Colorado Sweet Corn Farm Battles Drought, Pests, and Rising Costs

Mountain Quality Farms, a beloved operation in Colorado's Olathe Valley, has been battling the elements and rising costs this season. The farm, which is a collaboration of nine families growing sweet corn for decades, was initially warned that they would only receive 50% of their usual water allocation due to drought. This led to a reduction in planting from nearly 1,200 acres to around 600.

The drought hit hardest in March, when growers had to decide which land to allocate to corn and what to leave fallow. However, the monsoon season brought much-needed rain to the area, causing the corn to ripen all at once.

This has created a logistical nightmare for Mountain Quality Farms, as they struggle to harvest the crop quickly enough. Corn earworm has also been a persistent pest, cutting yields by about 30%. Researchers are studying whether warming temperatures are allowing certain insects to overwinter in the valley.