Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Wagner-Peyser Program (Employment Services)
All Program-Specific Requirements provided for the WIOA core programs in this section must be addressed for either a Unified or Combined State Plan.
e. 2. An assessment of the agricultural activity in the State means: 1) Identifying the top five labor-intensive crops, the months of heavy activity, and the geographic area of prime activity; 2) Summarize the agricultural employers’ needs in the State (i.e. are they predominantly hiring local or foreign workers, are they expressing that there is a scarcity in the agricultural workforce); and 3) Identifying any economic, natural, or other factors that are affecting agriculture in the State or any projected factors that will affect agriculture in the State
Current Narrative:
Assessment of Need:
The charts below, which are divided by region, address the following plan requirements:
- Review of the previous year’s agricultural activity in the state.
- Review of the previous year’s MSFW activity in the state.
- Projected level of agricultural labor employed in each of the crops identified. Estimate of the number of MSFWs involved in each, and indication of crop areas that experienced labor shortages.
- Projected level of agricultural activity expected in the state in the coming years, including any changes from last year’s crop activities.
- Projected number of MSFWs in the state in the coming years, including any changes in number of MSFWs involved in each crop activity.
The Colorado Agricultural Statistics 2017 report was used to obtain the data for each area in Colorado. Some employer interviews were obtained for data on smaller crops; however, while interviewing employers, some stated that they reduced their acreages or plan to use the same amount due to labor costs, supply costs, land and water shortages.
Northern Colorado (Brighton and Greeley)
Review of 2019 Agricultural Activity
| Crop | Onions | Beans | Sugar Beets | Carrots | Potatoes | Lettuce | Cabbage | Spinach | Broccoli | Corn Sweet Corn, Silage, Grain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acreage | 8,500 | 18,000 | 11,200 | 1,200 | 800 | 710 | 1,060 | 165 | 150 | 245,000 |
| Labor | ||||||||||
| Pre-harvest | 200 | 100 | 100 | 30 | 0 | 150 | 150 | 40 | 20 | 60 |
| Harvest | 900 | 50 | 50 | 100 | 100 | 330 | 300 | 160 | 60 | 300 |
| Months of Heavy Activity | Mar–Nov | Aug- Sep | May- Oct | Aug–Sep | Aug–Sep | Mar-Oct | Mar-Nov | June | Apr- Nov | July-Sep |
Total Agricultural Job Openings Received (including H2A) = 305
Review of 2019 MSFW Activity
| Crop | Onions | Beans | Sugar Beets | Carrots | Potatoes | Lettuce | Cabbage | Spinach | Broccoli | Corn Sweet Corn, Silage, Grain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Estimate | 1,100 | 100 | 100 | 130 | 100 | 730 | 950 | 145 | 80 | 520 |
| MSFWs Involved | 850 | 50 | 50 | 85 | 60 | 200 | 280 | 80 | 60 | 340 |
| Labor Shortages | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Est. Local Seasonal Population: 850
MSFWs Registered: 250
| HIGH | LOW | |
|---|---|---|
Migrant Worker Influx | 700 | 200 |
| Est. MSFWs in the Area | 1,500 | 800 |
Projected Level of Agricultural Activity for 2020-2024
| Crop | Onions | Beans | Sugar Beets | Carrots | Potatoes | Lettuce | Cabbage | Spinach | Broccoli | Sweet Corn, Silage, Grain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acreage | 2,0000 | 18,000 | 11,600 | 1,400 | 800 | 800 | 1100 | 140 | 150 | 260,000 |
| Labor Needs | 930 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 350 | 425 | 70 | 40 | 830 |
Projected Agricultural Openings = 700 per year
Projected Number of MSFWs in the Area = 1,600 per year
No changes are anticipated for traditional agriculture productivity in 2020. However, the current farm bill acknowledges Hemp as a farm commodity, and the number of hemp crops planted in these regions is expected to grow rapidly as a result. Colorado Hemp acreage has already doubled since the farm bill went into effect. No major changes are anticipated in agriculture productivity for northern Colorado for the next four years. Major crops, with the exception of sugar beets and corn, are expected to be planted and harvested using hand labor. Area crew leaders will handle most of the hand labor work for this area, and H2A workers will be utilized when U.S. Workers are not found. During interviews with seasonal growers in the northern Colorado area, they stated that crop production will remain the same barring unforeseen events.
