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What's New with the Soil Health Program?

Upcoming Events 

Grant and Grow
January 31st, 8:30am - 3pm | CSU Lory Student Center, Fort Collins, CO

This event is intended for new/beginning farmers and producers who are interested in changing farming practices. Organizations will speak about 2025 grant opportunities and producers who have won grants will speak about their experiences. Participants can attend in-person or virtually. 

Harvesting Success Workshop
February 3rd, 9am | Burlington, CO

This year’s High Plains No-Till Conference, put on by the Colorado Conservation Tillage Association, features Allen Williams, Roy Pfaltzgraff, and Don Day Jr. as keynote speakers. There will be more than 40 educational sessions on topics related to soil health, no-till, regenerative grazing, farm business management, and more.

High Plains No-Till Conference
February 4-5th | Burlington, CO

This year’s High Plains No-Till Conference, put on by the Colorado Conservation Tillage Association, features Allen Williams, Roy Pfaltzgraff, and Don Day Jr. as keynote speakers. There will be more than 40 educational sessions on topics related to soil health, no-till, regenerative grazing, farm business management, and more.

CO Fruit & Veg Growers Conference
February 18-19th | Westminster, CO

Attend the 11th annual conference put on by the CO Fruit & Veg Growers for networking and learning. This year's theme is: Growing Resources, Cultivating Success.

The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program funding through the Colorado Department of Agriculture enables CFVGA to offer beginning farmer (10 years or less farming commercially) members a FREE conference registration. Complete your membership here first, then register for conference. We are limited to 35 free beginning farmer registrations, so don't delay. 

Master Irrigator Courses
Multiple Dates and Locations

A comprehensive 4-week educational course, graduates are eligible to receive incentives and discounts:

  • Republican River, Mondays in January
  • Arkansas Valley, Thursdays in January
  • Delta Mesa, Tuesdays in February
  • San Luis Valley, 100 level starts January 6th
  • San Luis Valley, 200 level starts February 10th
  • Dates for South Platte and Four Corners TBD
The Colorado Grain Summit
March 8th, 8am - 5:30pm | Salida, CO

Put on by the Colorado Grain Chain, this conference is for anyone that grows grain, produces, or handles grain products with an aspiring interest in increasing local grain sourcing in Colorado. There will be networking sessions, expert panels, and keynotes highlighting innovative success stories across the grain supply chain.

Email cda_soil@state.co.us to have your event featured here!

 

Grants & Other Soil Health Engagement Opportunities

Restore Grant Applications Open | January 15th - February 19th

Let’s restore the climate together! Farmers and ranchers in Colorado are eligible for Zero Foodprint’s Restore Grant, which provides funding to implement farm practices that build healthy soil and sequester carbon. Receive up to $25,000 for cover cropping, compost, and other regenerative practices.

Producers enrolled in the CSHP can apply for this funding for any different practice or different acreage than what they are enrolled with for CSHP. 

CSU Study on Soil Health and Farmer Health

Dr Morgan Valley at CSU is studying the linkages between soil health and farmer health. To participate you must be a farmer who is 18 years old or older. Fill out the confidential eligibility survey to determine if you are eligible for an interview. 

Kiss the Ground Regenerative Transition Grants

Kiss the Ground's Regenerative Transition Grants aim to support farmers of diverse backgrounds in their regenerative journeys. Their Training Grant will cover $1,000 of tuition costs for in-person training with the Savory Institute or Soul Fire Farm. Applications are open until 150 spots are filled. 

 

Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program Funding Opportunity
Open through Jan. 31, 2025 (for 2024 expenses)

The USDA is expanding the Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) program to now include medium-sized businesses in addition to small businesses. Eligible specialty crop growers can apply for assistance for expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification.

Zero Foodprint 

The Zero Foodprint logo is a circle with a hand carrying a serving tray that holds a globe.

Winner of the James Beard "Humanitarian of the Year" Award, Zero Foodprint (ZFP) is a nonprofit mobilizing the food world around agricultural climate solutions. Learn about their work and apply for the Restore Grant here.


Watch: Restore Colorado Producer Webinar
Watch: Restore Program Webinar June 2023

 

Hold Your Ground logo which features a pair of hands holding a sprouting plant and the CDA logo which features a red barn.Soil Health at Work

Hold Our Ground Film Series

The first episode in a three-part documentary film series highlighting the innovative work of Colorado producers in building healthy soil and more resilient agricultural systems. 
Watch here: 

E1: Farmers on Soil Heath 

E2: Ranchers on Soil Health

E3: Hold Our Ground
 

Audubon Rockies 

With funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Audubon Conservation Ranching staff helped enhance soil and reseed native plants on a degraded pasture of the Rafter W Ranch, an Audubon-certified ranch in eastern Colorado. These restoration techniques help the ranch retain water, which should increase its drought resilience and long-term biodiversity. Monitoring during the first growing season found increased plant growth and reduced soil compaction. 
Learn about a soil restoration project through the Conservation Ranching Initiative: Rafter W Ranch Article & Video