Ludwig Farms is an irrigated farm with valuable water rights in the Horse Creek Basin near Rush Colorado. Located 40 minutes east of Colorado Springs, the farm is ideally located close to the front range of Colorado and the growing city of Colorado Springs.
There are 840 acres of level ground under 6 late model 7 tower pivots, including one towable, 360 acres of level dryland farm ground, and 320 acres of grass. The farm is operated organic.
Improvements include a 2,090 square foot modular home on a full basement with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Also, included are several supporting outbuildings including a 30×56 shop, 22×56 barn, 28×34 pole building, and a 16×27 storage building. There are two exempt domestic wells and a stock well.
The water rights are administered through the Horse Creek Water Users Association (HCWUA). Water is delivered through 5 high capacity irrigation wells permitte...
The water rights are administered through the Horse Creek Water Users Association (HCWUA). Water is delivered through 5 high capacity irrigation wells permitted for irrigation.
WATER RIGHTS
Adjudicated in Case No. W-1745, Water Division 2 in 1978, and subsequently included within the HCWUA plan for augmentation
Total of 2,391 annual acre feet of production for irrigation of up to 945 acres.
Permit No. 9226-F (Well No. 2 in W-1745) – Permitted to irrigate a maximum of 125 acres in the SE1/4 of Sec. 33, at a maximum diversion rate of 770 gallons per minute, annual maximum production of 567 acre feet (limited to 547 acre feet per W-1745);
Permit No. 9227-F (Well No. 3 in W-1745) – Permitted to irrigate a maximum of 160 acres in the SW1/4 of Sec. 28, at a maximum diversion rate of 700 gpm, annual maximum production of 515 acre feet (limited to 496 acre feet per W-1745);
Permit No. 9225-F (Well No. 1 in W-1745) – permitted to irrigate a maximum of 300 acres in the E1/2 of Sec. 29 at a maximum diversion rate of 700 gpm, annual maximum production of 515 acre feet (limited to 496 acre feet per W-1745);
Permit No. 9570-F (Well No. 4 in W-1745) – permitted to irrigate a maximum of 80 acres in the W1/2 NW1/4 Sec. 28, at a maximum diversion rate of 400 gpm, annual maximum production of 300 acre feet (limited to 282 acre feet per W-1745);
Permit No. 9571-RF (Well No. 5 in W-1745) – permitted to irrigate a maximum of 660 acres (280 acres per W-1745) in the W1/2 NW1/4 of Sec. 28 and all of Sec. 29, at a maximum diversion rate of 1000 gpm, annual maximum production of 570 acre feet – this 1,000 gpm entitlement included an 800 gpm absolute decree, and a 200 gpm conditional water right in W-1745. That conditional water right was abandoned for lack of use in Case No. 86CW56, so this well is now effectively permitted for 800 gpm
CURRENT CROPS
120 hemp (to be harvested fall 2020)
120 fallow
120 grass hay
120 grass hay
120 grass alfalfa sainfoin mix
60 grass alfalfa/60 Rye Triticale radish mix
60 grass/ 60 rye triticale radish mix
The level farm ground and soils is suitable for sod, hay crops, corn/wheat and other grains and hemp.
Dryland corners
80 acres alfalfa grass dryland
320 acres native pasture
IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT
Circle 1 – 2016 T&L 7 Tower Pivot
Circle 2 – 2013 T&L 7 Tower Pivot
Circle 3 – 2005+/- Zimmatic 7 Tower Pivot
Circle 4 – 2013 T&L 7 Tower Pivot
Circle 5 – 2016 T&L 7 Tower Pivot
Circle 6&7 – 2013 T&L Towable 7 Tower Pivot
The T&L’s pivots are electric over hydraulic, so no high voltage running down the pivot with GPS controlled start/stop/reverse
The Zimmatic is all electric with mechanical reverse.
SOILS
36.3% Breaser Sandy Loam
36.0% Platner Loam
9.5% Bresser Truckton Blakeland Complex
5.3% Ascalon Sandy Loam
5.1% Truckton Sandy Loam
2.2% Besser Sandy Loam
1.8% Truckton Sandy Loam
1.7% Platner Loam
HUNTING/RECREATION
The farm is a magnet for Trophy plains Mule Deer.
Pronghorn Antelope are numerous.
Coyote, fox, raccoon
Colorado GMU area 111
Eligible for the Colorado land owner Deer and antelope draw.
AREA/CLIMATE/LOCATION
Average annual precipitation is 15 inches per year
Rush Colorado is a small rural town community with a church, post office, restaurant, and Miami-Yoder K-12 school.
40 minutes east of Colorado Springs on the high plains of Colorado.