Farmington Agricultural Science Center

The decrease in annual and crop growing season precipitation and the increase in temperatures might be translated into the increase in crop evapotranspiration demand versus reducing available water resources. Long-term average annual precipitation in the Four Corners regions is about 8” while crop water use is about 32” corn and 44” for alfalfa, 26” for potato. Small crop producers in the region are 100% relying on the streamflow of the San Juan, Animas, and LaPlata rivers and the commercial growers such as the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry and contractors use water diversion from the Navajo Lake with other functions. Limited available water resources under a decreasing trend of precipitation under changing climate, there is a call for more efficient and precise use of water in irrigated agriculture in the Four corners region. More...