Colorado State University wants to talk to farmers about U.S. drought

Font ResizeSuburbsBy Monte Whaley
The Denver Postdenverpost.comPosted: 12/17/2012 12:10:23 PM MSTDecember 17, 2012 8:21 PM GMTUpdated: 12/17/2012 01:21:19 PM MST

FORT COLLINS — Agriculture experts at Colorado State University are asking the state's farmers and ranchers to talk about the crippling effects of this year's drought.

The survey will gauge the impacts of one of the driest years on record but will also be used to fashion tools to manage drought in the future, say CSU agriculture economists.

"The question we ultimately want to address is, 'How do we improve the resiliency of agriculture and rural communities in Colorado?' because we expect more drought," said James Pritchett, associate professor in the CSU Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics, who is leading the survey project. "It's time to make these systems more resilient, so they can adapt to changes ahead."

The CSU survey called "Telling the Story — Drought in Colorado," is funded with $35,000 from the Colorado Water Conservation Board and the Colorado Department of Agriculture.

CSU is especially interested in responses from an estimated 600 Colorado farms and ranches with annual income surpassing $100,000. These producers are at the core of the state's agriculture industry, which chips in $40 billion each year to the Colorado economy.

The survey asks producers about the likelihood that drought could force them out of farming and ranching. It also asks about tools and strategies producers need to improve management effectiveness in the face of drought.

All of Colorado is currently suffering from drought conditions, ranging from moderate to exceptional, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

This was the case during much of the 2012 growing season, with the most severe conditions in parts of the state which produce dryland crops, such as wheat, or cattle and operations that rely on forage, said Pritchett.

There are no indications that the drought will end anytime soon. Very little snow has accumulated in western Colorado, the state's chief water source. Also, temperatures have been above average, leading to melting of even low amounts of snowpack.

CSU's survey also wants to touch on the impact the drought has had on rural communities, where agriculture is still the key to economic survival.

"The ripple effects (of the drought) can last for years," Pritchett said.

The on-line questionnaire is available now for Colorado producers.

Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907, mwhaley

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