L. Benns the 40-year history of the San Juan-Chama Sangre de Cristo measurement is 80 percent of Juan Basin delivery system have gradually Project. This estimate is based on a recent normal. Cotton says he thinks Saguache Creek declined over the years, resulting in the shortarticle from The Albuquerque Journal. will have a “decent” year this year. age described. State Engineer Craig Cotton with the Divi“This year won’t be horrible,” he predicted. Last year, adequate moisture in the soil sion of Water Resources in Alamosa says the “We still have several months to catch up.” The helped prevent forest fires from threatening the picture is not all that bleak, noting that there NWS predicts a higher than average likelihood Valley, and Cotten says he hopes that this also is still plenty of time to get more moisture and of precipitation from January through March is the case this coming fire season. more moisture is in the forecast. and even possibly through June. One weather forecaster thinks that El Nino, “The National Weather Service continues to The predictions speculate that Colorado a climate-related condition that occurs when predict above average precipitation for us this may experience dryer than normal conditions, temperatures in part of the tropical Pacific year — we just need to get it,” Cotton said. though, in February. Ocean are warmer than normal for months in Although above Summit the report is only Cotten noted that The Albuquerque Journal a row, may be forming once again. As a rule, 33 percent of average, the Cochetopa Pass report failed to come down on quite the right a continuing El Nino cycle assures more moisarea is reporting 138 percent of normal and the note, commenting that water levels in the San ture for Colorado and western states in general.
Understanding the Rio Grande Basin Water Plan
SAN LUIS VALLEY—Since the 20022003 drought, the Colorado Water Conservation Board has undertaken a comprehensive study of Colorado’s water. The study known as the Statewide Water Supply Initiative (SWSI) 2010 recognized that water supply is limited and as Colorado continues to grow the need is out pacing the supply. The study identified Colorado’s current and future water need through the year 2030 and further examined approaches that could be taken to meet those needs. That was 2004, with the support of the General Assembly in 2006, SWSI 2 supplemented the original findings by adding technical work on water conservation, alternatives to agricultural water transfers and meeting the environmental needs of the state. SWSI brought together a collaborative approach to the resolution of these issues by establishing the basin roundtables. The roundtables were to bring together a diverse group of partners whose role was to educate and collaborate on water planning issues. These efforts were codified by Colorado Water for the 21st Century Act. The act also established the 27 member Inter Basin Compact Committee (IBCC) which serve as intermediaries to facilitate communication between the basin roundtables. Subsequently, the basins were charged with the development of a consumptive and non-consumptive needs assessment along with proposing projects to meet those needs. SWSI was updated in 2010, the elements of the update included an analysis of water supply demands to 2050, a summary of the non-
consumptive needs within each basin, an examination of the water supply and availability in the Colorado River Basin, implementation plans that were tied to identified water projects, water conservation, agricultural transfers and the development of new water supplies. The key findings of SWSI 2010 showed that by 2050, agriculture would still be the primary user of water at 82 percent (which is down from the current 86 percent); 15 percent would be used by municipal and industrial users, while the remaining 3% would be used by self-supplied industry. The study highlighted continued shortages for agricultural producers in all basins which could mean a decline in irrigated acres. The study outlined significant increases in municipal demand due to a near doubling of the state’s population –growing from five million to nearly 10 million by 2050. The study also identified the Front Range as being the most populous with 80 percent of the population located along its flanks. The western slope, however, would experience the fastest growth rate, establishing a need of between 600,000 and one million-acre feet of additional water per year by 2050. An increasing energy demand in the state would also require more water. Supply was also examined and localized shortages were identified. The Colorado basin was identified as a possible source for new supply since compact entitlements were not fully utilized. The study further noted that between now and 2050, there needed to be a decreased reliance on ground water in order to reach a
level of sustainability and reliability for future population demands. As a result of SWSI, we know more about our future water demands and available supplies. It is a given that “the Gap” is widening between supply and demand. In May of 2013, Governor Hickenlooper issued an executive order that directed the Colorado Water Conservation Board to develop Colorado’s Water Plan. The CWCB has tasked both the IBCC and the Basin Roundtables with the development of Basin Water Plans. The plans will reflect a grassroots dialogue and consensus
