Ag land increases locally, declines in La Plata County

Ag land increases locally, declines in La Plata County

Oct. 26, 2000

By Jim Mimiaga
Journal Staff Writer

An analysis of social and economic indicators for Montezuma County was released this month by Operation Healthy Communities, a think-tank organization dedicated to monitoring Southwest Colorado trends.

The report promotes "regionalism" by including, for the first time, Montezuma County statistics in comparison with La Plata, Dolores, Archuleta and San Juan counties plus the two Ute tribes.

The focus of Pathways to Healthier Communities is to inform decision-makers and the public on critical issues in the region.

Regarding agriculture, the report puts Montezuma County clearly up front along with Dolores County. From 1992 to 1997 figures show a general decline in the amount of lands in farms in La Plata and Archuleta counties.

Montezuma County meanwhile is showing steady growth, due in large part to the Dolores Project. Farmed lands in the county went from 834,000 to 935,000 acres in the five-year period, a 12 percent increase. And crop lands harvested went from 60,644 acres to 67,579 acres, an 11 percent increase.

La Plata County lost in agriculture production, slipping 1 percent in total farm acres (587,000 acres to 580,000 acres) and losing 6 percent in the harvested cropland category (44,460 acres to 41,995) between 1992 and 1997.

But more ag lands don’t necessarily translate into profits. Overall Montezuma County took a loss in farm and ranch revenues, according to the report, with expenses out-pacing income by $1.8 million in 1997. No profits were made in Montezuma County overall in agriculture since 1993.

Dolores County is the exception to the trend, and is the only county in the region that consistently produces a profit in agriculture, which in 1997 was $2 million.

The trend of subdividing farm lands was also highlighted in the report as a threat to open space, the environment, water resources and quality of life. This trend is especially taking hold in Archuleta County.

Other highlights of the report:

Employment in the county or the lack thereof stayed steady between 1994 and 1997, according to the report. The service sector contributed to the most jobs, a trend that is less than ideal as the industry is known for providing low wage, part-time or seasonal work with minimal benefits. Tourism-related jobs account for 38 percent of total employment for the county, while agriculture contributes 11 percent.
Unemployment in the county fluctuated between 6.8 percent and 7.2 percent from 1994 to 1998, according to the report. Statewide the unemployment rate is 3.8 percent. Those living in poverty in the county was estimated at 16 percent, or 3,648 people of Montezuma County’s total population, 22,800.
Drunk driving is on the rise for the five-county area, another problematic trend. The number of DUI citations issued between 1997 and 1999 for Montezuma County went from 93 to 112. Drinking while driving in La Plata County (population 41,896) was more significant, going from 165 citations in 1997 to 185 last year.
Access to health care is lacking in the area as a result of out-of-reach insurance premiums. The report cites a Colorado Medical Society study showing that in 1998 15 percent of the people in Montezuma County went without health insurance. That remains a critical community issue, the reports states.
Prenatal care for Montezuma County is on the upswing, with 27 percent of expecting mothers receiving medical attention for unborn babies in 1998, up from 20 percent in 1995. The number of teen pregnancies in Montezuma, La Plata and Archuleta counties fell between 1994 and 1998.

A public meeting on the report is planned Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. in the Calvin Denton Room.