Colorado drought affecting family-scale ranchers
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Colorado’s mountain snowpack supplies more than 70% of the state’s streams and reservoirs and has long been considered “money in the bank” for ranchers who depend on grasslands to feed livestock.
But after an especially dry winter, snowpack has dropped to an all-time low.
Courtney Mallery raises cattle, chickens, ducks, goats, hogs, sheep and turkeys with his wife at Freedom Acres Ranch east of Colorado Springs. He said he has to purchase alfalfa to feed his animals.
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"Grass prices are going up, as a result of grass not being replenished over this past winter like it's normally been," Mallery explained. "Gas prices are affecting travel to get the grass."
He noted they plan to limit herd growth in order to not overgraze the land. This year’s dry winter compounds with decades of drought across the Southwest. A heat wave in March produced record-high temperatures, and this April was the 14th-warmest on record. Even after recent rains and snowfall, 98% of the state is in extreme to exceptional drought.
Mallery pointed out independent ranches like Freedom Acres, which practice regenerative farming methods, are facing tough decisions. Unlike factory farms, where large numbers of animals are confined in tight quarters, family-scale ranchers rely on natural landscapes.
"Our products, from start to finish, are fed naturally and do natural things every day of their life," Mallery emphasized. "No hormones, no antibiotics, just grass and water and love."
Community is a founding principle at Freedom Acres. They bring inner-city kids out to learn where their food comes from and the ranch donates 5% of every sale to help underserved neighborhoods. Mallery noted one way Coloradans can support independent ranchers is by purchasing their products at farmers markets across the state.
"We have a farm store here on our ranch and we also have a website," Mallery underscored. "We also offer people to come out to the ranch and to see exactly what it is that we have going on here and what we're raising."