that will be necessary for the development and implementation of a robust and meaningful state-wide water plan. The timeline for final Basin Implementation Plans and, ultimately, Colorado’s Water Plan is established through distinct benchmarks that will need to be met. The purpose of the Basin Implementation Plans is to address the gaps identified in SWSI 2010. The plans will be prepared under the direction of the basin roundtables and will build on local input and planning efforts. The Basin Implementation Plans will provide a mechaPlease see WATER on Page 8
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Agriculture Progress
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Agriculture Progress
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Lettuce hoped to be a leafy success
BY LYNDSIE FERRELL
SAN LUIS VALLEY— The San Luis Valley is an optimal climate for lettuce to grow. With sandy soil, cool temperatures and mountain water supply, it creates the perfect setting for the leafy plant. The Valley is one of the top suppliers nationwide for romaine, green leaf and head lettuce. Though the crop is small, it is one of the top lifelines of the Valley and its residents. In previous years the industry has had to struggle with the availability of labor in the Valley. All lettuce crops must be handpicked due to the delicate nature of the plant. With less people coming to the area to make a home, it has been difficult to find laborers. Lettuce crops are one of the smallest crops in the Valley and yet require the most labor during harvest. “Labor is always a challenge,� said Mike Jones from Skyview Cooling. Jones reports that the previous year’s crop
was pretty typical as far as harvest amounts. During the mid-summer season, some crops were damaged by a large hailstorm that passed through the Valley. It was a close call for several of the areas growers, but the lettuce crops were still plentiful. Also with high precipitation throughout the growing season, several area growers had to deal with mildew issues within the crop. High precipitation and water levels prove to be both good and bad for the crop. Standing water and severely wet soil can create mold and mildew on the plant and render it useless. Any extra moisture can be difficult to deal with in this crop and many others throughout the Valley. As far as predictions for the coming season, most of the area’s lettuce growers anticipate a rather normal heart. Growers expect to see a similar crop as last year and do not anticipate any changes. Market prices are holding steady for the growers as well.
Photos by Teresa L. Benns
WATER
Continued from Page 6 nism for basin roundtable members and other the basin and state levels. This will help to stakeholders to work together to overcome ensure that the plans are in-depth and address potential project implementation constraints, the specific hydrologic complexities of each effectively implement water projects that basin. The CWCB has established a timeline achieve designated regional water manage- for the Basin Roundtables during this Basin ment objectives, and address the basins’ water Implementation Plan effort. The Rio Grande Basin Roundtable is busy supply gaps. In addition, the plan processes will identify prospects and limitations within gathering data for the development of the Rio the basins for meeting water supply gaps, Grande Basin Water Plan. The Roundtable has all the while considering the basins variable contracted with DiNatale Water Consultants for hydrology—dry, average, and wet conditions. the research and preparation of the basins plan The Plan will identify sources of water used and has set-up an operational oversight “steerin most basins including native water (surface ing� committee. The steering committee has and tributary groundwater), trans-basin water, put together a set of sub- committees to gather water used by exchange, reuse, non-tributary data and public input within their specific areas groundwater, and reservoir storage. This will of expertise and interest. The sub-committees result in a basin water operations summary, are as follows: Education and Outreach, Agriwhich will help basin roundtables and will add culture, Water Administration, Municipal and a better understanding of which projects and Industrial and Non-consumptive. The most methods may be successful in meeting both important part of the plan is that it is a grassthe consumptive and non-consumptive gaps. roots effort. This means that the development This effort will form a foundation for future of the plan requires input and involvement from stakeholders. The most effective method SWSI Updates. Each Basin Roundtable is charged with for stakeholders to become involved is in one developing its own plan. These Basin Imple- of 2 ways: 1) attend the Rio Grande Basin mentation Plans (BIPs) will then be incorpo- Roundtable monthly meetings (These meeting rated into Colorado’s Water Plan. The basin are held the second Tuesday of each month roundtables are at varying stages of developing at the San Luis Valley Water Conservancy their basin specific plans. The Colorado Water District office at 623 Fourth Street in Alamosa, Conservation Board (CWCB) has committed Colorado.) or; 2) send your comments directly the following resources to this effort—CWCB to us online at www.riograndewaterplan.com. The lead consultant and local liaison from staff and the SWSI planning contractor will assist the basin roundtables in developing DiNatale Water Consultants is Tom Speeze, their plans. The basins will be allowed to tap Tom can be contacted at tom@dinatale water. their Water Supply Reserve Account at both com.
