Press Release

The Colorado Department of Agriculture is seeking nominations across Colorado to fill six vacancies on the Hemp Advisory Committee (HAC). The committee provides advice to the Commissioner by reviewing proposed rules and recommending new rules or changes to existing rules.

“Colorado has been a pioneer in the hemp industry since 2013 and the Hemp Advisory Committee consists of leaders and innovators who have an active role in advising the Department by providing invaluable industry feedback,” said Brian Koontz, Hemp Program manager.

The HAC is looking for members representing:

To advance the administration of animal welfare programs and provide additional capacity for the Animal Health Division, the Colorado legislature passed a bill establishing the Division of Animal Welfare at the Colorado Department of Agriculture (HB24-1458). The Colorado Department of Agriculture is now seeking a qualified candidate for this first-ever position of Division of Animal Welfare Director.

With seeds sprouting and harvest season just around the corner, the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Produce Safety Program will host a public webinar to review cleaning and sanitizing practices, with a focus on food contact surface contamination.

When tiny green asparagus tips start peeking through the ground, we say Colorado’s spring produce season has officially begun. Fresh asparagus offers a delicious crispness to complement any meal. When paired with some citrus flavors, you can really elevate the experience for your taste buds. This particular recipe also uses honey, a popular sweetener produced throughout Colorado. Check out your local honey supplier or support Colorado honey through your next grocery store purchase.

 Producers who sell hay can now submit their listing to the annual Colorado Hay Directory. For more than 26 years, the Hay Directory has helped Colorado hay producers connect with buyers.

“If you’re selling hay, the Hay Directory has a strong record of helping buyers find locally grown animal feed for their needs, ” said Danielle Trotta, senior marketing specialist for the Colorado Department of Agriculture. “The Hay Directory is a great resource for livestock owners in Colorado and beyond.”

The Colorado Soil Health Program is seeking to fill four vacant positions on the Soil Health Advisory Committee, which helps advise the Department on aspects of the flagship program.

The Soil Health Advisory Committee provides a critical link between CDA and agricultural producers, water users, and others with expertise in soil health. The committee assists in the implementation of the Colorado Soil Health Program, one of the agency’s key programs that helps Colorado producers introduce or expand the use of water resilient agricultural practices.

Yesterday, the Colorado Agricultural Commission approved, and Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg adopted an emergency rule to help limit the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Colorado. Since the initial detection of HPAI in dairy cattle in March 2024, the virus has spread to dairies in at least nine states, including Colorado.

The Department of Agriculture (CDA) and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) have partnered with the Middle Park Stockgrowers Association to get on-the-ground assistance to an area impacted by recent wolf depredation.

Today, Governor Polis signed the Long Bill, sponsored by the Joint Budget Committee, which commits significant investments into programs and staff supporting agriculture across Colorado.

The state budget for Fiscal Year 2024/2025 includes a 13 percent increase in funding to the Department of Agriculture, to build out and add support to existing programs that are working to improve the agricultural industry in our state. Funding included in the Long Bill will support farmer-driven conservation efforts, emergency preparedness, renewable energy adaptation, and more.

Yesterday, the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) confirmed a detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in dairy cows in Northeast Colorado. This is the first detection of avian influenza diagnosed in cattle in Colorado. Detections of HPAI in dairy cattle have occurred in eight other states.