In Explore… Irrigating hayland in Colorado
Hayland is a water-intensive crop that faces a major challenge when irrigation restrictions are in place. However, understanding when alfalfa or other grasses need moisture the most can greatly help you schedule applications to maximize limited amounts of water.
Colorado farmers and ranchers expect to harvest 710,000 acres of alfalfa hay this year, down 20,000 acres from 2019. They also expect to harvest 700,000 acres of other hay in 2020, down 30,000 acres from last year. Alfalfa production is forecast at 2.13 million tons, down 21 percent from the 2.70 million tons produced in 2019.
The soils are predominantly the Fuertes series. The Fuertes series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils that formed in fine-loamy alluvium derived from derived from granite, gneiss, and mica schist. Fuertes soils are on stream terraces. Slopes range from 0 to 2 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 10 inches and the mean annual air temperature is about 41 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Oxyaquic Argiustolls
For a detailed description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/F/FUERTES.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/see/#fuertes
In Explore… Irrigating hayland in Colorado
Hayland is a water-intensive crop that faces a major challenge when irrigation restrictions are in place. However, understanding when alfalfa or other grasses need moisture the most can greatly help you schedule applications to maximize limited amounts of water.
Colorado farmers and ranchers expect to harvest 710,000 acres of alfalfa hay this year, down 20,000 acres from 2019. They also expect to harvest 700,000 acres of other hay in 2020, down 30,000 acres from last year. Alfalfa production is forecast at 2.13 million tons, down 21 percent from the 2.70 million tons produced in 2019.
The soils are predominantly the Fuertes series. The Fuertes series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils that formed in fine-loamy alluvium derived from derived from granite, gneiss, and mica schist. Fuertes soils are on stream terraces. Slopes range from 0 to 2 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 10 inches and the mean annual air temperature is about 41 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Oxyaquic Argiustolls
For a detailed description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/F/FUERTES.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/see/#fuertes