The mission of the Department of Agriculture is to strengthen and advance Colorado agriculture; promote a safe and high-quality food supply; protect consumers; and foster responsible stewardship of the environment and natural resources.
Our vision is that Colorado agriculture be strong and vibrant, a key driver of the state’s economy, and recognized worldwide for its safe and abundant supply of high-quality food and agriculture products.
Our core values are:
- Partnership: We bring people together and use our collective knowledge to continually achieve better results.
- Service: We care about each other and our customers and strive for every interaction to be a positive one.
- Professionalism: We represent the Department proudly and hold ourselves and each other accountable
- Proactivity: We are forward-thinking in our work and take early action to address emerging needs.
- Respect: We recognize differences in people and communities touched by our work and treat all with dignity.
Photo by Kris Stewart, 2023 Best in Show photography contest winner.
Under the direction of the Commissioner of Agriculture, the Colorado Department of Agriculture is proud to serve you through the following divisions:
- The Animal Health Division provides livestock disease prevention and control, as well as lab services; rodent and predator control services; licenses all of the state's aquaculture facilities and animal cruelty investigations.
- The Animal Welfare Division works to support the welfare of companion animals and livestock in Colorado. it houses the Bureau of Animal Protection (BAP), the Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act (PACFA) Program, and a new equine welfare grant program.
- The Brand Inspection Division inspects and verifies ownership on more than 3.8 million livestock; investigates livestock theft; records more than 35,000 livestock brands; and licenses livestock sale barns, packing plants and alternative livestock farms.
- The Colorado State Fair highlights agriculture, crops, livestock, canning, baking, needlework, flowers, art, science, and education. The highlight of the fairgrounds is the 11-day fair but is also open year-around for many activities.
- The Conservation Services Division works to help farmers, ranchers, and other landowners manage natural resources effectively for successful long-term agriculture production and environmental health, including a new focus on assisting producers with federal lands issues.
- The Inspection & Consumer Services Division provides inspection of animal feed, fertilizer, anhydrous ammonia tanks, eggs, grain warehouses, agricultural commodity handlers and dealers, custom meat and wild game processors, door to door food sales companies, weighing and measuring devices, and packages for correct weight and pricing. It also provides pet animal facility inspection and licensing as well as metrology and other regulatory laboratory services, such as feed, fertilizer, groundwater and pesticide testing.
- The Laboratory Services Division conducts timely and legally defensible chemical, microbiological and instrumental analysis of samples related to animal food, animal health, pesticides, soil, fertilizer, ground and surface water, industrial hemp and marijuana. In addition, the division serves as the primary source of measurement standards.
- The Markets Division helps Colorado food and agricultural companies sell their products in local (via Colorado Proud branding), regional, national and international markets. It collects livestock and produce market news from around the state, oversees nine market orders, grades and inspects fruits and vegetables and helps promote Colorado wines through the Colorado Wine Board.
- The Plant Industry Division provides organic certification, nursery stock inspection, produce, plant and seed export certificates, seed inspection and certification, weed-free forage certification, bee inspection and investigations, chemigation (backflow prevention equipment permits and inspections), commercial & private pesticide applicator testing, licensing and investigations, pesticide product record inspections and label registration.
- The Commissioner's Office oversees all CDA divisions. It includes the Commissioner's staff, administrative services, communications team, human resources and information technology offices.
