August 26, 2023

IN THIS ISSUE

• Come see us at the Colorado State Fair!
• CCPC Applauds USTR for Requesting USMCA Panel Formation Over Trade Dispute
• Nicholas Colglazier on Ag Innovators of Colorado Panel
• Rod Hahn on the Ag Queen Podcast/KSIR
• Upcoming 2023 Research Station Field Days
• Colorado Water Center Courses at CSU - The South Platte River – Colorado’s Lifeblood
• UNRCS in Colorado Extends Application Deadline for CSP Funding Opportunity
• Prevented Planting Request for Information and Stakeholder Listening Sessions

Come see us at the Colorado State Fair!

We are set up at the Colorado State Fair in the agricultural pavilion. The fair runs from August 25 - September 4.

CCPC Applauds USTR for Requesting USMCA Panel Formation Over Trade Dispute

The U.S. Trade Representative today requested a panel formation under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement over Mexico’s decision to ban imports of biotech corn used for human consumption.

“Mexico is a top market for corn, the number one agricultural export from the U.S. Our corn shipments not only play a crucial role in bolstering the food supply in Mexico, but they are also extremely important to the financial wellbeing of U.S. farmers and our rural communities. We are thankful to the USTR and the Biden administration for taking this monumental step toward resolving a trade issue that is critically important to us, ” said Rod Hahn, CCPC President.

Read more...

Nicholas Colglazier on Ag Innovators of Colorado Panel

Four panelists representing different agricultural sectors treated guests to a conversation surrounding important advances in the last decade, some of the innovation needs for ag production in Colorado, and how the public and private sectors can play a role in bringing that innovation to life at CSU SPUR on August 23, 2023.

Panelists included:

Nick Colglazier - Executive Director of Colorado Corn (2nd from left)

Zach Riley - CEO, Colorado Livestock Association (far right)

Don Brown - Former Commissioner, Colorado Department of Agriculture (2nd from right)

Erin Karney -Executive VP, Colorado Cattleman’s Association (far left)

Rod Hahn on the Ag Queen Podcast/KSIR

CCPC Retiring President Rod Hahn was recently on the Ag Queen Podcast with Lorrie Boyer, which also airs on 1010KSIR, to talk about his time with the CCPC.

Upcoming 2023 Research Station Field Days

There is one more upcoming Field Day that you are invited to participate in!

Western Colorado Research Center Grand Valley Farm Tour and Field Day

• Date: August 29, 9am-1pm
• Location: 1910 L Road, Fruita, CO 
• Contact: CSU-WCRC@COLOSTATE.EDU
• More Info Here

Colorado Water Center Courses at CSU - The South Platte River – Colorado’s Lifeblood

Each fall the Colorado Water Center offers an interdisciplinary seminar series emphasizing issues important to the water resources community. Content relates to a preselected theme each semester and features prominent speakers from around the region.

Schedule: Tuesdays 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Location: Virtual and in person at Natural Resources Building Room 109

NRCS in Colorado Extends Application Deadline for CSP Funding Opportunity

Colorado ag producers who have existing conservation measures and are looking to add and improve upon them are encouraged to apply for enrollment into the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Through CSP, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offers ag landowners a variety of conservation practices and enhancements, and the opportunity to implement activities through new technologies and management techniques. 

The NRCS is implementing this round of CSP funding through its ACT NOW Initiative. Colorado's ACT NOW Initiatives allows producers who apply for applicable NRCS funding and have fully established eligibility records with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) the potential to know if their project will be funded before leaving the UDSA service center. Landowners interested in improving grazing conditions, increasing crop resiliency, developing wildlife habitat, and are within the project area (see list below) are encouraged to apply. 

Landowner participation is limited to the following areas for this round of CSP funding: Meeker (Rio Blanco County), Craig (Moffatt County), Montrose (Montrose County), Gunnison (Gunnison County), Norwood (San Miguel County), Durango/Ignacio (La Plata County), Pagosa Springs (Archuleta County), Center/Alamosa/San Luis (Saguache, Costilla, Alamosa, Mineral, Rio Grande, and Conejos Counties) Trinidad (Las Animas County), Walsenburg (Huerfano County), Springfield (Baca County), Las Animas (Bent County), Lamar (Prowers County), Pueblo (Pueblo County), Rocky Ford (Otero/Crowley County), Cheyenne Wells (Cheyenne County), Eads (Kiowa County) , Burlington/Flagler (Kit Carson County), Hugo (Lincoln County), Longmont (Boulder County), Denver Metro (Jefferson and Denver Counties), Brighton (Adams County), Byers (Arapahoe County), Akron (Washington County), Yuma/Wray (Yuma County), Julesburg (Sedgwick County) Holyoke (Phillips County), Ft. Collins (Larimer County), Greeley (Weld County) Grand Junction, (Mesa County), and Delta (Delta County).

CSP funding is available to both large-and small-scale producers and is implemented through five-year contacts. It offers eligible land a baseline payment in addition to the incentive payment. All new activities establish through CSP must be completed on land that the eligible producer has operated for at least five years.

CSP applications are due to the local NRCS offices by September 8, 2023.

Prevented Planting Request for Information and Stakeholder Listening Sessions

RMA is gathering feedback on possible changes to prevented planting crop insurance coverage through a request for information (published May 23, 2023) as well as virtual and in-person listening sessions. These feedback opportunities will enable RMA to provide better crop insurance options.

Request for Information

The request for information on prevented planting requests input on prevented planting topics to include:

• Harvest Price Option – Feedback on whether to allow the prevented planting payment calculations to be based on the higher of projected price or harvest price under the revenue protection plan of insurance.
• “1 in 4” Rule – Input on the challenges or experiences since the rule (to be eligible for a prevented planting coverage acreage must have been planted to a crop, insured, and harvested in at least 1 out of the previous 4 crop years) was implemented nationwide.
• 10 percent additional coverage option – Input on if RMA should reinstate the option to buy-up prevented planting coverage by 10 percent.
• Contract price – Whether prevented planting costs are higher for contracted crops and how prevented planting payments should be calculated for contract crops.
• General – Willingness to pay additional premium for expanded prevented planting benefits, recommendations on other prevented planting limitations, etc.



Comments are due September 1, 2023, and they should be submitted through regulations.gov. The request for information, which includes details for submitting feedback, is available in this Federal Register notice.

UPCOMING DEADLINES

• RMA Comments Due - Sept. 1, 2023
• CSP Funding - Sept. 8, 2023
• Margin Protection Insurance Plan – Sept. 30, 2023

UPCOMING EVENTS

• August 25 - Big Friendly Ag Celebration
• August 25-Sept 4 - Colorado State Fair
• August 29 - Western Colorado Research Center Grand Valley Farm Tour and Field Day
• August 30 - CCPC Board Meeting
• September 4 - CCPC Office Closed for Labor Day