Colorado

Colorado State University and the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District are hosting a one-day seminar emphasizing potential agronomic and economic possibilities for producers along the South Platte Basin who facing diminishing water supplies. The seminar, "Agriculture with Less Water: Facing Drier Realities in the South Platte Basin," is slated from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, at the Tripointe Events Center, 3001 8th Avenue in Evans.

The event is free and registration for the seminar is not required; however lunch is available only by RSVP by Nov. 23. The seminar will outline reasons why irrigators in the South Platte Basin are facing a diminished water supply.

Don Ament, commissioner of agriculture in Colorado, will give the keynote address at lunch. Representatives from the cities of Aurora and Parker will discuss their municipalities' plans to meet future water needs with South Platte Basin water supplies. Colorado State University experts will discuss the potential economic and agronomic possibilities for livestock and crop producers who will have less water. A panel discussion with representatives from municipalities, the farming community, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Credit will outline water use issues facing agricultural producers in the South Platte River Basin.

Speakers include Joel Schneekloth, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension specialist in Northeastern Colorado; Danny Smith, professor in the university's Department of Soil and Crop Sciences; Roy Roath, professor in the university's Department of Rangeland Sciences; Gary Peterson, department head of soil and crop sciences; and Dennis Kaan, regional Colorado State Cooperative Extension specialist for the Golden Plains Area.

To RSVP or for more information, contact the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District at 970-330-4540 or kparker@ccwcd.org.