By Riley May, CDA Regional Assistant Commissioner
Originally published in the Kiowa County Independent (May 9, 2025)
Colorado farmers and ranchers are resilient. We never see a “normal” year.
One of our favorite lines around our operation is that we like to work in a climate-controlled environment because our environment is truly controlled by the climate.
Today, Governor Polis and the Colorado Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Drought and Climate Resilience Office (ADCRO) announced new grant opportunities to support climate resilience projects within the state's agricultural sector.
“In Colorado we are committed to mitigating the risk associated with climate change, by investing in innovative clean energy technologies, and providing economic avenues for our farmers and ranchers to continue to provide healthy and fresh produce to all Coloradans for generations to come,” said Governor Polis.
Several state agencies will implement policies to slash greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, protect our natural and agricultural lands, and make the state more resilient
Governor Polis recently signed into law a series of bills passed by the Colorado legislature that build on the state’s commitment to an equitable transition to a low-carbon economy through robust policies and targeted funding.
The Colorado STAR soil health program is expanding to an estimated 300 producers, with the addition of 21 Conservation Districts and 7 eligible entities to the list of STAR Plus administrating entities. Funding for this expansion comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Climate Smart Commodities (CSC) grant, which invested $3.1 billion in 141 projects across the country. CDA was the only state department of agriculture to be selected as a project lead on a CSC grant.
The Republican River Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
As Colorado legislators finalize the content of the state budget, the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) is praising lawmakers for their support of Governor Polis’s key budget requests that support agricultural communities across our state through passage of the state’s Long Bill.
The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) is recruiting qualified applicants for a new position of Deputy Director of the Conservation Division & Climate Resilience Specialist. This position will support the work of the Division and oversee several programs and strategic initiatives related to climate resilience.
Colorado farmers and ranchers are on the frontlines of climate change and are leading the way on climate-smart agricultural practices. CDA is working to develop a strategic plan to support the critical work being done in agriculture to address climate challenges faced by all Coloradans.
Colorado Agriculture Commissioner Kate Greenberg issued the following statement after a visit from U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to Colorado. During the visit, the Secretary announced a $3 billion investment into agriculture, animal disease prevention, and nutrition, and announced a new partnership initiative for climate smart agricultural and forestry programs.