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In 1969, 40,000 acres (16,188 ha) of potatoes produced cash sales of almost $16,000,000, representing almost 47 percent of the total value received locally from all crops. The esti- mated 1974 value was $21,000,000. Potatoes are the only agricultural commodity in the basin other than barley with any form of promotion or marketing agreements. An administrative committee is appointed to promote and regulate potato pro- duction in Colorado, and an inspection committee is set up to oversee the qual ity standards or local production. Marketing agreements among local growers attempt to control the size, qual ity, and maturity of the crop. Most growers are also shippers and the shipments are made primarily by truck because of inconvenient rail service. Shipments are occasionally made to' points as far as Chicago or San Francisco, but more often to markets in Arizona, Louisiana and Texas. A national trend in the potato industry is moving rapidly toward processed potatoes and away from fresh or baker potatoes. Currently, the production of potatoes is almost exclusively for the fresh market with only very minor secondary starch production from culled potatoes. The regions with good processing facilities have comparative advantages over regions which do not. With only starch and small quan- tities of flake production, the basin is in serious competitive trouble. In 1971 it was thought that a processing plant would locate in the basin, but construction was not started. Barley has been increasing in importance. Most of the increased production has been malting barley grown under contract to breweries. About 90 percent of the barley produced has been for malting purposes, the other 10 percent grown for feed. Cereal grains (wheat, oats) are relatively unimportant in the basin. Hay is the number one crop in acreage. Alfalfa represents about 63 percent of the hay grown and wild hay 37 percent according to 1974 estimates. Value of production follows a similar pattern. Commercial vegetable production is concentrated in Costilla County. Spinach, cabbage and carrots are major products and they are exported throughout the nation by rail. Lettuce is becoming less significant because of competitive pressures from outside the basin. Adequate labor and migrant housing facil ities have been the most pressing local problems related to production. In the past a greater variety of vegetables were grown, but labor, market and other problems have caused a great reduction in both acreage and variety. 0034~9 V-19