CEO Update: Earth Day

Spring is here and so is the opportunity to celebrate Earth Day.  This year we planted two new trees – did you know all the benefits that trees offer us? From the beauty of the leaves, to creating a source of clean oxygen, to giving shade to us and our plants.

Celebrating Earth Day allows us the opportunity to understand how our planet is changing, and how we can help slow some of the climate change effects.  With increasing temperatures come shifts in snowmelt runoff, water quality concerns, stressed ecosystems, impacts to energy demands, and extreme weather events that all impact air quality, recreational opportunities, and everyday life.

83% of Colorado’s water comes from winter snowfall, spring rain, and monsoon showers collecting as surface water.  Colorado’s statewide snowpack in 2024 was 114% of normal and, as of June 2024, reservoir levels were 94% of normal.  Increased water levels is great news as 90% of water usage in Colorado is attributed to agriculture, and Colorado agriculture generates about $47 billion annually.

Agriculture is a key industry in 40% of Colorado’s rural communities, and three of the top four agriculture producing counties in the state are located in the northeast region (Logan, Sedgwick, Phillips, Yuma, Washington and Morgan counties).  Colorado has 30.2 million acres of farmland. 79.5% of all farms and ranches in the state are owned and operated by individuals and families, which is 28,652 farms out of a total of 36,056 farms and ranches.  On average, there is $8.2 billion in annual farm production expenses, which averages $226,000  per farm, while each farm’s average income is only $50,692.

These farms feed us! I know it’s easy to forget this when we go to the local grocery store.  This is why we must reach out to our members of Congress to support not only farmers and ranchers in Colorado, but those throughout our country.  USDA cuts hurt our farmers, ranchers and communities at large.  Please reach out to your federal policy makers and urge them to protect funding that supports rural!