SPDSS_Task54-2_Agricultural Statistics Data Summary

• Title: SPDSS Task 54.2 - Agricultural Statistics Data Summary
• Description: This memo provides a summary of information obtained through the data collection process and recommendations to combine crops based on growing season and irrigation water requirements.
• Decision Support - Doc Type: Task Memorandum
• Date: 12/18/2000
• DSS Category: Consumptive Use
• DSS: South Platte
• Basin: South Platte
• Contract/PO #: C153954
• Grant Type: Non-Reimbursable
• Bill Number: SB01-157, HB02-1152, SB03-110, HB04-1221, SB05-084, HB06-1313, SB07-122
• Prepared By: Leonard Rice Engineering

SPDSS Memorandum
Final
To: Doug Stenzel, Ray Alvarado, Ray Bennett
From: Erin Wilson and Beorn Courtney, Leonard Rice Engineers
Subject: Task 54.2 -Agricultural Statistics Data Summary
Date: December 18, 2000
Introduction
The following is the objective of SPDSS Task 54:
Collect and digitize agricultural statistics data to use in historical irrigated lands
assessment. Develop recommendations for crop type categories to be used in each
county by the GIS contractors in developing the 2001 irrigated acreage coverage and
historical coverage's.
This memo provides a summary of information obtained through the data collection process and
recommendations to combine crops based on growing season and irrigation water requirements.
Approach
The following approach was taken to determine the primary crops that will be assigned to
irrigated acreage in the South Platte and North Platte River basins:
1. Collect and digitize State and Federal annual acreage and crop type statistics published
for counties in the South Platte and North Platte River basins for the period 1950 to 2002.
2. Use the agricultural statistics to characterize the changes in irrigated acreage and crop
types by county.
3. Develop recommendations for major crop types in each county for the development of
the 2001 GIS irrigated acreage coverage and historic coverages.
Data Collection
The Colorado Agricultural Statistics Service (CASS) produces the Colorado Agricultural
Statistics annual report ofuser-provided acreage and yield by crop type and by county. The
CASS data is available annually in a hard-copy printed report. The annual reports also include
revisions made to previous year statistics. The data is also available on-line at
www.usda.~ov/nass/ under the QuickStats button. The on-line data is regularly updated to reflect
revisions made to previous year statistics, therefore historic data retrieved for this analysis may
be different than historic data retrieved in the future.