Grants

Jerome and Ann Wheeler love their work. But even more than that, they love the animals who put the “family” in family operations. 

The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) is committed to expanding access to learning and leadership opportunities for future generations in agriculture. In the fall of 2022, CDA announced the brand new NextGen Ag Leadership Program offering small grants to organizations advancing youth education and leadership in agriculture.  Through that new program, CDA awarded $186,820 to 13 organizations across the state as part of the NextGen Ag Leadership Program. 

Producers who grow specialty crops can submit their applications for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA). CDA is accepting applications for the grant program in the form of a concept proposal through February 24, 2023.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture was the only Colorado project selected to receive one of 55 grants awarded in the America the Beautiful Challenge. CDA will receive $4 million for this project, which will support dozens of agricultural and conservation partnerships and prioritize five major watershed areas of Colorado.

Regenerating the land to produce food for their community is the main goal of Grama Grass and Livestock, a grass farming business that utilizes ruminant animals, specifically cattle, to improve soil health and boost forage capacity. Andy Breiter, owner of Grama Grass and Livestock, is himself an internship success story, as he began his career as an intern at the neighboring Golden Hoof Farm. 

Jolene Collins of Jojo’s Sriracha made a big leap of faith when she decided to move her specialty sriracha processing operation from Denver to Pueblo. Making the most authentic, delicious, local sriracha meant living and working only a few miles away from where her main ingredient, the legendary Pueblo chile, is grown.

Applications for Colorado grant recipients are open, Colorado encourages all to apply

The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) is now accepting grant applications to distribute $748,000 in funding to counties, municipalities, conservation districts, and non-profit organizations and associations for projects that focus on controlling the state’s designated noxious weeds. The 2022 Noxious Weed Management Grants combine  the Noxious Weed Fund and State and Private Forestry funds.