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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I nl'i ~ 'I ? 1 u d .1.:_.:J.. ~,. . were previously adjudicated, there are fewer than 2,000 acres of irrigated land on both reservations. Due to the lack of irrigated agricultural activity on the reservations, an effort was made to characterize agricultural production and production practices among non-Indian operators near the reservations' boundaries. A field survey of non-Indian farm operators near the reservation boundaries in La Plata and Montezuma Counties, Colorado was undertaken by Western Research Corporation and Boyle Engineering during late 1984 and early 1985. The purpose of the survey was to obtain information on the types of crops grown in the area, the yields that could be achieved with various crops, and the production practices necessary to sustain a viable agricultural operation. A copy of the questionnaire used in the field survey is attached as Appendix A to this report. A summary of the survey results with respect to cropping patterns and crop yields is depicted in Table 3-1. As shown in that table, almost 90 percent of the crops grown in the area in 1984 consisted of forage crops including grass hay, grass pasture, alfalfa and corn silage. Grass hay, pasture and corn silage are typically cultivated in support of local livestock activities, while much of the alfalfa 9rown in the region is exported. Dairy quality alfalfa, which is high in protein, is often shipped as far as southern California and Arizona. Exports of alfalfa have been high in recent years due to poor crops in other southwestern states. Most of the other irrigated crops grown in proximity to the reservations are small grains, with some small acreages in fruit and potatoes. The small grain crops consist primarily of wheat and oats while the fruit crop consists primarily of apples. 15 - . di .-:l:,