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RUG 17 '92 12:21 HHF 475 P08 3457 Statement of Qualifications Colorado Water Conservation Board Aqricultural Economics/Aqronomics * economic and financial analysis of irrigated agriculture, * enterprise analysis economic feasibility of farming alternatives * cultural aspects of crop production, * agricultural product harvesting, storage and handling, * soil fertility and plant nutrition, * integrated pest management, WorkshoDs and Training * presentation of courses and workshops on irrigation design and water management, * agricultural training programs nationally and internationally for universities, Peace Corp, USAID, etc., * preparation of training publications and manuals, * yearly crop workshop for farmers. ReDresentative proiects A few of the AGRO projects, pertinent to the Ft. Lyons study, are summarized below. AGRO typically works with San Luis Valley extension and research ~ersonnel and the Soil Conservation Service (SCS). Currently, AGRO LS involved on the technical advisory team for the San Luis Valley Water Quality Demonstration Project which involves reduction of environmental contamination from irrigation through "best management practices". From 1988 through 1991, AGRO performed various studies to assess the economic implications of irrigated agricultural development on the BACA Grant (AWDI case), and to assess the costs of developing water resources for both municipal and agricultural uses. The studies included development of the short and long term financial costs and benefits of developing and operating the agricultural project. The lands to be farmed and methods of farming were selected based on financial and environmental considerations. A number of alternatives were analyzed, and sensitivities to market variations were studied. AGRO has developed a crop consumptive use system that integrates technical calculations with hands on use by farmers. AGRO maintains a weather station from which daily data is entered into a consumptive use program for each field that is being served by AGRO. Based upon the soil, crop, crop growth pattern, water holding capacity, root zone, etc., the daily water requirement is calculated for each field. The farmer then calls, through a computer mOdem, to the AGRO computer; enters how much rain occurred (if any) and the amount of irrigation water applied, then the water requirement for the next day and several days is determined. 4