In the fiscal year 2021, the U.S. issued 258,000 H-2A visas to seasonal farm workers. That number is roughly double the visas issued in 2016. Even though demand and wages are up, supply is still stretched pretty thin, with an estimated…
In an era of a rapidly changing climate, achieving agricultural sustainability is critical to ensure the health and well-being of our planet. With limited resources and an ever-increasing population, traditional farming practices can no longer support a sustainable food system.…
Sam Anderson, energy specialist with the Colorado Department of Agriculture, oversees the state’s ACRE3 program that provides agricultural producers with grant funding for energy-efficiency projects and renewable energy. Return on investment depends on the type of operation. “Dairies and year-round…
A third-generation Colorado farmer, Marc Arnusch grows barley and other grains on 2,200 acres in the Prospect Valley east of Keenesburg. His son, Brett, joined Marc Arnusch Farms after he graduated from Colorado State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences in…
A new state law designed to expand labor rights for people who work on Colorado farms and ranches requires agricultural businesses to pay their employees at least the state’s minimum wage. The law also provides provisions for overtime pay, but…
Lured by the lifestyle and opportunity, these first-generation farmers and ranchers see the value of making a living off the land and working for themselves
Around 7 million additional U.S. households turned directly to producers in 2020. Experts say that growth in direct agricultural sales across the state could benefit the industry long term due to the increase in consumer knowledge and appreciation of local food production. Plus, a collection of resources to connect farmers, ranchers directly to consumers.
Millet thrives on the Eastern Plains. Farmers grew it on 320,000 acres in Colorado – or about 1% of the state's farmland – in 2019, with a harvest of more than 11 million bushels, or $61 million.
Even in the best of times, uncertainty is a fact of life for Colorado’s farmers and ranchers. The repercussions of COVID-19 are just an extension of perennial concerns like weather and fluctuating market prices.
