Advancing Sustainable Agriculture Practices in Colorado

Commodities

Practices

Colorado farms and ranches face threats and challenges related to
production, water supply, markets, workforce, local, state and
federal policies, business management, reduction of production
costs, adoption of new technologies, rising input costs, drought,
flood, hail, farm succession, food safety, mental health,
changing consumer interests, and long-term adaptation to climate
change.  While some of these are simply access to
information, many require more personalization, farm level
analysis and/or strategic planning, which ultimately results in
action taken on farms and often requires more engaged work from
ag professionals.  We believe that those invested in local
communities know the needs of local ag producers and can work
together to find solutions.  To meet the needs of new and
ongoing needs of Colorado’s ag professional and its farmers and
ranchers, we propose building on the successes of three years of
mini-grants awarded to CSU Extension faculty in collaboration
with NRCS and other ag professionals, ag producers, and community
organizations.  This concept has been vetted and supported
by the CSU WSARE PDP advisory committee, which has reviewed and
scored the past 37 proposals in our 2021 – 2023 performance
period, funding 32 for $126,526. 

In our performance period we will increase knowledge and foster
intent to use knowledge gained among ag professionals, farmers
and ranchers, and other food system stakeholders. This objective
will be accomplished through award mini-grants, detailed further
in the methods section.  Each mini-grant will report
educational outcomes and those will be aggregated to a state
level for reporting on this objective.  Our past three year
performance provides a clear road map for achievement with a
formal system developed for two cycles annual of proposals
submitted, reviewed, awarded and reimbursed, requiring evaluation
and reporting for all awardees prior to reimbursement for
allowable and approved expenses.