Climate-smart agriculture

The Polis administration has set out a robust strategy to support the climate-smart management of forests, farms, ranches, grasslands, wetlands and riparian areas, and urban green spaces in the newly released 

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. 

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.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) is now accepting applications from Colorado’s conservation districts and other eligible entities interested in administering STAR Plus grant funding to agricultural producers who expand or introduce soil health practices in their operations. Improving soil health, a key component of responding to the effects of climate change in agricultural landscapes, can improve available soil moisture, reduce agricultural runoff, decrease erosion, and support more productive, nutritious crops.

Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg met today with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary Robert Bonnie to discuss the alignment between the state and federal agencies on climate resilience and stewardship of natural and working lands. They were joined by Colorado Farm Service Agency (FSA) state director Kent Peppler and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Clint Evans and others leading climate work for the federal government. 

Colorado Department of Agriculture is seeking input from farmers and ranchers on the agricultural section of the Natural and Working Lands (NWL) Strategic Plan, which is part of the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap released in early 2021 as a result of House Bill 19-1261. 

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.