Colorado Farmers Grow Rye to Conserve Water in Alpine Desert
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Farmers in Colorado's San Luis Valley are growing rye to conserve water in the alpine desert region. The Rye Resurgence Project, co-founded in 2023, has helped sell over 771,000 pounds of rye and involves over 100 partners across the state. The project's team is considering quinoa and millet as other potential low-water crops.
Facts First
- The Rye Resurgence Project encourages farmers to grow rye, which uses 10–12 inches of water per acre, far less than alfalfa or barley.
- The project has helped sell 771,409 pounds of rye at an average price of $0.62 per pound.
- Farmers are currently growing between 3,000 and 5,000 acres of rye per year through the initiative.
- The San Luis Valley is an alpine desert with about seven inches of annual rainfall and is the second-largest potato-growing region in the U.S.
- The project team is considering quinoa and millet as other potential crops due to their low water requirements.
What Happened
Sarah Jones and Heather Dutton co-founded the Rye Resurgence Project in 2023 to encourage farmers in Colorado's San Luis Valley to grow rye to save water. The valley is an alpine desert located above 7,500 feet with approximately seven inches of annual rainfall and is the second largest potato-growing region in the United States. Rye uses 10 to 12 inches of water per acre, whereas alfalfa requires 24 to 26 inches and barley requires 18 to 20 inches. Farmers are currently growing between 3,000 and 5,000 acres of rye per year through the project, which has helped sell 771,409 pounds of rye at an average price of $0.62 per pound.
Why this Matters to You
If you consume bread, flour, or sausage, you may soon have more local, sustainable options from Colorado. The project supports small mills and bakeries, like Gosar Natural Foods and Tumbleweed Bread, which operate outside the dominant system where 21 companies control 96.3 percent of total U.S. milling capacity. This could lead to more diverse, regional food products available to you. The shift to water-efficient crops like rye also helps conserve a vital resource in a dry region, which may contribute to more stable food production and prices in the long term.
What's Next
The Rye Resurgence Project team is considering quinoa and millet as potential alternative crops due to their low water requirements, suggesting the model for water conservation could expand. The project, which already has over 100 partners across Colorado including bakeries and mills, may continue to grow its network and influence. Jessica Larriva's nonprofit, Tomorrow's Bread, which donates whole-grain loaves to food-insecure Coloradans, could also expand its reach as more rye is produced.