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Guide to Rural Living - Colorado State University Extension of PDF

53 Pages·2013·8.72 MB·English
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Gunnison County Guide to Rural Living photo courtesy of Sandra Guerrieri T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S An Introduction to Rural Living Page Code of the West 5 Managing Small Pastures 6 Colorado Noxious Weed Law 7 Agricultural Property Tax 8 Water Quality 10 Agricultural Water Quality 12 Water Rights 13 Water Disposal Systems (Septic) 15 Water Conservation 17 Colorado Fence and Trespass Law 18 Right to Farm and Agricultural Safety 20 Agricultural Safety 21 Open Burning 22 Wildfire 23 Soils and Soil Testing 24 Hay Production (quality, purchasing, management, etc.) 26 Living with Wildlife 28 Livestock 31 Beef Cattle 31 Brand Inspection 33 Horses 34 Chickens 36 Pigs 37 Sheep 38 Goat 39 Waste Management 40 Plant Selection 42 Gardening at High Altitude 43 Home Storage of Foods 44 High Altitude Food Preparations 46 Food Safety and Storage 48 Alternative Agricultural Enterprises 49 Mapping Resources and Emergency Preparedness 51 Local Resources 52 A G u i d e t o R u r a l L i v i n g Code of the West Colorado State University Extension and our partners are here to help you improve your rural life- style and maintain the values and views that appeal to you about country living. Western Colora- do’s diverse landscape creates both challenges and opportunities for a lifestyle that suits your needs. Understanding the limitations created by the amount of precipitation you receive, the ele- vation, and the soils that occur on your property will help you set realistic goals for managing your lifestyle. Having a plan will help you spend more time enjoying your wonderful surroundings and improve the quality of life for your family. The unwritten code of the west isn’t so unwritten anymore. It was first documented in 1934 when Zane Grey wrote “The Code of the West.” To this day, the same values of integrity, honesty, stew- ardship, and self-reliance guide our actions like those rugged individuals who first attempted to settle this land with their families. Consider the fact that the nearest emergency services may be more than 15 miles away, or that the road you’re driving on today might be im- passible when severe weather strikes tomorrow. Being pre- pared for daily life takes on a whole new meaning when you live in a rural area. Recognize that your route to work may be a cow or sheep herding route during certain times of the year where you might literally spend your day counting sheep! These things may be challenges to some folks, but the fact is, this is part of rural living and it’s what likely drew you here in the first place. That and the friendly wave be- tween you and your neighbors as you pass each other on the road each morning. Being neighborly is a two-way street; the fence you help mend today might be good pay- ment for the snow that’s plowed during a fierce blizzard that helps keep your driveway open next winter. Rural residents who come together often have more success as a commu- USDA photo by Jack Delano nity than those who go it alone. Working collectively to com- bat noxious weed infestations will help save money and improve the stewardship of our resources. This publication is provided as a brief introduction to considerations for living on your rural proper- ty and offers a variety of available resources to help you achieve your property objectives. In the upcoming pages you will be exposed to information compiled from experts throughout our com- munity to help you reach the goals you have set for your rural lifestyle. 5 A G u i d e t o R u r a l L i v i n g Managing Small Pastures Small pastures are particularly susceptible to overgrazing. Overgrazing often occurs when there are too many grazing animals on the pasture for too long. It can also occur when animals are al- lowed to re-graze the pasture before they are ready for grazing. Many people overlook the im- portance of managing these pastures, but with a little planning you can save money by maximiz- ing the amount of healthy forage you produce on your land. Matching the vegetation of your pasture to your land management objectives and your site will ensure successful grazing. Grazing practices can alter the composition of a pasture. Practicing basic range or pasture management principles is important. A general rule of thumb for small pas- tures is to adhere to the “take half and leave half” principle. The idea is that by only grazing one- half of the available and desirable forage and leaving one-half for re-growth, the existing plant community is sustainable. By not grazing too much of a plant, the plant is allowed to re-grow and replenish its energy root reserve. A second management principle is grazing time. Grazing too early in the spring does not allow the plant to replenish its energy reserves, and consequently, it cannot re-grow as fast as other un-grazed grasses. Impacts on a plant from grazing vary through- out the year and growing season. Plants are most severely affected from grazing during seed for- mation when they need maximum energy to produce seeds. Grasses grazed while dormant are not as adversely affected because the plant has already stored its energy for the following spring. There is no standard reference on the amount of available forages for different pastures in the in- termountain west. In order to know exactly how much production is occurring on your plot, clip a small area that is representative of the pasture and weigh it after allowing it to air dry. Typically, grazing animals need 2-3% of their body weight of air-dried forage daily. Tips for Improving Small Pastures and Encouraging More Grasses  Do not impact grasses, reduce the severity of grazing or allow for longer rest periods.  