SPUD GROWER FARMS
The McCullough family grows 1,600 acres of russets in the San Luis Valley of Colorado. Pictured from left are Jeff, Colter, Kollyns and Holly McCullough. Courtesy photo
Making a Difference in the San Luis Valley By Helen Smith, Colorado Potato Administrative Committee
J
eff McCullough is committed to being an advocate. As a fourth-generation farmer, potato grower and San Luis Valley, Colorado native, he is a firm believer in the way of life that agriculture can offer. He has set ambitious goals for his own operation and was recently appointed to the Colorado Ag Commission. His roots in agriculture started with his great-grandfather, who began farming in the San Luis Valley in the late 1930s or early 1940s. The farm grew potatoes with a barley rotation. This practice was continued until the early 2000s, when a transition to cover crops instead of barley was made due to drought. Today, McCullough continues to grow approximately 1,600 acres of russets in the San Luis Valley, along with being a
28 Potato Country • December 2023
co-owner/operator of The Spud Seller, a warehouse that has been operating out of Monte Vista, Colorado, since 1987 with his father, Lynn.
Challenges
While he has a deep appreciation for agriculture and the San Luis Valley way of life, he also recognizes that there are significant challenges facing the community as a whole. He cites water and labor as being two of the most significant issues that growers are currently facing. Water is an issue that affects not only area producers, but the entire community. Due to the limited water supply from prolonged drought, San Luis Valley producers are adjusting their irrigation practices in order to help
replace their depletions to the unique aquifer system that lies beneath the Valley floor through an effort known as sub-districts. McCullough has set a goal on his own farm to put 20 percent more water back into the system than is used. This is a goal that has been met over the last five years. Each year, he begins with a water usage plan; he then makes adjustments according to how much attention certain sets of acreage may need. In addition, he has utilized a nematode reduction program that he believes has helped to improve the overall quality of the plants and soil. Additionally, McCullough is making efforts to address labor challenges within his own operation. At The Spud Seller, new technologies have been