agriculture

Autumn weather in Cortez and Montezuma County has been lovely so far, but of course there is a down side – a lack of precipitation.

This week’s Farm News & Views covers trade aid for U.S. farmers, rising global competition in ag markets, and renewed wolf concerns in western Colorado.

The average farmer in the United States is nearing 60, and most are white men, according to federal data. But on Colorado's Western Slope, one program is trying to change that by training a new and more diverse generation of farmers in the principles of regenerative agriculture.

Observers say the trade truce between the U.S. and China could hold for now, easing tensions for global markets and U.S. soybean farmers — but challenges remain. While China’s purchases have pushed soybeans to a 16-month high, Brazil still has a cost advantage, and U.S. farmers continue to face high input prices and labor shortages tied to immigration policies. Meanwhile, new innovations like virtual fencing are helping ranchers adapt to tough conditions on public lands.

Colorado farmers and ranchers can now apply for a new Agricultural Stewardship Tax Credit, offering up to $3 million annually for conservation practices that improve soil health, water efficiency, and ecosystem diversity. The refundable credit rewards producers for adopting or maintaining techniques like no-till farming, rotational grazing, and pollinator habitat planting. Applications are open now, with attestation statements due by November 10th.

In this week’s Farm News & Views Report, Bob Bragg discusses backlash from U.S. beef producers after former President Donald Trump announced plans to loan Argentina $40 billion in exchange for Argentine beef imports aimed at lowering U.S. beef prices. Ranchers and industry experts warn the proposal could harm domestic producers, poses potential animal health risks, and is unlikely to provide meaningful relief to consumers.

Today’s KSJD Outdoor Report takes a detour across the pond to the English countryside, where the Absolute Units podcast from the Museum of English Rural Life explores stories of queer life outside the city. In its new episode, “Queer Rural Lives: Searching the Archives,” hosts Ollie Douglas and Joe Vaughan talk with researcher Tim Jerrome about uncovering hidden LGBTQ+ histories in farm records and rural archives — and how museums can bring those voices to light.

Chocolate is one of America's most popular treats, you'll find it in every bakery and grocery store across Colorado. But the long process behind your candy bar starts sometimes over a thousand miles away in the jungles of Thailand or Ghana where the finicky cacao tree is able to grow. Since 2019 Pollinator Chocolate in Carbondale, Colorado has been taking select cocoa beans and turning them into a confectionary that goes above and beyond.

Recent storms brought record rainfall across the Four Corners — with some areas seeing a third of their annual total in a single day — but drought conditions remain. Water users across the Upper Colorado River Basin are facing deep, uncompensated cuts, forcing widespread farmland fallowing and new pressure on long-term water management.

Farm organizations are warning that America’s agricultural economy is sliding toward crisis levels reminiscent of the 1980s, as low crop prices, high input costs, and ongoing trade disputes squeeze producers. The American Farm Bureau Federation has urged federal leaders to authorize bridge payments and enact long-term solutions to stabilize farm incomes, while analysts note that diversified farms and livestock producers are faring better thanks to strong markets.