Colorado Sweet Corn Farmers Struggle with Drought, Pests, and Rising Costs

At Mountain Quality Farms in Colorado, owner Reed Fishering faces unprecedented challenges. The farm has been hit by drought, pests, and rising costs, making it uncertain whether they can survive. This season began with a warning from water users that only 50% of their usual allocation would be available, forcing the farm to reduce its planted acreage from nearly 1,200 to around 600.

The monsoon season brought much-needed rain, but also complications. The corn ripened all at once, overwhelming the farm's harvesting capacity. Fishering and his crew have been working 20-hour days to keep up with the harvest, starting as early as 3:30 am.

Corn earworm has cut yields by about 30%, and researchers are studying whether warming temperatures are allowing insects to overwinter in the valley. The sweet corn industry is crucial to the local economy, supporting equipment shops, pallet suppliers, trucking operations, and wholesalers across the region. However, growers have been struggling to make a profit due to inflation, rising input costs, and changing labor regulations.