Soil health conference is Feb. 2 at Adams State ALAMOSA— The San Luis Valley Soil Health Conference will be Monday, Feb. 2 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Adams State University Student Union Room A127. The conference is an opportunity for
farmers and ranchers to exchange ideas while learning from some of the nation’s leaders in soil health and agroecology. Sign up at www.slvsoilhealthconference .org. Those who register before Jan. 23 will receive a free parking pass.
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Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Agriculture Progress
Page 9
Alfalfa still top San Luis Valley crop BY SYLVIA LOBATO
SAN LUIS VALLEY—Alfalfa is one of the top crops in the San Luis Valley, which is a major hay-producing region, with alfalfa a close second as a major cash crop to growing varieties of potatoes. A perennial flowering plant in the pea family, alfalfa is cultivated as an important forage crop in many countries around the world. It superficially resembles clover, with clusters of small, purple flowers followed by fruits containing 10-20 seeds. It has been cultivated as livestock fodder since at least the era of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Alfalfa seed tea has also been valued as a remedy for arthritis. It may be hampered by the prevailing drought, however, since it depends upon the aquifer and generally pivot irrigation. Official crop reporting services aim concerned eyes toward the snowpack which, despite recent storms, leaves a lot to be desired. Sales are slow at this point, though prices for large squares of premium alfalfa are good, due to its desirability as a feed crop in very dry areas. Treasured as a value-added crop on potato acreage, it has also been touted as a natural fertilizer. Once alfalfa is planted, the farmer generally leaves it in the ground for five to seven years; however, when it is removed, potatoes are often planted on the barren acreage due to the fact that the valuable grain leaves many nutrients behind in the soil, especially beneficial for potatoes. The San Luis Valley seems to have been created for agriculture and alfalfa farmers to enjoy the benefits of both spring and fall plantings, while potato growers have one bountiful season.
File photo
Governor’s Forum on state ag set to discuss water
COLORADO—The 2015 Governor’s Forum on Colorado Agriculture, themed “Water: Colorado’s Treasure,” highlights the challenges facing Colorado in meeting the water demands of a diverse state with competing needs. The event is scheduled for Feb. 26 at the Renaissance Hotel in Denver. “Water is vital to all aspects of Colorado’s economy,” Gov. John Hickenlooper said. “This forum will help connect businesses, municipalities and rural communities that are dependent on agriculture and meeting our water needs.” The Governor’s Forum on Colorado Agriculture will include speakers from all facets
of Colorado’s agriculture, including produce growers, water managers and climatologists. “We’re approaching the entire event to address the challenges we face in meeting future water needs,” said John Salazar, former Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture. “We, as a state, will need to meet those needs while ensuring our agriculture industry remains vibrant.” Presenting an overview of Colorado’s Water Plan, John Stulp will deliver the keynote address. Colorado’s economic future will be shaped by how we manage our limited water resources. As director for the Interbasin Compact Committee and water advisor to Governor
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Hickenlooper, Stulp is charged with bringing together a mixture of ideas and pathways for a water plan that will balance Colorado’s future water needs. The 2015 Governor’s Forum will be hosted by the Colorado Agricultural Leadership Program (CALP), the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) and Colorado State University (CSU). This is the second year that CALP will plan and manage the Governor’s Forum on Colorado Agriculture. The event was originally co-created by members of CALP, CDA, and CSU. CALP is a leadership-training group that
exposes emerging leaders in Colorado agriculture to the diverse aspects of the state’s farm economy. The program was re-instated in 2012 under the leadership of former Commissioner John Salazar and Senator Jerry Sonnenberg after several years of inactivity. Now, CALP’s Class 11 graduates are using the knowledge they’ve gained about Colorado agriculture over the past year in order to create a dynamic program for the 2015 Governor’s Forum on Colorado Agriculture. For further information, please visit governorsagforum.com or contact Angie Cue at info@governorsagforum.com.
