So far the water news is still bad…but it hasn’t gotten worse…which is good.
60% of of the farm ground is all that is going to be planted this year, leaving 40% to lay. There will be less alfalfa hay (to get hay started it takes lots of water, once started you don’t have to water as much, maybe once a month, but in the beginning…) less onions and no very early Olathe and Mountain Sweet Sweet corn…there will be mid-summer sweet corn… hopefully. All other crops have been reduced radically…possibly pinto beans will be planted everyone is waiting to see. Pinto beans are planted much later in the spring.
This lack of water effects everyone….letters have been sent out to those that live in sub-divisions, or in the town/city proper….if you water with Uncompahgre Valley Water you will NOT have access to the water…there just isn’t any extra. (In this case) Farms have the priority to the water, and only farms. If you wish to water your carefully crafted lawn and yards you will not be able to use the ditches, if caught doing so you will be fined. I’m sure if these people wish to use their city water they will be able too, at this point potable water is not being rationed…
Then there are those who make their living OFF the farmers…their livelihood is now cut by 40%—just like the farmers.
Sure is a sad mess!
BUT we still have 60%, which is better than less than that so there is hope!
Terry finished up rolling the plowed ground.
Next he will fertilize, disk that in, and then level the fields, after that he will mark out the rows in preparation for the water to be turned on.
Then we wait….once the water is on we are tied to the land until the water is turned off. Irrigation is a constant thing (but is you really want to know a secret—I super enjoy irrigating… I love the smell and the feel and the whole experience.)
So no matter what the farm year is proceeding and so will we!
I am a tad better today, but still not up to going to the Museum for my morning of extreme fun, maybe next week. ( I say that in all seriousness, for I do so enjoy my time there.)
Thanks to everyone for your kind thoughts and well wishes!
Linda
Life on a Colorado Farm 
like you said, at least it hasn’t gotten any worse.
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Xeroscaping is something I’ve always fancied and am working towards as the ground around my house gets more and more try as well. Plus, I’m not a fan of sprinklers either.
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We can keep hoping that it will get better. Sigh. You know the saying…..”There’s always next year”. We live in “Next Year” country. I just looked at the drought monitor. http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/DM_west.htm
Looks like you are in “Sever” too.
It’s nice to see the tractor at work. Too early and dry here yet. I LOVE tractor work….when the weather is nice. I have an old Farm-All 540. No cab. Just the way I like it.
Glad you feel better. Sorry you don’t feel well enough to go to the museum but it’ll be that much more fun next week!
I love irrigating too. Don’t get to do enough of it. It’s hard to get 15 acre feet across 30 acres of ground!
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So sad… We love that Oletha Sweet Corn—so it appears we may not get much, if any, this year. So sad for you farmers. How often does a year like this happen? Mother Nature plays no favorites… Hope you do get to plant the Pintos this year…
Glad you are feeling some better… Hope with each passing day that you will improve. Take care of YOU.
Hugs,
Betsy
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Hard times! I am so sorry. It is sad that the water around the nation is so mixed up. We have snow up to our eyeballs and you are too dry.
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I’m glad to hear that you are feeling better. While I was happy to hear that the water situation hasn’t gotten worse, I’m sorry farmers are limited to 60% of their land. We’re going to miss that sweet corn.
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At least your water isn’t being drained off into the ocean to protect some little bait fish like it happens in California.
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Good to hear you are a “tad” better! perhaps you will get some late winter snow or early spring rain..doing a rain dance for you from Minnesota:)
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Any chance spring rains would allow later crops? I am hearing from ranchers all over that feed–alfalfa–was difficult to get last year–looks worse this year.
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I’m glad to hear that you are feeling a little better. Hope the water situation works out.
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Glad to hear you are feeling a “tad” better. Enjoyed the photos of Terry, glad to see Spring has arrived in your neck of the woods…I’m still living in a winter wonderland!!!
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Praying for moisture for you! We have too much snow, but I’d rather be wet than dry.
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Depending on water like this for your success can be very nerve wracking. I am always amazed at how much work goes into your type of farming.
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Linda, I look forward to your posts and check your blog several times a week ever since I first found your blog two or three years ago. I’m so glad that you share your farming with those of us in far-flung places.
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Hope you are feeling better. Seems odd that ANYONE would get to water lawns when the farms are not at full water!?!
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At least you have the 60%…but I know how hard it is to have to cut back. Farming is hard enough without having cuts on what you need. But, I know it can’t be helped!
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Hope you continue to improve. The moisture situation is very worrisome. WY land got very little moisture this winter. Dont think our SD land did either. Time will tell.
Daryl is enroute to WY tonight with the first load of equipment. Knew when he heard Terry was in the field the pressure would be on to get ready!! 🙂
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We’ve been so busy here, I’ve not been able to keep up. 😦
I’m very glad to hear you are getting well. That is great news!
Good to hear you won’t have to cut back too much. I kept hoping and praying everyone would get the moisture they needed.
Good luck this year. God bless. ♥
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Glad you’re improving Linda… the farming side sounds tough – farmers have a tough life anyway, but the added burden of worrying about the water is hard. I’d so hoped the water situation was improving with that snow on your hills..
We’re still waiting, and no rain on the horizen, though we did have a 3.5 earthquake the other day to shake us all up!!! Very rare in this part of the country.
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