Seed is Here!
Springtime is a great time to seed, and our spring seed supply has just arrived.
We stock: Dryland Pasture Mix, Irrigated Meadow Mix, Forest Mix, Short Mix, Dura Turf, Ladak Alfalfa, Forager Alfalfa, Purple Top Turnips, Wildlife Mix, and Mountain Wildflower Mix.
You may spread seed as soon as the perennial snow has melted in the area you wish to seed. The temperature may not be right for germination just yet, but that is okay. It will germinate when the temperatures warm up. The important thing is that it will get wet now and break open the seed coat.
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Spring Fertilizing
If you are looking to boost your hay production, fertilizing may be the way to go. The links below will educate you on the benefits, considerations, and drawbacks of fertilization.
Fertilizing Mountain Meadows
Joe Brummer’s Lecture on Irrigation Managment & Fertilizing
Economic Impact of Applying Nitrogen to High Elevation Grass Hay (worksheet to calculate economic benefit)
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Tree Seedling & Perennial Sales
If you are still looking to get tree seedlings or perennials, there is a chance that you may still be able to get some. Many species have already sold out, but not all of them.
Call or email Katlin at 970-531-0127 or middleparkcd@gmail.com to check availability of the species/sizes you desire.
The order form below will give you an idea of the prices, but please do not send it in without first checking on the availability with me.
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Tire Tanks For Sale
Tire tanks are an alternative to traditional metal stock tanks for landowners trying to water their stock or wildlife. Tire tanks are made from recycled heavy equipment tires that no longer provide safe driving conditions for operators. In addition to being large and durable, these tanks are freeze-resistant, self-thawing, and rust-free.
12 foot tanks: $895* , ~2100 gallon capacity
10 foot tanks: $750* , ~1535 gallon capacity
8 foot tanks: $500*, ~1040 gallon capacity
*Prices include sales tax
Contact us to buy one! 970.724.3456
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Polyacrylamide (PAM)
PAM, also known as Polyacrylamide, is a safe alternative to seal your leaky ditches. When dumped into murky ditches, the white granules dissolve and become a slimy, snotty substance that binds to the sediment in the water. As the sediment settles to the bottom of the ditch, the PAM lines the ditch and seals all the crack and crevices. It must be noted that PAM will only work if their is sediment in the water for the PAM to bind to; if the water is too clear, PAM will not work. The best time for application of PAM is in the spring just as you turn the ditch on for the season.
Application rate of PAM is 10lbs to the acre (imagine 10 lbs of sugar on a football field). Click here for an Acreage Chart for Ditches
The MPCD has PAM for sale in 15 lb jugs for $110, 5 lb bags for $35, and 1 lb bags for $7.
Contact us at 970-724-3456 to buy some.
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April Snow Report
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Kremmling Field Office snow surveyors Mark Volt and Derrick Wyle took the April 1 snow survey measurements during the last days of March. Snowpack for Middle Park and the upper Colorado River Basin stands at 89%. We were at 103% last year and only 58% back in the drought year of 2012.
Lack of snowfall and warm weather during March, which is usually our snowiest month, has melted all of the valley snow and most of the mid-elevation snow up to 8,500 feet. Snow density is averaging 30%, which means that for every foot of snow there are 3.6 inches of water and that’s about normal for April 1st.
From this point on, spring runoff will be highly dependent on melting conditions (i.e., temperature and wind), as well as additional spring snow accumulation and/or rainfall. It would take several good snowstorms to put us back up to average at this point in time! Irrigators, water users and river runners should anticipate lower stream and river flows for the upcoming summer.
For further information, including real-time snow and precipitation data for SNOTEL (automated Snow Telemetry) sites, visit http://www.co.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/index.html.
COMPLETE April Snow Report
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Wildfire Season Outlook 2018
As we all know, this winter was pretty dry, and the April Snow Report (to the left) confirms that we are drier than normal.
At the Governor's Wildfire Outlook Briefing held Friday, Mike Morgan of the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, explained that the current models predict a higher than average core fire season (between Memorial Day to Labor Day). In fact, they are predicting the worst fire season since 2012-2013.
