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<br />OihlZo5 <br /> <br />Richard o. La~ <br />GovernOr <br /> <br /> <br />AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION <br /> <br />Clarence Stone. Center <br />Chairman <br /> <br />J. Evan Gou Iding <br />Cammissioner <br /> <br />William A. Stephens. Gypsum <br />Vice-Chairman <br /> <br />January 9, 1979 <br />79-08 <br /> <br />Ben Eastman, Hotchkiss <br />John L.. Malloy, Denver <br />M. C. McConnit:.k': Holly <br />Elton Miller. F()rt Lupton <br />Kay O. Morison, Fleming <br />William H. Webster. Greelev <br />Kenneth G. Wilmore, Denver <br /> <br />Donald L. Svedrnan <br />Dttouty Corrrnis5ioner <br /> <br />COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE <br /> <br />.06 STATE SERVICES BUIL.DING <br />1525 SHERMAN STREET <br />DENVER. COl..ORADO 80203 <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />II <br /> <br />TO: Bill Smith, Division of Water Resources <br />FROM: David Carlson, Resource Analyst ~ <br />SUBJECT: Comments on Structure of High Plains Study <br /> <br />The proposed set of Alternative Development (Management) <br />Strategies do not appear to contain strategies of gradually <br />returning to a higher percentage of dryland farming, intro- <br />ducing new crop varieties and new crops to the High Plains <br />Region. For example, there may be a significant market for <br />high starch varieties of wheat suitable for alcohol production. <br />Plants such as guayule (which produces latex) and jojoba <br />(which yields a lubricating oil) are well-suited to semi- <br />arid climates and may have significant market potenital. <br />The Four Corners Regional Commission is currently review- <br />ing a proposal to grow test plots of milkweed in Colorado <br />and Utah which yields a substance similar to petroleum. <br /> <br />I suggest that a series of "dry land farming" strategies be <br />developed independently of the irrigated strategies already <br />proposed, and that cost-benefit analyses for these strategies <br />be performed. For example, it would be valuable to be able to <br />compare public costs to develop and support a dryland "energy <br />farming" strategy to public costs to develop additional water <br />resources to achieve equivalent levels of economic well-being <br />in the study area. <br /> <br />I, <br /> <br />Although Alternative Strategy (1): Voluntary Water Demand <br />Management Strategy does mention "new crops and cropping <br />patterns aimed a t slowing the rate of groundwater withdrawals," <br />this strategy appears to irrigation-oriented and the dryland <br />opportunities may not be treated adequately. Again, it should <br />be stressed that dryland strategies are basically independent <br />of the range of proposed irrigation strategies. <br />