GROWING SUGAR BEETS IN COLOEADO. 7 
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS. 
The c lim ate of Colorado is semiarid. To obtain maximum yields 
under semiarid conditions irrigation must be practiced. While it is 
possible to grow certain crops under dry-farming methods, some im- 
portant staples, such as the sugar beet, are confined entirely to the 
irrigated valleys (fig. 3). 
The three distinct areas in Colorado where farmers give consider- 
able attention to beet culture are in three more or less extensive 
drainage basins, namely, the South Platte River and its tributaries, 
the Arkansas Valley, and the western slope. This bulletin is con- 
cerned with the first two areas. Rocky Ford was selected as a typical 
area in the Arkansas Valley. Fort Collins, Greeley, and Fort Morgan 
are important beet-growing centers adjacent to and in the valley of 
the South Platte. 
Table II. — Average annual rainfall for three districts in northeastern Colorado and one 
district in the Arkansas ( Valley in inches) . 
Rocky Ford, 
Fort Collins, 
Greeley, 
1889-1908. 
1873-1908. 
1888-1908. 
Mean. 
Mean. 
Mean. 
0.32 
0.49 
0.34 
.34 
.52 
.37 
.68 
.98 
.81 
1.66 
2.23 
1.82 
1.92 
3.06 
2.61 
1.35 
1.59 
1.33 
2.76 
1.90 
1.80 
1.37 
1.21 
.97 
.78 
1 16 
.82 
.90 
1.02 
.82 
.46 
.33 
.33 
.44 
.32 
.25 
12.98 
14.81 
12.27 
4,177 
4,985 
4,639 
Fort Morgan, 
1889-1908. 
January 
February 
March 
April 
May 
June 
July 
August 
September 
October 
November 
December 
Total annual precipitation 
Elevation feet 
Mean. 
0.26 
.31 
.69 
1.77 
2.42 
1.75 
2.41 
1.56 
.70 
.80 
.30 
.29 
13.26 
4,338 
Precipitation and seasonal distribution of rainfall are much the 
same for the four counties. The major portion of the annual rainfall 
occurs during the growing season. Generally speaking, the rainfall 
for April, May, and June is somewhat lower at Rocky Ford than at 
the other points, which accounts partially for the fact that it is cus- 
tomary there to irrigate immediately after planting, whereas in 
northern Colorado the grower invariably counts upon starting the 
crop with the spring precipitation. 
The light rains which fall during July, August, and September do 
not benefit the crops greatly. In fact, they may do serious damage 
either by crust formation or by simply sprouting the seed without 
furnishing moisture enough for a satisfactory subsequent growth. 
The late fall and winter months are marked by few light rain or snow 
storms. The water which falls from November to March is probably 
sufficient one season in four to provide some moisture for crop 
production. When the winter rains are light, the fields remain hard 
