CCA Releases CO Ag Water Survey Results

Colorado Cattlemen's Association (CCA) has released a report summarizing the results of a survey of irrigated agricultural producers about leasing water. CCA's Ag Water NetWORK initiated the survey, which was conducted to better understand the interests, concerns and perspectives of agricultural water right holders about the topic of ag water right leasing.

They received surveys back from at least 48 of the 64 counties in the state. Results showed that about two -thirds of the respondents expressed interest in leasing ag water and given a choice preferred leasing their water rights over selling by a 20:1 margin. CCA's Ag Water NETWORK Consulting Coordinator Phil Brink shares

Brink: "Farmers we have found are not favorable to selling — less than 2 percent expressed preference for selling over leasing. But when your back is against the wall and you have the banker calling, and calling your loan and you have low commodity prices and hail and other things; it becomes a very very tempting thing to sell your water to a municipality who is willing to pay you a very handsome fee for it. Farmers would prefer to farm — that was clear from the results that we got. So that is one of the take homes here is that they are looking for alternatives that will allow them to keep the farm but also to realize some diversification of income."

The report, entitled "2016 Ag Water Right Holder Survey Results," is available at http://coloradocattle.org/agwaternetwork.aspx. The mission of the Agricultural Water NetWORK is to help "keep ag water connected with ag land."