WSP03161

• File Number: 8276.150
• Description: Grand Valley Unit-Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 12/1/1976
• Title: Draft - Grand Valley Salinity Study
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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Table 3. - DISTRIBUTION OF TYPICAL CROPS
BY SIZE OF FARM UNIT

Crop

Average Size Unit

o rcha rd
Acres Percent of
Unit's Area

Part-t ime
Acres

Unit
Percent of
Uni t 's Area

Full-time
Acres

Unit
Percent of
Unit's Area

Apples 5
Peaches 5
Alfalfa
Irrigated
Pas tu re
Ba r 1 ey
Corn-Grain
Sugar Beets -

50
50

10

40

42

28

15

60

-

21
15
48
24

14
10
32
16

Totals

10

100

25

100

150

100

Little change occurs in cropping patterns over the years.

2 Fruit orchards have decreased from 5,130 acres in 1969 to 4,240 acres in

3 1974. The number of orchards declined from 393 to 343 in the five-year

4 period (1969-1974). Urbanization is the main reason for the dec1 ine

5 in orcha rd acreage.

6 Orchard crops in the order of importance are apples, peaches, pears,

7 cherries, plums, prunes, and grapes. Total value of all fruit pro-

8 duction in Mesa County during 1974 was estimated at $7,779,000 of which

9 about 94 percent is produced in the Grand Valley. However, it must be

10 noted that weather can reduce production by more than 80 percent in a

11 given yea r.

12 Levels of management in the Grand Valley are quite divergent and in

13 general, reflect the degree of profitability of the farm operatIon and

14 the efficiency of irrigation in the farming operation. Management

27