Arkansas Valley (Lamar and Rocky Ford)
Review of 2019 Agricultural Activity
| Crop | Onions | Melons |
|---|---|---|
| Acreage | 500 | 1400 |
| Labor Used | ||
| Pre-harvest | 180 | 200 |
| Harvest | 300 | 300 |
| Months of Heavy Activity | Apr-Sep | Jun-Sep |
Total Agricultural Job Openings Received = 100
Review of 2019 MSFW Activity
| Crop | Onions | Melons |
|---|---|---|
| Labor Estimate | 630 | 315 |
| MSFWs Involved | 400 | 175 |
| Labor Shortage | YES | YES |
Est. Local Seasonal Population: 300
MSFWs Registered: 95
| HIGH | LOW | |
|---|---|---|
| Migrant Worker Influx | 420 | 33 |
| Est. MSFWs in Area | 500 | N/A |
Projected Level of Agricultural Activity for 2020-2024
| Crop | Onions | Melons | Mixed Vegetables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acreage | 150 | 1500 | 130 |
| Labor Needs | 50 | 365 | 50 |
Projected Agricultural Openings = 200
Projected Number of MSFWs in the Area = 400
Pueblo County
Review of 2019 Agricultural Activity
| Crop | Onions | Melons | Pumpkin | Chili |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acreage | 150 | 800 | 710 | 150 |
| Labor Used | ||||
| Preharvest | 160 | 160 | 60 | |
| Harvest | 80 | 300 | 160 | 20 |
| Months of Heavy Activity | Apr-Sep | Jun-Sep | Jun-Oct | Jul-Sep |
Total Agricultural Job Openings Received = 200
San Luis Valley (Monte Vista)
Review of 2019 Agricultural Activity
| Crop | Potatoes | Lettuce | Spinach | Carrots | Beets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acreage | 53,000 | 1,400 | 150 | 300 | 205 |
| Labor Used | |||||
| Pre-harvest | 100 | 150 | 5 | 10 | 20 |
| Harvest | 500 | 250 | 15 | 50 | 30 |
| Months of Heavy Activity | Sep-Oct | Jul-Sep | May-Oct | Aug-Sep | Aug-Sep |
Total Agricultural Job Openings Received = 300
Review of 2019 MSFW Activity
| Crop | Potatoes | Lettuce | Spinach | Carrots | Beets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Estimate | 2,900 | 1,400 | 300 | 300 | 200 |
| MSFWs Involved | 850 | 400 | 20 | 50 | 20 |
| Labor Shortages | No | No | No | No | No |
Est. Local Seasonal Population: 1,800
MSFWs Registered: 543
| HIGH | LOW | |
|---|---|---|
| Migrant Worker Influx | 1,800 | 300 |
| Estimated MSFWs in Area | 1,800 | N/A |
Projected Level of Agricultural Activity for 2020-2024
| Crop | Potatoes | Lettuce | Spinach | Carrots | Beets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acreage | 51,000 | 1,500 | 250 | 300 | 200 |
| Labor Needs | 600 | 400 | 60 | 60 | 20 |
Projected Agricultural Openings = 520
Projected Number of MSFWs in the Area = 1,200
No changes are anticipated for traditional agriculture productivity in the South East and South Central Colorado regions in 2020. We anticipate that in both regions a significant amount of Ag activity for PY20 year will be in the Hemp industry because hemp acreages in these areas have substantially increased.
Western Colorado (Delta)
Review of 2019 Agricultural Activity
| Crop | Onions | Corn (Sweet) | Cherries (Sweet) | Cherries (Tart) | Peaches | Apples | Hemp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acreage | 483 | 11,151 | 240 | 280 | 550 | 3,400 | 1,632 |
| Labor | |||||||
| Pre-harvest | 145 | 155 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 100 | N/A |
| Harvest | 175 | 175 | 100 | 50 | 50 | 50 | N/A |
| Months of Heavy Activity | Jul-Oct | Jul-Sep | July | Jul-Aug | July-Aug | Sep-Oct | Jun-Oct |
Total Agricultural Job Openings Received = 65
Review of 2019 MSFW Activity
| Crop | Onions | Corn (Sweet) | Cherries (Sweet) | Cherries (Tart) | Peaches | Apples | Hemp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Estimate | 320 | 281 | 25 | 35 | 235 | 150 | N/A |
| MSFWs Involved | 40 | 40 | 25 | 35 | 55 | 50 | N/A |
| Labor Shortages | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A |
Estimated Local Seasonal Population: 60
MSFWs Registered: 100
| HIGH | LOW | |
|---|---|---|
| Migrant Worker Influx | 20 | 0 |
| Estimated MSFWs in Area | 100 | N/A |
Projected Level of Agricultural Activity for 2020-2024
| Crop | Onions | Corn (Sweet) | Cherries (Sweet) | Cherries (Tart) | Peaches | Apples |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acreage | 500 | 12,000 | 240 | 280 | 550 | 3,400 |
| Labor Estimate | 320 | 300 | 25 | 35 | 250 | 200 |
Projected Agricultural Openings = 65
Projected Number of MSFWs in the Area = 600
Colorado continues to ranks 1st in the nation in the production of proso millet, which is used mostly in bird feed, but is also used in health food, due to the lack of gluten. Proso millet is popular because it has a short growing season and needs little water.
Colorado ranks 2nd in the nation for sheep production for 2019, with approximately 420,000 head of sheep.
One of Colorado’s largest crops is potatoes. Colorado ranks 6th in potato production. Projected acres for the 2020 planting season will remain stable.
2) Employers in Colorado cite a need for affordable farmworker housing and the availability of more workers that are skilled, willing and able to do farm work.
3) Factors affecting agriculture in Colorado are water shortages and low unemployment rate. Because of this it is difficult to find local, migrant and seasonal workers that are willing to work in the harvesting and packaging of fruits and vegetables.