Keep animals off pasture in the spring until there is eight inches of grass growth.  Use a rotating grazing scheme. Rotation grazing refines the “take half and leave half” princi- ple and lets you manage your pasture more intensively, increasing forage production.  Control your weeds. Many pastures that have historically been abused or allowed long-term rest will have more broadleaf plants and brush species than grasses. Applying a broadleaf herbicide suppresses the broadleaves and aids the grasses re-establishment of dominance.  In worst case scenarios where a pasture is severely overgrazed or weedy, renovation or re- seeding may be needed. Reseed with a mixture of grass plants. Resources: Colorado Forage Guide www.ext.colostate.edu/sam/forage-guide.pdf Livestock Management www.ext.colostate.edu/sam/livestock.pdf 6 A G u i d e t o R u r a l L i v i n g Colorado Noxious Weed Law In Colorado, agricultural and natural resources are protected by the Colorado Noxious Weed Act (35-5.5 CRS, 2003). This law requires landowners to manage undesirable plants, establishes a state-wide noxious weed list, and prioritizes management goals for the weeds on the A (eradication), B (containment), and C (control) lists, respectively. To manage undesirable plants, the planning and implementa- tion of a coordinated program that utilizes a variety of man- agement methods will be imposed. These integrated man- agement methods include biological control, chemical control, cultural control, mechanical control, educational opportunities, and preventive measures. The purpose of integrated unde- sirable plant management is to achieve healthy and produc- tive plant communities by the least environmentally damaging means. The noxious plants that occur in Colorado are any plants that have the potential to aggressively invade or threat- en economic crops or native plant communities; are poison- ous to livestock; harbor detrimental insects, diseases or para- Oxeye daisies at Steamboat Lake sites; and are detrimental to the environmentally sound manage- ment of natural or agricultural ecosystems. Basically, these plants are non-native, aggressive, and will out-compete desirable plants for resources such as moisture, sunlight, nutrients, and space. In addition, each county has its own specific noxious weed list and recommended management prescriptions. To obtain a list of the noxious weed species in your area, contact your local noxious weed coordinator, conservation district office, or CSU Extension agent. Effective weed management and reduction in weed populations can only be met when all persons involved are working together to achieve this common goal. Implementing sustainable land use practices, understanding the resources you have on your property and the weeds that occur, and implementing an integrated approach to noxious weed control will lead to successful weed man- agement on your land. This will help you reach your land management objectives, increase the vegetative diversity of your property, and help to reduce the cost of control over the long term. Resources: Colorado Department of Agriculture Noxious Weed Management Program www.colorado.gov/ag/weeds CSU Extension - Small Acreage Management - Noxious Weed Resources www.ext.colostate.edu/sam/weeds.html 7 A G u i d e t o R u r a l L i v i n g Agricultural Property Tax For property tax purposes, land must meet one of the following five requirements to qualify for ag- ricultural classification:  A parcel of land that was used the previous two years and is presently being used as a farm or a ranch, or is being restored through conservation practices. Such land must have been classi- fied or eligible for classification as agricultural land during the 10 years preceding the year of assessment.  A “farm” is parcel of land that is used to produce agricultural products that origi- nate from the land’s productivity, for the primary use of obtaining a monetary profit; i.e., crops that have been raised, harvest- AGWEB Photograph ed, sold or fed.  A “ranch” is a parcel of land used for grazing livestock for the primary purpose of obtaining a monetary profit. Livestock means domestic animals that are used for food for humans or ani- mal consumption, breeding, draft or profit. Pleasure horses are not considered as livestock. Thus, the keeping of pleasure horses does not qualify a parcel for agricultural classification un- less it is a breeding operation that is specifically intended as a profit-making enterprise.  A parcel of land is considered to be in the process of being restored through conservation prac- tices if the land has been placed in a conservation reserve program established by the Natural Resource Conservation Service pursuant to 7 U.S.C. secs. 1 to 5506, or a conservation plan approved by an appropriate conservation district implemented for the land for up to a period of 10 crop years.  