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<br />Grand Valley Project
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<br />According to the 1969 Census of Agriculture, hay averaged 31 percent,
<br />corn 14 percent, improved pasture 17 percent, other field crops 7 per-
<br />cent, and sugar beets one percent of the irrigated area. In 1964, hay
<br />irrigated was 29 percent, corn 11 percent, improved pasture 23 percent,
<br />other field crops 5 percent, and sugar beets 3 percent of the irrigated
<br />area. The hay was almost entirely alfalfa or alfalfa-grass mixtures
<br />with an average yield of 3.1 tons per acre. Irrigated improved pasture
<br />in 1969 amounted to about 13,000 acres and 14,700 acreS of cropland used
<br />for pasture was irrigated. Corn and sorghum acreage has increased
<br />during the 1964-69 period. There has been a two percent increase in
<br />field crops irrigated, which includes small grains, silage, and field
<br />seeds. The total irrigated acreage has decreased during the 1964-69
<br />period from 108,000 acres to 77,100.
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<br />Fruit orchards have decreased from 5,910 acres in 1964 to 4,251 acres in
<br />1969. The number of farms declined from 235 to 211 in the five-year
<br />period (1964-69.)
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<br />Peach growers in Mesa County have decreased from 181 in 1964 to 160 in
<br />1969. In recent years, peach trees have shown a considerable reduction
<br />from 430,900 trees in 1964 to 269,800 in 1969. Production has declined
<br />in the 5-year period from 355,797 to 308,557 bushels. It must be realized
<br />that weather can reduce production in a given year by more than 80 percent.
<br />The 1942-60 average peach production was 1,108,441 bushels.
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<br />Other orchard crops in the order of importance are apples, pears, cherries,
<br />plums, prunes, and grapes. Average value of all fruit production in
<br />Mesa County during 1969 was an estimated $2,351,000 of which about 94
<br />percent is produced in the Grand Valley subbasin. Most of the land that
<br />is being shifted from orchards is going to subdivisions.
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<br />Commercial vegetable production averaged about 1,600 acres or 2 percent
<br />of the irrigated area. This acreage has been decreasing and in 1969,
<br />amounted to only about 600 acres. Tomatoes are the principal crop, but
<br />small acreages of sweet corn, dry onions, cantaloupes, and other vege-
<br />tables are produced for the local market. Commercial vegetable produc-
<br />tion is dependent upon the tomato canning plant in Grand Junction.
<br />Sales of commercial vegetables amounted to about $276,000 in 1969. This
<br />was $122,000 greater than the value of vegetable production in 1964.
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<br />Grazing use on federal lands is confined to the 540,970 acres of Bureau
<br />of land Management administered lands. This rangeland is generally used
<br />for early spring and late fall grazing. The 174,940 acres of private
<br />rangeland provide 15,940 animal unit months of grazing, and the irrigated
<br />pasture and cropland grazing provide about 94,000 animal unit months of
<br />grazing. The favorable cl imate and available feed supplies of the sub-
<br />basin have resulted in an increasing number of livestock being wintered.
<br />This is particularly true for sheep. There is also a small 1 ivestock
<br />feeding industry. In 1969 there were about 18,100 head of cows includ-
<br />ing heifers that had calved and about 52,400 head of sheep and lambs in
<br />this subbasin.
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<br />1637
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