View statistics and data of Boulder County open space agriculture lands.
Agriculture Statistics, Acres & Overview
Acreage Breakdown
| Land Type | Areas |
|---|---|
| Irrigated Cropland | 20,057 |
| Dryland Cropland | 4,933 |
| Range | 7,439 |
| Out of Production (Roads, ditches, buildings, wildlife habitat, other) |
1,882 |
| TOTAL | 34,311 |
Water Usage for Crops
| Crop | Acre Feet of Water Needed |
|---|---|
| Alfalfa | 2.5 |
| Beans | 1.32 |
| Corn | 1.8 |
| Sugar Beets |
2.12 |
| Grains | 1.5 |
| Vegetables | 1.5 – 3.0 |
Annual Report & Census Data
Agriculture Program Overview
Ongoing Management Practices
- Evaluating and exercising water rights, lining and maintaining irrigation ditches and reservoirs
- Installing center-pivot irrigation systems to cut water use in half and reduce soil erosion by 95%
- Fencing cropland and riparian areas to help achieve our livestock management goals
- Re-vegetating lands taken out of production and converting marginal cropland back to grassland
- Mapping properties using GIS to track and compare farm yields and efficiencies
- Combating noxious weeds
What Happens on Agricultural Lands
- 62 tenants
- 128 leases
- Over 90% of all crops grown end up in the food system
Crops Grown
- Alfalfa and Grass
- Wheat
- Barley
- Corn
- Sugar Beets
- Pinto Beans
- Sunflowers
Types of Production
- Conventional
- Certified Organic
- Regenerative Ag
- Organic Practices
- Non-Organic
- Agritainment
Soil Health Grants
In 2023, Parks & Open Space distributed nearly $200,000 to agriculture tenants to increase the adoption of soil health principles.
- 8 – compost projects
- 5 – cover crops
- 3 – mineral balancing
- 2 – livestock integration
- 2 – biochar application
- 1 – plant diversity
- 1 – no-till practice
- 1 – hedgerow
- Total Acres Improved: 3,097
In 2024, Parks & Open Space plans to award $450,000 to tenants to further increase the adoption of soil health principles. See the Soil Health Initiative for more information.
Guiding Documents
- Comprehensive Plan (Agriculture section starts on page 75)
- Cropland Policy
- Land Use Code for Agricultural Uses Flowchart