A parcel of land that has at least 40 acres of forestland and that is subject to a forest manage- ment plan. The land must produce tangible wood products that originate from the productivity of the land for the primary purpose of obtaining a monetary profit. Land underlying any residence or other improvements used as an ancillary part of the operation is classified as agricultural land. A parcel of land that a) consists of at least 80 acres, or less than 80 acres if the parcel does not contain any residential improvements, b) is subject to a perpetual conservation easement, c) was classified as agricultural at the time the easement was granted, d) the easement was granted to a qualified organization, e) the easement is exclusively for conservation purposes, and f) all current and future uses of the land are described in the easement. This provision does not include any portion of land that is used for nonagricultural, commercial, or non-agricultural residential purpos- es. 8 A G u i d e t o R u r a l L i v i n g Agricultural Property Tax A parcel of land used as a farm or ranch if the owner has a decreed water right or a final permit to appropriated ground water for purposes other than residential use, and water appropriated under such right or permit is used for the production of agricultural or livestock products on the land. This provision does not include the two-year use requirement detailed in item 1. A parcel of land that was reclassified from agricultural to another classification and met one of the foregoing re- quirements during the three years before the year of as- sessment. The land need not have been classified or eligi- ble for classification as agricultural during the 10 years preceding the year of assessment. Zoning classification of the land parcel has no bearing on how a parcel is classi- fied for tax purposes. Colorado law requires that all par- cels be classified for tax purposes according to the prima- ry current surface use. To ensure that land is accurately classified and valued, the assessor may request an on-site inspection and/or addi- tional information such as the IRS 1040-F form filed in the previous year, grazing lease(s), or an agricultural land classification questionnaire. Any documentation provided to the assessor by the property owner is subject to confi- dentiality requirements as provided by law. CSU Photograph For additional information regarding property taxation procedures in Colorado, contact the Colora- do Division of Property Taxation at (303) 866-2371 or contact your local county assessor. Resources: Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA); Division of Property Taxation www.dola.state.co.us/propertytax Useful publications from DOLA online: - How Agricultural Land is Valued in Colorado - Classification and Valuation of Agricultural Property in Colorado 9 A G u i d e t o R u r a l L i v i n g Water Quality Water Quality Standards Today, the EPA is working harder to quantify and reduce sources of non-point pollution. This is primarily accomplished by encourag- ing or requiring people to engage in pre- determined best management practice (BMP). A variety of water BMPs are availa- ble through your local Colorado State Uni- versity (CSU) Extension Office. Drinking Water Quality For many people in Western Colorado, resi- dential drinking water is supplied by a munic- ipal water treatment plant. More information on this type of water treatment can be obtained from the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline, (800) 426-4791. However, there is no regulation for the quality of water from a private water system. In addition, if your drinking water comes from a private well, you are responsible for monitoring the safety of your own drinking water. Protecting your drinking water supply from contamination is important for health, to protect property values, and to minimize potential liability. The natural quality of well water varies from location to location because of the influence of local geology and soils through which the water is filtered and stored. Groundwater contamination can result from point sources, such as leaking underground fuel storage tanks, animal feedlots and septic systems. Landfills, abandoned mines and industrial discharges can also impact rural groundwater quality. Older, shallower wells are generally more easily contaminated than deeper wells dug with properly-installed casing and well cap. The appearance, taste or odor of water from a well or other source offers some information on ob- vious contamination, but chemical analysis is needed to detect most contamination in water. Ob- vious contaminants include silt and hydrogen sulfide, which can be detected by smell, but other contaminants such as bacteria and nitrate are colorless and do not have an odor. Two types of tests, bacteriological and chemical, can be used to assess water quality. Resources: Domestic Water Quality Criteria, CSU Extension Fact Sheet No. 0.513 www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/crops/00513.html 1 0

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