climate change

An update this week to Colorado's water plan finds shortages are likely to intensify in Colorado as temperatures get warmer due to climate change. Colorado’s updated water plan comes as the southwestern part of the state actually got some drought relief thanks to an unusually wet June.

Drought persists although the Four Corners Region received a little rain, paleoclimate evidence shows a drought in the Colorado River basin in the 2nd century AD, and a conservation group ranks the Colorado River as No. 1 on its list of the country’s most endangered rivers.

Drought continues to challenge farmers and ranchers across the country, hay production in the U.S. may fall to its lowest level in a century, volatility in commodity markets begins to settle, and a new farm business index shows signs for optimism.

A new report from the United Nations’ panel on climate change lays out a grim picture of the future that includes more shortages for the already-dry Colorado River basin. A republican bill in Utah banning pornographic materials in schools passed the state’s House on Tuesday. And, the Montezuma-Cortez RE-1 School Board appointed Harry Tom Burrus as the district’s interim superintendent.

New research shows corn ethanol and other biofuels are not cutting carbon emissions overall, soil loss from cultivated cropland in the U.S. continues to be a problem, and recently published data show that 2021 saw the highest level of U.S. agricultural exports ever.

Fertilizer and herbicide costs skyrocket for farmers, product innovation aims to curb methane emissions from cattle, and the Colorado State University Extension offers presentations on a variety of agriculture-related topics for local producers.

USDA reports show that fewer cows will likely lead to higher beef costs, while the overall farm economy might be more robust than expected. Climate change leads to higher insurance payments to farmers for floods and drought, and vertical farming starts to see some investment.

A dry January brings back drought concerns, water managers across the Southwest continue to make tough decisions, and the Colorado Agricultural Drought Advisors will offer a drought training program for farmers and ranchers.

A powerful winter storm brought snow and wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour to the Four Corners region Tuesday night, causing widespread power outages, and in Shiprock, schools in the Central Consolidated School District were closed Wednesday; The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has sent a progress report to the state legislature on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Snowpack in the region is up significantly after last week's storm, grocery prices are climbing at their fastest pace since 2008, a company plans to produce carbon reduced chickens that will be partially raised on food waste diverted from grocery stores, and some food companies are making climate claims to consumers who are concerned about the environmental impact of products they buy.