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~,~ ~ .:J ..-( 3 .,) .~ -" other field crops 5 percent, and sugar beets 3 percen-~ of the irrigated area. The hay was almost entirely alfalfa or alfalfa--grass mixtures with an average yield of 3.1 tons per acre. Irrigated improved pasture in 1969 amounted to about 13,000 acres and 14,700 acres of cropland used for pasture was irrigated. Corn and sorghwn acreage has increased during the 1964-69 period. There has been a two percent increase in field crops irrigated, which includes small grains, silage, and field seeds. The total irrigated acreage has decreased during the 1964-69 period from 108,000 acres to 77,100. Fruit orchards have decreased from 5,910 acres in 1964 to 4,251 acres in 1969. The number of farms declined from 235 to 211 in the five-year period (1964-69.) Peach growers in Mesa County have decreased from 181 i:Ol 1964 to 160 in 1969. In recent years, peach trees have shown a considerable reduction from 430,900 trees in 1964 to 269,800 in 1969. Production has declined in the 5-year period from 355,797 to 308,557 bushels. It must be rea- lized that weather can reduce production in a given year by more than 80 percent. The 1942-60 average peach production was 1,108,441 bushels. Other orchard crops in the order of importance are apples, pears, cherries, plums, prunes, and grapes. Average value of all fruit pro- duction in Mesa County during 1969 was an estimated $2,351,000 of which about 94 percent is produced in the Grand Valley subbasin. Most of the land that is being shifted from orchards is going to subdivisions. Commercial vegetable production averaged about 1,600 acres or 2 percent of the irrigated area. This acreage has been decreasing and in 1969, amounted to only about 600 acres. Tomatoes are the principal crop, but small acreages of sweet corn, dry onions, cantaloupes, 'lnd ot.1oe'( vege- tables are produced for the local market. Commercial vegetabU' produc- tion is dependent upon the tomato canning plant in Grand Junct.ion. Sales of commercial vegetables amounted to about $276,000 in 1969. This was $122,000 greater than the value of vegetable production in 1964. Grazing use on federal lands is confined to the 540,970 acres of Bureau of Land Management administered lands. This rangeland is generally used for early spring and late fall grazing. The 174,940 acres of privat.e rangeland provide 15,940 animal unit months of grazing, and the irri- gat.ed pasture and cropland grazing provide about 94,000 animal unit. mont.hs of grazing. The favorable climate and available feed supplies of t.he subbasin have resulted in an increasing number of livestock being wint.ered. This is partiCularly true for sheep. There is also a small livestock feeding industry. In 1969 there were about 18,100 he'ld of cows including heifers that had calved and about 52,400 he'ld of sheep and lambs in this subbasin.