Farmers and Ranchers

Learn 

• NRCS soil health practices 
• American Farmland Trust “A Farmers Guide to Soil Health Economics”
• Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Publications

Apply

• Contact your local NRCS Agent for technical and financial assistance implementing regenerative farming practices
• Take the Colorado Department of Agriculture STAR (Saving Tomorrow's Agricultural Resources) test to determine your farm/ranch soil health rating 
• Contact  In-Riches (The Integrated Rocky Mountain-region Innovation Center for Health Soils) for resources and consulting on how to implement soil health practices

Monitor

• SoilCarbon Coalition focuses on promoting soil health and carbon sequestration through education and collaborative monitoring
• Citizen Soil Health Project empowers individuals through citizen science initiatives to monitor and enhance soil health
• COMET-Farms is a virtual farm/ranch carbon and greenhouse accounting system

Resources

We do not recommend or endorse any of these resources. We provide these for information purposes only. 

Soil Testing Lab

• RegenAg: Laboratory services focused on regenerative agriculture 
• WardLabs: Full service agriculture testing facility with soil health assessment 
• WeldLabs: Local testing facility with various soil testing packages
• CSU Soil Testing: Local testing facility and includes fertilizer recommendations in soil testing packages

Cover Crops

• Dryland Cover Cop Resources
• Cover Cop Seed Mixes
  • Buffalo Brand Seed Company: Provides various companion and cover crop mixes
  • Pawnee Buttes Seed Inc: Provides numerous cover cop and grass seed mixes depending on need

Contact us

• Email your Ag specialist (Jess Callen) to help us determine what resources you need from Extension 

Land Access to start your farm/ranch

• PVCF (Poudre Valley Community Farms) promotes local agriculture by pairing prospective farmers with land opportunities

Growing in Colorado

• CSU Vegetable Growing Guide contains information on all types of vegetables that can be grown in Colorado, how to care, and common pest identification and  management practices
• Front Range Tree Recommendation List contains information on the various types of trees that can be grown in the Front Range of Colorado and considerations on the trees needs before planting.

Assistance with Farm Business

• The Northern Colorado Foodshed Project provides local certification and the new farmer business accelerator program 
• CSU Food Systems provides events, resources, research, and programming focusing on expanding the local food systems in Colorado.
• CSU Agriculture and Business Management website provides information to expand the knowledge of business planning to producers in Colorado.
• Farmers.gov is a USDA organization that provides resources on how to start a farm for beginning farmers and ranchers.

Community

• Join the Larimer County Farmers Alliance to be connected to the local Ag community in Larimer County
• Subscribe to Small Farms listserv to be updated with opportunities and programs from extension, go to the CSU listserv and select “Small_Farms” from the list and fill out the form

Monitoring

• Ag Weather Monitoring
• Drought Monitoring

Hail

• Hail Know Nebraska Crop Watch

Changing Climate

• Crop Scenarios and Ranch Scenarios, learn about how to prepare your farm and ranch operations for increasing effects of climate change.

CSU Resources on Ag Business

• CSU Agriculture and Business Management Resources
• CSU Presentations on Ag records, financial statements and performance, and farm succession

Record Keeping and Accounting Apps/Websites

• Quickbooks (provided for informational purposes only)

Classes

• CSU Agriculture and Resource Economic Online classes
• Morgan Community College Agriculture and Business Management Classes and Certifications

Grant Overview

• CSU Food System Grant Overview
• List of Funding and Grant Resources in Colorado
• Grant Writing Resources

National Grants and Funding Opportunities

• NRCS Funding
• American Farmland Trust microgrants
• USDA Grants
• USDA FSA Loans

Regional Grants 

• Western SARE Farmer and Rancher Grant

Colorado Grants

• CDA Grants
• CO Ag Water Alliance Grants
• Zero Food Print Grant

Colorado Department of Labor and Employment:

Keep updated with current labor laws, access to posters, healthcare information, and more.

H2A

• Farmers.gov H2A basics: Learn  more about if H2A is right for you farm/ranch operation and how to start your H2A application
• U.S Department of Labor H2A application: Start your application for hiring a temporary Agricultural worker
• Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program: Apply for a grant to help your labor shortages on your farm/ranch operation
• FEWA Global : Organization that consults employers on the intricacies of H2A and help with application

Incentives for Ag Employees

• Colorado Paid Family Medical Leave Program (FAMLI): The new FAMLI program ensures that Colorado workers have access to paid time off in order to care for their family or themselves during life circumstances. 
• Retirement Program (Colorado Secure Savings): A new retirement program that businesses can sign up for their employees to have access to a secure IRA that is portable even if they change or leave their job. 

Consider Subscribing To:

• Larimer County Farmers Alliance for monthly event and grant updates from your local extensions specialist as well as local community events hosted by the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union
• Larimer County Conservation District for updates on the STAR+ program and educational conferences/events.
• CSU Food System for information on CSU Ag research, events, and free business classes for producers
• Farmers.gov for USDA updates on financial assistant resources and information on H2A, FSA loans, disaster assistance, record keeping and more. 
• CDA Newsletters for updates on Colorado specific grants, how to obtain Colorado Proud label, new noxious weeds and pests, and more.
• USDA Newsletters for updates on Ag Economics, Livestock, Local and Regional Food Systems, Women in Ag and more.

Consider Joining these Organizations

• Rocky Mountain Farmer Union
• Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Association
• Colorado Conservation Tillage Association
• Colorado Cattlemen's Association