During the Briefing, it was noted several times that individual preparedness and personal responsibility are critical to wildfire prevention. Mike noted that the "overwhelming majority" of wildfires are human-caused. Thus, we should all be more proactive and vigilant this summer when it comes to our actions and wildfire risks.
Additionally, it is important to take actions around your own home to help mitigate for wildfire. You cannot rely on the the firefighters alone to save your home. In fact, firefighters will often choose which homes to protect based on their structure triage assessment prior to an impending wildfire. The more actions you take to create defensible space and prepare your home, the greater likelihood the firefighters will choose your house to protect.
Check our the guide below for tips on preparing your home and property for wildfire.
Ready, Set, Go! Guide
Video of the Governor's Briefing
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Cheatgrass and Noxious Weed Outlook
According to Amy Sidener of Grand County Natural Resources, drier conditions this summer may exacerbate noxious weed issues throughout the county. Noxious weeds, by nature, flourish in conditions that place undue stress on natives. Such conditions include hotter, drier temperatures. Noxious weeds also tend to sprout early, grow fast, and out-compete natives for space and resources.
Accordingly, be prepared for a bad noxious weed season and keep an eye out for early signs of infestations.
Cheatgrass, or Downy Brome, is one species that may already be emerging. Cheatgrass is most easily identifiable when it is mature and has gone to seed. It has drooping seed heads that have a purplish hue and are easily embedded in clothing and animal fur. Nevertheless, you may still be able to identify emerging cheatgrass seedlings by looking at the leaves. Young seedlings will have hairy, or downy, leaves.
Though cheatgrass can be controlled by mechanical means, hand pulling, and grazing (at specific stages of development), chemical control is most effective. Amy recommends using Glyphosate (Roundup) at rates of up to 16 oz per acre. Keep in mind that Roundup is non-selective; thus, you must be careful where you use it.
Because it finishes its life cycle early in the growing season and is highly-flammable, Cheatgrass is a wildfire hazard, so be sure to manage it!!!
Guide to Noxious Weeds of Grand County
Guide to Noxious Weeds of Summit County
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Wildfire Mitigation Tax Subtraction
(Source: Income 65 FYI, Colorado Department of Revenue's Tax Division)
For the record, I know this information is coming a bit late, but hopefully it is helpful for late filers and for future years.
Individuals, estates and trusts may claim a subtraction on their Colorado income tax return for certain costs incurred in performing wildfire mitigation measures on their property in a wildland-urban interface area within Colorado.
The subtraction is equal to either 50% or 100% of the qualifying costs for performing wildfire mitigation measures. The total subtraction a taxpayer can claim per tax year is limited to $2,500.
WHO CAN CLAIM THE SUBTRACTION?
The wildfire mitigation measures subtraction is available to taxpayers who meet certain qualifications and who perform wildfire mitigation measures on their property in a wildland-urban interface area within Colorado. In order to qualify, the taxpayer must be an individual, estate, or trust. Corporations, partnerships, and similar legal entities cannot claim the subtraction. The taxpayer must also be an owner of record of the private land upon which the mitigation measures are performed, but such ownership may include various ownership interests described below.
Wildfire Mitigation Tax Subtraction Info
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'Water Law in
a Nutshell' Workshop
‘Water Law in a Nutshell’ is presented by Aaron Clay, Attorney of Law and former Water Referee for the Colorado Water Court, Division 4. The seminar is an all day event from 8am to 5pm and includes discussions on appropriation, perfection, use, abandonment and enforcement of various types of water rights and ditch rights. Further discussion may also include special rules for groundwater, public rights in appropriated water, and federal/interstate compacts.
We welcome EVERYONE, including landowners, realtors, water district employees, and anyone else interested in water law.
Friday, August 24th, 2018
8am-5pm
Shadowcliff Mountain Lodge, Grand Lake
Cost: $52/pp, lunch and snacks included
Registration Deadline: August 10th
Realtor Continuing Ed Credits Available!
