|
Click to listen to this article
|
By Helen Smith, Colorado Potato Administrative Committee
Jeff McCullough is committed to being an advocate. As a fourth-generation farmer, potato grower and San Luis Valley, Colorado native, he is a firm believer in the way of life that agriculture can offer. He has set ambitious goals for his own operation and was recently appointed to the Colorado Ag Commission.
His roots in agriculture started with his great-grandfather, who began farming in the San Luis Valley in the late 1930s or early 1940s. The farm grew potatoes with a barley rotation. This practice was continued until the early 2000s, when a transition to cover crops instead of barley was made due to drought.
Today, McCullough continues to grow approximately 1,600 acres of russets in the San Luis Valley, along with being a co-owner/operator of The Spud Seller, a warehouse that has been operating out of Monte Vista, Colorado, since 1987 with his father, Lynn.
Challenges
While he has a deep appreciation for agriculture and the San Luis Valley way of life, he also recognizes that there are significant challenges facing the community as a whole. He cites water and labor as being two of the most significant issues that growers are currently facing.
Water is an issue that affects not only area producers, but the entire community. Due to the limited water supply from prolonged drought, San Luis Valley producers are adjusting their irrigation practices in order to help replace their depletions to the unique aquifer system that lies beneath the Valley floor through an effort known as sub-districts.
McCullough has set a goal on his own farm to put 20 percent more water back into the system than is used. This is a goal that has been met over the last five years. Each year, he begins with a water usage plan; he then makes adjustments according to how much attention certain sets of acreage may need. In addition, he has utilized a nematode reduction program that he believes has helped to improve the overall quality of the plants and soil.
Additionally, McCullough is making efforts to address labor challenges within his own operation. At The Spud Seller, new technologies have been implemented such as robotic palletizing. The result was a 50 percent reduction in manual labor. Other improvements at the warehouse include optical sorting and grading, which has also brought a significant increase in efficiency.
Collaboration
McCullough believes that producers in the area should not be afraid of change and moving to a new way of doing things.
“There is such a big hole to fill. We’re going to have to think outside the box,” he says.
He also believes that there is a need for producers to have openness and dialogue and a willingness to share conservation practices that are working. He sees collaboration as something that will be a crucial element to the success of agriculture in the San Luis Valley going forward.
He also sees a need for livestock producers and conventional farmers to find solutions that will be beneficial for both sides. One way he sees that happening is through an increase of growing cover crops that benefit both practices. He hopes to be a voice for the San Luis Valley during his time on the Colorado Ag Commission.
“We, as a community, need to find a way to come together and make sure that we can leave this valley in a place where it’s good for our kids and grandkids,” he said.
McCullough is optimistic about the future of the San Luis Valley, noting that he has seen producers and other community members do amazing things. This includes his 12-year-old daughter, Kollyns, and 10-year-old son, Colter, who actively organize a backpack/meals program for students who need assistance in the Monte Vista and Sargent school districts along with another family. The program has served 80,000 meals over the last four years and is looking to expand to other districts.
McCullough remains hopeful that his children will continue to learn the value of hard work and that they make a difference going forward. He has confidence that dedication and innovation will continue to carry the San Luis Valley way of life forward.