Page 10
Agriculture Progress
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Salazar retires as commissioner of ag
COLORADO—Gov. John Hickenlooper announced in December that John Salazar, Colorado’s commissioner of agriculture, would retire at the beginning of January 2015. He has served in the role since 2011. “For the last 12 years, Colorado has benefitted from the generous, noble and extraordinary service of John Salazar,” said Hickenlooper. “We are honored and privileged to have had him join our first term. His commitment and dedication to the farmers, ranchers and producers across the state is unparalleled and his successes will continue to benefit the agriculture community and all of the Colorado for years to come. We offer heartfelt and since thanks for all he has given the state, and wish him years of glorious sunrises and sunsets on his ranch.” “I want to thank Governor Hickenlooper for entrusting me to lead the Colorado Department of Agriculture where our accomplishments have been many,” said Salazar. “Under his leadership, we were able to complete a project 38 years in the making - consolidating our divisions under one roof to create significant savings for taxpayers while providing a one-stop shop for our customers. We came back even stronger as an industry following the listeria outbreak and in working with cantaloupe growers and the Rocky Ford Growers Association. Through our marketing efforts, we helped Colorado producers double agriculture exports over 2009 levels and helped Colorado’s farmers and ranchers achieve record net farm incomes.” “I also want to thank the great team assembled
in the Department of Agriculture. They are the most dedicated and professional staff that I have ever worked with. Most importantly, I want to thank my family for the great sacrifices they have made while I have been away. I am so looking forward to being close to my family and working on what I consider the most honorable profession - farming and ranching,” Salazar added. “Thank you to the people of Colorado for giving me the great opportunity to serve you.” Salazar served three terms representing Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District and was a member of the House Agriculture Committee, Veteran’s Affairs Committee, and the Transportation Committee. Salazar’s advocacy in Congress earned him recognition for outstanding service by the American Farm Bureau and the Golden Triangle Award from the National Farmers Union. He played a key role in passing the historic farm bill of 2008 and authored the rural broadband and specialty crop provisions. With a seat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee in his third term, Salazar worked on national energy issues, jobs creation and the economy. Before his time in Congress, Salazar served in the Colorado General Assembly for two years. Salazar served on the Rio Grande Water Conservation District, the Colorado Agricultural Leadership Program board, and the Colorado Agricultural Commission before being elected as a state Representative in 2002. He has also
John Salazar been a member of the Farm Credit Services Board of Directors, the Seed Export Committee with the Colorado Certified Seed Growers, and was the founder of the Saint Joseph Youth Athletic Program. The Salazar family celebrates 14 generations of farming; John Salazar was raised on a San Luis Valley farm, where he and his five siblings
shared a bedroom and had no electricity or running water. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Adams State College after serving three years in the U.S. Army. Salazar continues to call the San Luis Valley home. He works on the family farm where they have farmed and ranched the same for seven generations.
Gov. presents first draft of state’s water plan DENVER —In early December, Gov. John Hickenlooper presented the first draft of Colorado’s Water Plan, praising the work of hundreds of participants across the state for their role in building a collaborative approach for navigating Colorado’s water challenges. “The collaborative and comprehensive nature of this plan marks a new way to conduct our water business”, said Hickenlooper. “We owe a great debt to the hundreds of volunteers who’ve dedicated enormous amounts of their time and energy to this process, and to the thousands from every corner of the state who provided their thoughtful comments to our basin roundtables and the Colorado Water Conservation Board.” Gov. Hickenlooper issued an executive order in May of 2013 directing creation of Colorado’s Water Plan. The plan draws on nine years of unprecedented discussion and consensus-building from a wide cross-section of interests participating in roundtables within every river basin in Colorado, as well as through the Interbasin Compact Committee, a statewide group with participants from every basin roundtable. “This plan represents hundreds of conversations and comments involving people in our cities, our rural communities, from both sides of the Continental Divide. It benefited from the engagement of farmers, ranchers, environmentalists, utilities and water districts, industry and business, and the public at large,” said James Eklund, director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board. “This extraordinary level of dialogue has helped every interest gain a greater understanding and appreciation for the values of fellow stakeholders and created an environment where all parties can work more productively together to develop solutions.” The initial draft of the water plan aligns with the governor’s executive order in working to strike