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CAMP
ROCKY
JULY 8 - 14, 2018
DIVIDE, CO
Camp Rocky is an educational, week long residential camp for kids 14-19 years old who enjoy the outdoors and are interested in natural resources!
Camp is located outside Divide, Colorado. Camp Rocky’s professional staff helps participants learn about their environment through hands-on experiences. Students work in teams, making newfriends from across Colorado.
Each year, new and returning students choose one of the following resource fields for their area of focus:
Rangeland Science
Forestry Management
Soil and Water Science
Fish and Wildlife Management
At the end of the week, students will use their group learning plan to complete a management project. Additional camper activities include volleyball games, hiking, a campfire, group challenges, nightly natural resource presentations, and a talent show!
Scholarships may be available through the Middle Park Conservation District. Contact Katlin at 970-724-3456.
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When to Turn the Water On
In dry years like this year, when there is a lot of uncertainty about how much water irrigators will have to grow their crops, the question becomes,
HOW EARLY IS TOO EARLY TO TURN THE WATER ON?
Mark Volt, MPCD District Conservation Technician, says, "Cold, Wet Water is BETTER than Warm, Dry Water."
Joe Brummer, a professor of Soil and Crop Sciences at CSU, concurred with Mark Volt when he gave a presentation at Mountain Meadows Hay Day last summer. Joe said...
A thin layer of water spread over the ground will act as a lens, causing the soil to quickly warm and essentially "irrigate the frost out of the ground".
When water continues to flow over the ground at night, it insulates the ground, thus protecting it from freezing and re-thawing the next day.
Turning water on early can jump start growth by up to two weeks allowing for earlier spring grazing, earlier haying, and more fall regrowth.
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Lessons from Africa
As many of you know, my mother and I recently returned from a 35-day trip to 6 different countries. We visited England, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Switzerland, and Iceland.
Highlights for me were:
- Seeing the all the African wildlife (including the BIG 5 in Kenya/Tanzania and mountain gorillas in Rwanda)
- Meeting so many amazing African people
- Learning about the 1994 Rwandan genocide in which over a million people died in just 100 days
- Seeing the Sphinx Observatory in Switzerland on a clear day
- Seeing the sights around Iceland
We definitely had an amazing time, but we also learned some great lessons too (especially related to agriculture and ranching).
We usually have a pretty good source of feed year-round, whether it is pasture or hay. At least, we do not have to walk miles upon miles every day with our stock in search of food.
At least here in Middle Park, we do not have that bad of a fly problem. In rural Kenya, the flies to HORRENDOUS!!!!! And, they not knot have the means or knowledge to control them.
Our brands are small and unobtrusive. In Masai land, the brands go from nose to tail (see photo below).
We have it easy when it comes to wildlife issues. At least we do not have prides of lions, packs of hyenas, wandering cheetahs, roaming leopards, and herds of elephants to deal with.
Our corrals and fences are distinctly different. In Kenya, their fences are made of dried up acacia branches. Yes, the thorns are dangerous and will keep the lions at bay, but fence maintenance requires full-plated armor.
Our stock are huge compared to theirs, but ours would never last in the heat r lack of food.
Refrigeration is a blessing. Food, of course, is the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to refrigeration. However, many vaccines also require refrigeration. Fortunately, the government comes and administers any perishable vaccines for them.
When you have to sell an animal to buy literally ANYTHING, you start to reconsider what you really need in life.
Our homes are like mansions. First of all, they are not made of dried cow dung. Second, they are generally bigger than 10'x10'.
Thank God for cars, trucks, and trailers. In Africa, they carry all their water, food, farm products, and even their babies on their heads, backs, and bicycles.
Our biggest issue as Americans is the level of undue stress our culture has created and become accustomed to. We get caught up on the stupidest and most insignificant things. We have life easy, but it would be a lot easier if we let go of all the nonsense we create for ourselves....AND, YES, I AM TALKING TO MYSELF TOO!!!!
 
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