Press Release

The Colorado Department of Agriculture is searching for a Director of the Markets Division. This position provides the operational and strategic management of the Markets Division, providing high-level direction for all Division programs and initiatives, including numerous grant and loan programs, marketing and promotion of Colorado producers and products, fruit and vegetable inspections, and more. 

Tom Lipetzky, the current Director of CDA’s Markets Division, is retiring at the end of September after more than a 38 year career, with 17 of those years at CDA. 

Sometimes finding hay is not so cut and dried! Thankfully, the 2023 Colorado Hay Directory is here for livestock owners looking for alfalfa, grass, mix, or other hay products. 

Organized by region, the Hay Directory listings include the type and amount of hay available, bale type and size, whether laboratory analysis is available, certified weed free status, and organic hay certification.

The Colorado Wine Industry Development Board (CWIDB), a Governor-appointed board that is part of the Colorado Department of Agriculture, is announcing the appointment of Kyle Schlachter as the Board’s Executive Director. Schlachter previously served as the Marketing Coordinator for the CWIDB and steps into the role of Director following the retirement of the Board’s former Director of 23 years, Doug Caskey.

The summer heat is turning up, but we have an idea on how to stay cool. It’s peach season, and those long awaited juicy fruits are showing up at farmers markets, roadside stands, orchards, and grocery stores for all to enjoy. 

Six food trucks from across Colorado have been selected to compete during the 2023 Governor’s Plate competition at the Colorado State Fair on Tuesday, August 29. Three returning favorites and three new contestants will be vying to wow Governor Polis and event attendees with sample sized dishes created with Colorado Proud ingredients. Governor Polis will award the Governor’s Plate to a winning truck. Competitors will also battle for the coveted People’s Choice Award.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) has named Cindy Lair as the Deputy Director for Conservation Services Division and Climate Resilience Specialist. In her new role, Lair will oversee the Agricultural Drought and Climate Resilience Office (ADCRO), which encompasses programs that focus on soil health as well as energy and water efficiency, along with numerous other duties to advance agriculture’s leadership in Colorado’s climate strategies.

This week, State Commissioners, Directors and Secretaries of Agriculture from Western states gathered in Denver for the annual Western Association of State Departments of Agriculture (WASDA) conference. Discussions included an opening youth panel, innovation in water resilience, public, private and philanthropic partnerships, and opportunities for producers using regenerative agriculture practices. 

The Colorado State Veterinarian’s office has confirmed the first case of equine West Nile Virus (WNV) of 2023 in a gelding residing in Weld County. The horse presented with sudden neurological symptoms including weakness, stumbling and recumbency and was euthanized as a result of his condition. The age and vaccine status for this gelding are unknown.  

TGIFMS: Thank Goodness It’s Farmers’ Market Season!

As Coloradans and visitors look to sample the agricultural bounty of our state, the Colorado Department of Agriculture releases its 39th annual Colorado Farm Fresh Directory, which helps consumers find farmers’ markets, roadside stands, u-picks, and more.