Southern Colorado farmers hit with challenges after low snowpack, tariffs
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- Farmers across southern Colorado are producing fewer crops and struggling to break even following a historically challenging harvest season.
Severe drought conditions and rising operational expenses have limited regional agricultural output and strained farm budgets. Water shortages across the state have forced growers to cut back on crop acreage and eliminate smaller vegetable crops as water supplies dwindle.
“If you could write a horror story for farmers and try and figure out all the things that could go wrong, I think this would be the year that you would model it on,” Chad Franke, president of the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, said.
Industry representatives warn that reduced local supplies and higher transportation costs will eventually lead to increased grocery prices for consumers. Agricultural leaders described the current growing season as unprecedented in its difficulty.
Franke added that many farmers across Colorado are currently planting only a third of what they normally would. In addition to water shortages, growers face incidental added expenses, including tariffs on essential equipment.
“A lot of tires are produced overseas,” Franke said. “Again, you could have $10,000-$20,000 worth of tires on a tractor.”
Franke warned that if environmental and financial conditions worsen, the state could experience a significant shortage of farmers. Local growers are already feeling the direct impact on their fields. Shane Milberger owns and operates Milberger Farms in Pueblo.
“We eliminated some of our smaller vegetables,” Milberger said. “We cut back on some crops, less acreages of certain crops.”
Milberger noted that the challenging year has impacted the entire regional farming community.
“You can talk to any farmer out here and they can't wait for this year to be over because it has been very painful,” Milberger said.
Milberger emphasized that the need for a strong winter snowpack is dire, as existing water reserves continue to run out.
“If we don't get snowpack, there will be no [agriculture] next year because there is no water,” Milberger said. “Now we're running out of water. If next year's a drought, you will not see Pueblo Chile. You will not see Rocky Ford cantaloupe. You will not see pumpkins, local pumpkins in your grocery stores. You will not see local produce.”
Reduced local harvests mean grocery stores will have to import produce from outside the region, driving up costs for shoppers.
“It will trickle down into the consumer's pocketbook, meaning your product will be, in your produce department will cost more if they have to truck it in, it costs more if they have to bring it in, because they're short supply; it will cost more,” Milberger said.
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