the right balance between many important and competing interests. At the same time, the plan upholds key Colorado water values that ensure water is available to support a strong economy, vibrant and sustainable cities, productive agriculture, a thriving natural environment and world-renown recreational opportunities. “The completion of the draft plan represents not only the countless staff and roundtable hours invested in its development but also the beginning of a new process of review, refinement and ultimately implementation of the important concepts and challenges facing Colorado’s water future,” said Eric Kuhn, general manager of the Colorado River District. “Now is the time for all of those involved - to focus collectively and collaboratively on how to meet Colorado’s current and future water needs in a manner that works for all Coloradans.” “With strong leadership and hard work, grand ideas can become reality, said Jim Lochhead, chief executive officer of Denver Water. “We know collaborative efforts can work because we’ve seen it first-hand through the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement. We look forward to working with the Governor’s Office and water interests across the state to chart a course for our water future.” Colorado’s Water Plan reflects agreement from water interests statewide on broad, near-term actions needed to secure our water future. These include efforts to conserve and store water, additional re-use and recycling of water and providing more options to agriculture to avoid the permanent dry-up of our farm and ranch land. “The release of the draft Colorado Water Plan is a great milestone in planning for the state’s future,” said Eric Wilkinson, general manager of the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District. “It is imperative that the statewide collaboration,
cooperation, compromise, and problem solving discussions represented by the draft Water Plan continue if Colorado is to find ways to best manage our available water resources for the benefit of the generations that follow.” Colorado’s Water Plan doesn’t prescribe specific projects, but outlines how various interests across basins can attain locally driven, collaborative solutions, and how balanced approaches can garner the broad support needed to accelerate environmentally sound projects and shorten the federal regulatory process often associated with water-related actions in Colorado. The plan does not do anything to change the status of water rights as a property right, nor prevent the buying and selling of those rights. Nor does it affect Colorado’s longstanding Prior Appropriation Doctrine. “This draft Colorado plan is a milestone in the mapping of alternatives to meet Colorado’s
diverse current and future demands of our limited water resources within the framework of the prior appropriation system,” said Bruce Whitehead, executive director of the Southwestern Water Conservation District. “Multiple interests in southwest Colorado and throughout the state have participated in the development of the plan, resulting in a balanced and detailed draft that will continue to evolve as it is finalized by the partners in the process.” Work on Colorado’s Water Plan will continue as the public and stakeholders are encouraged to comment upon the draft plan. Comments can be submitted to coloradowaterplan.com as revisions continue ahead of a finalized version to be submitted to the governor next year. The plan itself is not intended to be formally completed, however, as public priorities and evolving conditions continue to shape its future.
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Agriculture Progress
Page 11
Second water sub-district progresses
SAN LUIS VALLEY — The proposed Rio Grande Alluvium (aka sub-district #2) is proceeding. The State of Colorado has assigned or grouped non-exempted wells together to form Response Areas that will become sub-districts. Wells in the Rio Grande Alluvium Response Area are known as Sub-district #2. These are unconfined aquifer wells in close proximity to the Rio Grande River in the general area between Del Norte and Alamosa. “The work group which is comprised of local land and well owners in the proposed area has been meeting for several years,” said Karla Shriver a work group member. “We have had numerous meetings among ourselves trying to hash out the details of the proposed sub-district formation, and having numerous public meetings trying to get input from those who will be
impacted by it.” The Colorado Division of Water Resources will be submitting Rules Governing the Withdrawal of Ground Water in Water Division #3 for non-exempt wells. Once the rules have been adopted, well owners will have only three options, which include: 1. Be a part of a sub-district; 2. Prepare and submit their own augmentation plan; 3. Cease using non-exempt wells on their property. Proposed Sub-district #2 is a voluntary subdistrict, and participation is the well owner’s choice. “For those in proposed Sub-district #2 if you are wanting to join the sub-district and have visited with Deb Sarason from Davis Engineering about your farm plan, please contact
me at 589-6301 to pick up your petition,” said Cleave Simpson, Rio Grande Water Conservation District program manager. “If you own non-exempt well(s) in proposed Sub-district #2 and have not completed your farm plan, you will first need to have a meeting with Deb Sarason from Davis Engineering at 719-589-3004 to verify the wells on your lands that you want included in the District” said
Simpson. “The goal is to have all the petitions signed by January 31 and then let staff review the petitions for completion and correctness, and then go before the RG Conservation District Board in March.” The work group is hosting another public meeting so that those interested may come ask questions Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. at the Monte Vista Co-op Community Room.
