High and dry in Hogback

"Because they are pumping uphill, the wear on the pumps is great," Bates said. "They wear out really fast, and the users don't get the needed funds to adequately repair or maintain the pumps."

That is the purpose of a pump! And good pumps are designed to last for years with proper maintenance. So this Bates joker is blowing smoke up your skirts. I will bet the pumps have not been maintained - it is on the Navajo Nation so you can be sure any money that should have been used to maintain the pumps was stolen and used on booze.

These prairie n*****s are necer going to be farmers anyway. Six acres of corn!? That will barely feed the clan.

If the 7000 users each paid less than $300 a piece, they could pay the $2M. The is a lot less than paying $1000 every 2 weeks for gas to haul water

Are these farmers not paying to maintain the ditch system like farmers OFF the res???
Probably not.....

We pay by the acres we farm. These are old pumps that should have been replaced years ago. The AZ delegates banded together to out vote the NM delegates. Except for Leonard Tsosie who voted with AZ. NM & AZ delegates voted to give over 6 million to AZ for their water but refused to give any to us in NM. The money is from coal royalty that Navajos own. So much for Ke'.

I drove through Hopivilla two days ago from Tuba City, Luepp and Flagstaff. Despite the dry climate and no rain, the Hopi's cornfields are harvesting good without adequate irrigation. Maybe, the soil contribute to better rainwater retention.
Shiprock farmers, you have the best tasting kneel-down bread. Keep up the good farming business. It will be understanding the price of kneel-down bread goes up to $5.

Screw the pumps we need more slot machines.

Ahhh, the good old days! Back in the 60s-70s the B.I.A. used to maintain the pumps; they had ALL the proper equipment and tools to keep them running consistently. During the off-season, they overhauled them and got them ready for the next spring growing season. During the spring & summer season, they watched them carefully. They also used to have the proper equipment to clean the ditch canals, clearing any growth or debris in the ditches. A real good Navajo Crew back then. Then Navajo politicians got into the act, "We should take care of our own! This is 'our' ditch!" Pumps were turned over to the tribe back in the 70s. Its been a battle since. Pump failure soon started in the early 80s. The whole irrigation system is now like a junked car left on the rez, only to be ignored until complete failure. Today, there is one "Ditch Rider" that oversees the whole system from Hogback to Cudeii. Drive the canal road and look at the overgrowth that farmers have neglected themselves. Pumps pulled for repair & hauled to either Colorado or Utah which cost $$$. Farmers do pay to utilize the system but don't know where the money actually goes ... your guess is better than mine.
You know, there are a lot of real good farmers along the Hogback - Cudeii irrigation system (& a few soreheads), we have a good thing here. Where else on the Navajo reservation do we have such a unique system? Navajo Ranchers from the western & southern part of the Navajo reservation do come out and purchase hay for their livestock. Go off the reservation and you pay more. Some will come out looking for corn grown by Navajos in preparation for certain ceremonies.
I support these farmers, we have a good thing here on the rez. Lets see if we can revive it.

Hogback Farmer wrote:

We pay by the acres we farm.

where does the money go that you pay by the acre farmed?

Leonard Tsosie said we should buy our corn and hay from NAPI meaning we do not need to farm. He also said why go through the trouble of farming since we have Walmart and all the stores in Farmington to buy our goods from. What an idiot!!

Hogback Farmer wrote:

Leonard Tsosie said we should buy our corn and hay from NAPI meaning we do not need to farm. He also said why go through the trouble of farming since we have Walmart and all the stores in Farmington to buy our goods from. What an idiot!!

we need to remember this bext election time

Weather forecast, rain is forthcoming onto the 4 corners region this week. This will help the Shiprock farmers. Give blessings for the rain to the mother earth.

My sympathy goes out to the farmers west of Hogback, the Navajo Nation controls over half the water in the San Juan River and these farmers cannot get water for their crops.
Bore a horizontal hole through the Hogback structure for less the cost of pump repair and they can have free water coming through Waterflow forever - makes you wonder about the brains of the Obama Administration.

disgusting how the politicians and bureaucrats can really screw things up for people. the tribe, chapter, window rock, and federal government need to get act together and do something.

Lorenzo Bates is another worthless tribal politician who is more worried about collecting his stipend and per diem than needs of people. with a reduced council he now makes over $100,000 a year and to do nothing. thats how the council is presently operating and its all about how much they can rip off from the people.

get real wrote:

"Because they are pumping uphill, the wear on the pumps is great," Bates said. "They wear out really fast, and the users don't get the needed funds to adequately repair or maintain the pumps."
That is the purpose of a pump! And good pumps are designed to last for years with proper maintenance. So this Bates joker is blowing smoke up your skirts. I will bet the pumps have not been maintained - it is on the Navajo Nation so you can be sure any money that should have been used to maintain the pumps was stolen and used on booze.
These prairie n*****s are necer going to be farmers anyway. Six acres of corn!? That will barely feed the clan.

prairie n*****s? what the heck!

get real wrote:

"Because they are pumping uphill, the wear on the pumps is great," Bates said. "They wear out really fast, and the users don't get the needed funds to adequately repair or maintain the pumps."
That is the purpose of a pump! And good pumps are designed to last for years with proper maintenance. So this Bates joker is blowing smoke up your skirts. I will bet the pumps have not been maintained - it is on the Navajo Nation so you can be sure any money that should have been used to maintain the pumps was stolen and used on booze.
These prairie n*****s are necer going to be farmers anyway. Six acres of corn!? That will barely feed the clan.

And what kind of n****** might you be?, don't you know we are all n******.

The Navajo Nation and chapters need to come together n fix the problem. Instead they probably depending on one another to fix it.. if maybe the NN would stop wasting money on unnecessary things......for instance Tribal workers driving around in Tribal vehicles wit AC....Y? Don't they use thier own vehicles??? that money could probably help to by an updated water pump or a permanent pump station...but hey wat the heck most NN Officials prbanly say " oh i dont need or use dat irrigation system. So y oould i worry bout it.." its like them saying " I DONT CARE " about ky people....

Hogback Farmer wrote:

Leonard Tsosie said we should buy our corn and hay from NAPI meaning we do not need to farm. He also said why go through the trouble of farming since we have Walmart and all the stores in Farmington to buy our goods from. What an idiot!!

if tsosie truly did say that than he is a stupid idiot who deserves to lose the next election. What the heck does he know about farming? He represent a rezzed out boonies part of the navajo nation that doesnt even farm!!! same with those other bozos on the council who voted to oppose fixing the water pump. just very disgusted with the council. they are totally worthless. In the meantime these farmers are doing what they can to make a living for themselves and not rely on handouts to make an honest living.

It is time to help yourselves and quit relying in incompetent elected officials and crying in the dry dirt, no more excuses, get it done. Have a meeting, pass the hat and get it fixed. Time is wasting and your crops are not getting water. I will donate $10, because I love the crops sold at the local market. I am unemployed but I am not sitting on my back side waiting for someone to come and give me a job, I have been out looking, so all you farmers need to get together and do it.

How much water would $320,000 buy? Thats the amount the Nation put into their budget for the John family to pay a lawyer to sue Farmington PD for the death of their son. Racism is not alive and well in San Juan County...How about the Hawaii trip for over 300 members a few years ago...great expenditure for no gain. When the nation uses the federal money they receive wisely, then I will empathize with articles like this.