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BF5EEBB4D9897EBD87258750006AC4C6 Hearing Summary




PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For WATER EFFICIENCY IN AGRICULTURE

INTERIM COMMITTEE  WATER RESOURCES REVIEW COMMITTEE
Date Sep 14, 2021      
Location SCR 357



Water Efficiency in Agriculture - Committee Discussion Only


01:26:13 PM  
The committee reconvened.




Marc Arnusch, Colorado Farm Bureau, introduced his presentation and spoke
about his production farm.  He discussed the need for water and the
problems that agriculture is facing.  
01:43:02 PM  

Garin Vorthmann, Colorado Farm Bureau, discussed agriculture's position as a price-taker in the market.

01:43:23 PM  

Mr. Arnusch continued to discuss the scarcity of water in agriculture, including challenges with aquifer levels and changing river dynamics.  He spoke about his farm's irrigation technology and efforts to make it more efficient.

01:44:56 PM  

Mr. Arnusch spoke about how he is working to make his farm more sustainable and profitable.

01:48:52 PM  

Mr. Arnusch spoke about the competition for water in his community.  He spoke about the future opportunities and threats to water in agriculture, including water efficiency, sustainability, and surface water management.

01:58:53 PM  

Mr. Arnusch answered questions about farm labor shortages and how his steps towards efficiency has affected his labor needs.  He talked about the costs of the efficiencies he has put in place.  

02:01:14 PM  

Ms. Vorthmann spoke about what the General Assembly and the Department of Agriculture can do to help the industry.

02:11:15 PM  

Mr. Arnusch answered a question about how Colorado can create more farmers to take over existing farms and establish new farms.

02:13:09 PM  

Ms. Vorthmann discussed how a greenhouse farmer uses his water on a farm on the Western Slope.  She spoke about the opportunities of greenhouse farming and the water management that comes with greenhouse growing.  She answered a question about the scale of what greenhouse growing can be.

02:22:29 PM  

Mr. Arnusch answered a question about promoting efficiency and the potential for a water right allocation change.






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