WSP11486

• File Number: 8220.129.J
• Description: Upper Gunnison Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Gunnison
• Water Division: 4
• Date: 11/1/1962
• Author: CWCB and USDA
• Title: Water and Related Land Resources - Gunnison River Basin - Colorado - Nov 1962 - Part 2 of 2
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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Agricultural Economy

The North ,ork subbasin is partioularly well adapted to the production of
fruit, esp_ciaIIy apples, Peaches, cherries, pears, and other fruits are
produced i~~e\more protected areas. The acreage of land used for the
prod',ctiop (If fruit is determined largely by local air drainage, or fre.edom
from fro8i'" during the growing season and the adequacy of the water supply
during the late sunnner months. Areas not adapted to fruit are generally used
in the production of livestock feeds.

Sources of agricultural production data and procedures have been discussed on
page 17. In addition, data were used from the USDA report, "Reappraisal
of Direct Agricultural Benefits and Project Impacts, Paonia Project,
Colorado, April 1957."

Agricultural Production

Annual data for crop acreages, production, and values were compiled for the
1943-60 period because satisfactory water-supply data were available for
that period only. Averages for 1943-49 and 1950-56 show trends within the
1943-60 period (table 24).

Fruit acreage ave~aged 13 percent of
while gross value of fruit harvested
gross value of all crops harvested.
of cropland harvested in determini,ng

the total acreage irrigated in 1943-60,
amounted to about 64 percent of the
(Irrigated pasture was not considered part
gross ~rop values.)

All hay acreage comprised about 33 percent of the irrigated acreage as in
1943-60, but accounted for less than 20 percent of gross crop values. Corn,
small grains, potatoes, beans, and sugar beets constituted smaller proportions
of irrigated acreages and gross values than all hay and fruit. Alfalfa hay
acreage accounted for the largest percentage of individual crops harvested,
amounting to about 23 percent. Average irrigated acreage of the North Fork
subbasin for the 1943-60 period has been estimated at 61,900 acres.

C~rrently, there are 58 Forest Service permits for cattle. Cattle number 8,327
head and usually graze from June 15 to October 15 for a total of 33,739 animal-
unit months. Sheep ranches have 49 permits to grazj'!, 35,318 sheep from July 1
to September 20 for a total of 18,263 animal-unit months.

But'eau of Land Management permits total 58 for cattle ranches headquartered
in the subbasin with 6,149 animal-uni,t months of grazing. Sheep permits number
9 for ranches headquartered in the subbasin with 7,964 animal-unit months of
grazing"

Number of cattle, tons of all hay, and acres of irrigated pasture are a few of
the items presented in table 25 for census years 1944-59. Numbers of cows and
heifers that have calved increased from 10,565 in 1944 to 12,050 in 1959.
Dm'ng the same period milk cows decreased in numbers from 3,403 to 2,303.
Therefore, beef cows and heifers, that have calved increased from 7,162 head
in 1944 to 9,747 head in 1959, while all hay produced in 1959 was 5,000 tons
less than produced in 1944 but still ample to meet the dry feed requirements of
livestock.

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