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2.05.4(2)(e) -3). They gave us their estimates of first cutting crop yield for irrigated cropland in the <br />Nucla area. Since these farmers had no practical way to weigh the bales, the reported yields were <br />based on non -dried bale weights. The approved standard for Irrigated Cropland (previously called <br />Irrigated Hayland) was the average 1st cutting yield from these three farmers. Based on this, a <br />1st cutting production of 1.84 tons per acre is the target yield at New Horizon Mine. No drying is <br />done for attaining this standard since none was done by the 3 farmers used to determine their <br />yields which is the basis of their letters and consequently the basis of the standard. Drying was <br />employed to determine the 1987 data collected, shown in Table 2.05.4(2)(e) -4, but this data was <br />not used to determine the standard of 1.84 tons per acre. The farmer letters in Attachment <br />2.05.4(2)(e) -3 were the basis for the standard. During the 1999 baseline vegetation survey (Sec. <br />2.04.10) the average yield for all pastures was 2.00 tons /acre. The yield ranged from a high of <br />4.26 tons /acre for highly managed alfalfa to a low of .57 tons /acre for unirrigated grassland. 1999 <br />was a very wet year in western Colorado (177% of normal for 1999 to date, NRCS San Miguel <br />Basin Precipitation Data) and could explain the slight increase in overall production (2.00 tons /acre <br />vs 1.84 tons /acre). Therefore, the 1.84 tons /acre is the standard applied to Irrigated Cropland. <br />Only the 1' cut of the filed will be measured against this standard. <br />For a quality standard, the following is proposed: <br />At least 85% of the relative production will be comprised of alfalfa, and no more than 1 % relative <br />production will be comprised of permit listed noxious weeds. For the purpose of this <br />demonstration, at statistically adequate production sample of at least 15 clipped quadrats will be <br />taken from the cropland bond release block just prior to the first cut harvest, with alfalfa and <br />county listed noxious weeds bagged, oven dried, and weighed separately from other species. <br />Alternatively, the quality standard can be demonstrated based on a written evaluation from visual <br />assessment by a qualified vegetation or agronomy professional, stating the professional opinion <br />that alfalfa production in the subject bond release block is at least 85% of the total vegetation <br />production, and noxious weed component is less than 1 % of the total vegetation production. The <br />statement of professional opinion will be accompanied by a signed statement of concurrence from <br />the landowner. <br />(Revised: PR -06) 2.05.4(2)(e) - 45 <br />