CSU Extension offering Energy Master Program
MONTE VISTA—Colorado State University Extension has opened registration for its annual Colorado Energy Master program. The program offers participants up to 30 hours of energy education in three different courses covering topics such as energy policy, renewable energy opportunities, transportation alternatives, climate change and home energy efficiency. The courses are offered through a mix of online webinars and in-person field trips. The program is suitable for both those simply curious about our energy system and those who have been learning about energy for years. Certification as a Colorado Energy Master is optional. Those wishing to become Colorado Energy Masters complete all coursework and an energy-related project of their choice in
their community. Continuing education units are available for realtors and graduate credits are available for teachers. Each of the three courses in the program costs $65 for regular registrants or $35 for aspiring Colorado Energy Masters, students or teachers. Discounts are available for those registering for the entire program. The program runs from Feb. 17 to March 28. Classes are taught by a mix of CSU professors, Extension agents, and industry professionals. Registration is open from Jan. 5 to Feb.10. For more information and to register, please visit www.ext.colostate.edu/energymaster or call Marvin Reynolds, Area Extension Director, San Luis Valley Area Extension, 852-7381 or visit us at 1899 E Hwy 160, Monte Vista, CO.
Farm Service Agency announces election results
SAN LUIS VALLEY—The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) county offices for the San Luis Valley has announced that county committee elections are over, the ballots are counted and the results for Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla and the Saguache, Rio Grande, Mineral and Hinsdale county committee are in. The following were elected for their respective Local Administrative Area (LAA). Lisa Sykes of Alamosa was elected to represent LAA-3 for the Alamosa County Committee; Fred Melgoza will serve as first alternate. Virgil Ruybal of Antonito was elected to represent LAA-3 for the Conejos County Committee. Mr. Ruybal ran unopposed. Stephen Lucero of Blanca was elected to represent LAA-3 for the Costilla County Committee. Kathy Christensen will serve as first alternate. Terry Freel of Moffat was elected to represent LAA-1 for the Saguache County Committee. Anthony Lobato of Center will serve as the first alternate and John Albert of Moffat will serve as second alternate.
Carol Dove of Del Norte was elected to represent LAA-6 for the Saguache County Committee. Don Jolly will serve as the first alternate, and Charles Whitmer will serve as second alternate. Elected county committee members serve a three-year term and are responsible for making decisions on FSA disaster, conservation, commodity, and price support programs, as well as other important federal farm program issues. “County committee members are a valuable asset because they are comprised of local producers who participate in FSA programs themselves and have a direct connection to farmers and ranchers in the community,” said Saguache County FSA CED Reeves. “All recently elected county committee members and alternates will take office on Jan. 1, 2015 and join the existing committee,” he said. For more information about county committees and the election process, please contact your respective county FSA office or visit www.fsa.usda.gov.
SLV potato recipes featured in statewide magazine SAN LUIS VALLEY— Few places in the country produce as many potatoes as the San Luis Valley – and few places have such creative uses for them, according to the latest issue of a statewide magazine. Recipes for Colorado potatoes, ranging from nachos to desserts, appear in the article “Spuds Take Center Stage” in the January/February 2015 issue of Colorado Life Magazine. “Potatoes are usually relegated to supporting roles in meals, but the folks in Colorado’s San Luis Valley think the humble spud is ready for its close-up,” the magazine writes. The recipes are drawn from the Colorado Potato Cookbook, compiled by the Monte Vista-based Colorado
Potato Administrative Committee. Mashed potato candy and potato fudge are among the treats that showcase the potato’s unexpected versatility. The four-page article appears in the current issue of Colorado Life Magazine. This issue also includes photos and stories on the Ouray Ice Festival, the mountain town of Buena Vista, how Fort Collins inspired Disneyland, a weekend at Denver’s revamped Union Station and a photo essay on Colorado’s birds of prey. Colorado Life Magazine publishes six issues a year in celebration of the nature, history, wildlife and people of Colorado. For more information, call 970-480-0148 or visit www.ColoradoLifeMagazine.com.
Page 12
Agriculture Progress
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
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