FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 27, 2020
Contact: Mary Peck, 720-428-0441, mary.peck@state.co.us
Broomfield, Colo. - The Colorado Department of Agriculture’s (CDA) Conservation Services Division is pleased to announce the signing of a five-year, $5 million agreement between the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Colorado State Conservation Board (CSCB), housed within CDA.
The visionary agreement creates new employee roles to bring new voluntary conservation and regenerative agricultural assistance programs for agricultural producers to incorporate into their operations.
“We’ve had a good relationship with the Colorado Department of Agriculture and expanding our agreement for technical assistance funding helps us achieve our mutual goals for soil health and expand our focus to include urban agricultural producers and military veterans,” said Clint Evans, Colorado State Conservationist for NRCS.
The new expansion of federal and state agency collaboration is an innovative and efficient initiative to make progress toward Colorado’s soil health and conservation goals addressed in the Colorado Water Plan and the state’s Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap.
“Our state’s farmers and ranchers are leaders in the stewardship of Colorado’s agricultural land,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg. “The fruits of this agreement will provide support to help them be successful in voluntary and incentive-based efforts to maintain and enhance the health of Colorado’s soil.”
Specifically, the funding will provide 75% support for 25 existing conservation jobs, and up to six new conservation jobs, throughout the state. The agreement also expands funding for existing conservation technical assistance jobs and will eventually add five new positions to support the CDA's Soil Health Initiative. Further, it will create an Urban Agricultural Specialist within the Department of Agriculture to help small urban and peri-urban agricultural operations implement water and soil conservation practices and boost production.
For more information, please contact Cindy Lair, State Conservation Program Manager.
COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
The Colorado Department of Agriculture exists to support the state's agriculture industry and serve the people of Colorado through regulation, advocacy and education. Our mission 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.
USDA NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS)
NRCS is a federal agency committed to helping private landowners care and make healthy choices for the land and water, while using them productively. Through voluntary incentive-based programs, the NRCS works directly with farmers, ranchers, forest owners and other land stewards to provide technical expertise and financial assistance to make conservation work on private lands. For more information about NRCS, please visit www.co.nrcs.usda.gov.