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I ',,": ,- -';/'\1 ,.: ,,') ":tj>l t'J l.~'..\ products with a total value of less than $1,000 per farm and 35.7 percent produced on each farm le ss than $250 worth of farm products. Anticipated Land Utilization ~~; Reservoir construction on the Conejos River, while providing no new water for Conejos irrigators, will regulate the present supply in such a manner as to provide a constant annual supply with a monthly distribution designed to meet cropping needs and demands. As a result of regulation permitting better use of the water, it is anticipated that the cropped acreage in the Conejos Water Conservancy District will eventually be increased from the present 73,890 acres to 86,150 acres by cultivation of lands now covered with brush, trees, or other native growths which now non-beneficially consume water. The result of a regulated water supply to meet irrigation demands during the critical period after midsummer, and to permit irrigation prior to the normal spring runoff for lan~ preparation and early planting, will be first evidenced by the increases in yields of those crops now being pro- duced. In addition, a regulated water supply will afford project residents an o~portunity to broaden the scope of their enterprises by introducing larger acreages of crops with high unit values such as potatoes, green peas, cabbage, cauliflower and lettuce. An adequate late season supply will add flexibility to the farm business so that cropping patterns can be revised to meet the changing needs of the country and fluctuating market conditions. Although larger acreages will eventually be devoted to cash crops other than grain and hay, the greater acreage irrigated and the higher yielda obtainable will result in a larger total amount of livestock feeds. Project development will not solve the problem of inadequate farm incum", resulting from uneconomically sized farm unitn. HCT.evcr, adequate irrigation supplies assuring greater crop yields will alleviate the con~i- tion hy making the small land avmers more nearly self-sufficient during the time when off-the-fann employment is not available. The following tabulation shows the distri':1ution yields and values of crops under present conditions of inadequate early and late season water . ""r.Lly and, une'er conditions anticipated with an adequate water supply. The prices used are county averages for the period 1939-1944. The yields and present crop distributi on are based upon data obtained from "Colorado j,gricultural Statistics, II records of the Conejo8 County Office of the Production and Marketing Administration, the Conejos County Agent, local produce buyers and other sources. The future crop distribution an" yields were estimated after discussim ' with the County Agents and local residents. The estimated future distribu- tion is designed to give a well-rounded cropping pattern and protect soil fertility. In estimating the future distribution, consideration was g~ven to soil ane! climatic limitat1 nns in the area, to prohable future market conditions, and to the needs of the existing livestock industry. ~ 2