Successfully farming in a hostile environment

摘要

US farmers in Colorado have a tough climate and high altitude to contend with. Cevey Pinnington and his family run 400 head of spring calving Aberdeen Angus-cross cattle on about 4000ha (10,000 acres) of dry land to the east of Denver, Colorado, at analtitude of just under 2000m (6400ft). Though beautiful, it's a hostile environment for growing anything, so stock is extensively grazed and the only commercial crops grown are hay and Alfalfa under one 120-acre and one 85-acre centre pivot irrigator. "We put up 8000-10,000 little bales for horse feed, and salvage any rained-on hay for our own use." Yields per acre range from 5.5-6t/acre in a good year to 4t/acre in a bad ' year, he adds.