Colorado

(The following message is from Dennis Lamm who resigned in fall 2012. An updated report from the co-coordinators will be posted in spring 2013)

From the Coordinator

Welcome to Sustainable Agriculture in Colorado! My name is Dr. Dennis Lamm, and for the past 17 years I have been the Professional Development Program (PDP) State Coordinator at Colorado State University. In Colorado, we've facilitated a competitive process to fund numerous projects for more than half a million dollars. The projects we have created find solutions to the growing challenges that face our Colorado farms and ranches. Programs such as water quality, value-added and niche marketing are helping Colorado improve the local economy, communities, and their livelihoods.

Since 1988, the National Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program has helped advance farming systems that are profitable, environmentally sound and good for communities through a nationwide research and education grants program. The program, part of USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), funds projects and conducts outreach designed to improve agricultural systems.

Sustaining agriculture in Colorado is built upon a foundation of reverence for agricultural producers - the belief that farmers and ranchers know what is best for their land. The SARE program targets farmers, ranchers and others with competitive grants which may be used to explore new ideas for sustaining agriculture, and our farming culture, in Colorado.

Our funded projects span all areas of agriculture, from conventional to organic and other alternative agricultural production. Please spend some time learning about Western SARE 2011 funded projects in Colorado, events and What is Sustainable Agriculture?

Thank you for taking time to see why we're excited about supporting a more productive, profitable, and sustainable Colorado agriculture.