Narrative: e. 2.

Assessment of Need:   

The top five labor-intensive crops in Colorado are Potatoes with an estimated statewide acreage of 60,000 acres; the second highest crop is Onions with an estimated 10,200 acres of production. Rounding out the last three are Apples with approximately 3,400 acres, Greens including lettuce, cabbage, spinach, and collards take up approximately 2,800 acres and lastly Melons with 1,400 acres. 

Colorado farmworkers are predominantly from Mexico with a few coming from Guatemala and El Salvador. Some of our migrant workers come into Colorado from Texas, Arizona and New Mexico; with nationalities varying from the countries previously mentioned.  A few of our workers also include U.S. Citizens. The primary language spoken among our farmworkers is Spanish, with some indigenous languages and a small population of Karin speaking refugees working on the Western Slope. 

The number of MSFWs in Colorado varies during our peak season depending on crops and weather; we typically average between 4,000 to 5,000 MSFWs in the state. This includes approximately 2,400 seasonal workers. The other workers represent a combination of migrant workers from other states and H2A foreign workers on temporary visas. 

The charts below, which are divided by region, address the following plan requirements: 

1. Review of the previous year’s agricultural activity in the state. 
2. Review of the previous year’s MSFW activity in the state. 
3. 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. 
4. Projected level of agricultural activity expected in the state in the coming years, including any changes from last year’s crop activities. 
5. 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 

Total Agricultural Job Openings Received (including H2A) = 305 

Review of 2019 MSFW Activity 

Est. Local Seasonal Population: 850 

MSFWs Registered: 250 

Projected Level of Agricultural Activity for 2020-2024 

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 

Total Agricultural Job Openings Received = 100 

Review of 2019 MSFW Activity 

Est. Local Seasonal Population: 300 

MSFWs Registered: 95 

Projected Level of Agricultural Activity for 2020-2024 

Projected Agricultural Openings = 200 

Projected Number of MSFWs in the Area = 400 

Pueblo County 

Review of 2019 Agricultural Activity 

Total Agricultural Job Openings Received = 200 

San Luis Valley (Monte Vista) 

Review of 2019 Agricultural Activity 

Total Agricultural Job Openings Received = 300 

Review of 2019 MSFW Activity 

Est. Local Seasonal Population: 1,800 

MSFWs Registered: 543 

Projected Level of Agricultural Activity for 2020-2024 

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 

Total Agricultural Job Openings Received = 65 

Review of 2019 MSFW Activity 

Estimated Local Seasonal Population: 60 

MSFWs Registered: 100 

Projected Level of Agricultural Activity for 2020-2024 

Projected Agricultural Openings = 65 

Projected Number of MSFWs in the Area = 600 

Colorado continues to rank 1^st 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 3rd  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 6^th 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.