Vegetable farm, Larimer County

Goals/Strategic Objectives

Property #1:

Improve soil quality and water holding capacity.
Understand actual ditch water consumption for all users on the property.
Identify short- and long-term practices and strategies to both increase efficiency in water use and to improve soil quality for a time when more of the property is being actively farmed by more producers.

Property #2:

Improve soil quality and water holding capacity.
Track actual municipal water usage for irrigation and precipitation received.
Identify short- and long-term practices to improve soil quality, including water retention and erosion prevention, for a time when more of the property may be farmed.

Average annual precipitation: 15.9″
- All time high annual precipitation: 25.2″
- Typically greater than 2″ of rain per month April through July
Growing season temperatures range from 18 degrees (April) to 96 degrees (July) Fahrenheit
Last frost: approx. May 4th
First frost: approx. October 2nd
Ditch flow info:
- Surface water starts mid to late May and runs for as little as a few weeks or as long as mid-August
- Could have ditch water running until September 30th. Then use water in storage pond

Soil moisture and water quality tracking- 2023 and forward
- Track rain gauge info in rain log
- Invest in a soil moisture probe
- Track percent organic matter via soil tests
Water quality testing for retention pond- 2023 and forward, monthly
Track water use for property #1- July 2023 and continue to monitor
- Create log- track municipal and pond water use
  - Order a meter for 2″ pumped water line to begin tracking
  - Order two 3/4″ meters for property #2 water lines
  - Meter available for property #1 municipal water use
- Use irrigation timers to manage watering schedule and total water
Plan drought tolerant cover crops on currently unfarmed acres- determine CC mix by mid- August 2023 to be prepared for seeding fall covers on or before September 1st
- Water well for good germination
- Spot weed until they can out-compete other weeds

April 1st through May 15th: check snow water equivalent data and consult the ditch rider to understand what amount of water will be in the system for the ditches.
September 1st: last date to establish cover crops. If not established, mulch with available organic material such as straw or leaves.
Weekly: monitor rain gauges
May and October, annually: perform soil tests
Monthly: test irrigation pond

Reduce water requirement by favoring transplanted crops that are irrigated on drip systems, as opposed to direct seeded crops on overhead.
Use conservation agriculture practices such as:
- Reducing tillage,
- Using silage tarps for stale seedbed,
- Select drought tolerant cover crops and local mulches, and
- Mulch with straw, leaves, or a heavy layer of compost to reduce moisture losses via evapotranspiration (works for transplants but not direct seeded crops).
Favor transplanted crops over direct seeded crops to reduce water requirements for germination.
Use shade cloth to reduce heat burden on crops and surrounding soil and interplant crops to improve growing conditions if able.
Use irrigation timers to manage watering schedule and total water use.