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The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

Category: Nature & Science

  • Now’s the time to submit big-game hunting applications; deadline to apply is April 7

    Now’s the time to submit big-game hunting applications; deadline to apply is April 7

    DENVER – Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s on-line hunting license application site is open around-the-clock and hunters are urged not to wait until the last minute to apply for 2020 big-game licenses. Deadline to apply is April 7 at 8 p.m.

    “When a high volume of people hit the site on the last day, that can cause system slowdowns and we want to ensure you have the ability to put in for the license you want,” said Rebecca Ferrell, public information and website manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “There’s no reason to wait until the last minute – get online now, spend some quality time with our videos, harvest data and other resources, and be sure your account is set up correctly.”

    To apply for a limited big game license, go to cpwshop.com sign in to your account and then click on the “Go Hunting and Fishing” tab in the menu bar at the top of the page. The system is set up to guide hunters easily through the well-defined steps. Hunters must be sure to have their CID number and a valid credit card before beginning the process.

     

    Hunters should go on line to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website as soon as possible to apply for limited big-game hunting licenses. Deadline to apply is April 7.

    Please review the big game section of the CPW site for background information on Colorado’s hunting seasons and how to apply. The web pages include harvest statistics from the 2019 seasons for all big-game species, seasons and units.

    You can also call CPW’s hunt planners at 303-297-1192 if you have questions. Please note that call-wait times may be lengthy as our staff is complying with current stay-at-home orders.

    Although all CPW offices are closed to the public because of the coronavirus pandemic, staff members are available to answer questions. Phone numbers and contact information are posted at all CPW offices for direct staff assistance.

    Hunters are also reminded that they are required to purchase a “qualifying license” before submitting an application. You’ll be prompted to make that purchase as you start the application process.

    For first-time hunters who have not completed a hunter education class, an apprentice certificate is available to those who are able to hunt with a mentor. Those who hunted last year with an apprentice license can obtain a second certificate. But previous year’s apprentice certificates will not be renewed automatically; you need to go to cpwshop.com and add a new profile before applying for a limited license.

    “Everything you need to apply is at your fingertips,” Ferrell said. “So please get your application in now and get ready for the fall hunting season.”

     

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  • USDA Implements Immediate Measures to Help Rural Residents, Businesses and Communities Affected by COVID-19

    USDA Implements Immediate Measures to Help Rural Residents, Businesses and Communities Affected by COVID-19

    WASHINGTON, March 25, 2020 – USDA Rural Development has taken a number of immediate actions to help rural residents, businesses and communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Rural Development will keep our customers, partners, and stakeholders continuously updated as more actions are taken to better serve rural America.

    OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMMEDIATE RELIEF

    Rural Housing Service

    Single-Family Housing

    Effective March 19, borrowers with USDA single-family housing Direct and Guaranteed loans are subject to a moratorium on foreclosure and eviction for a period of 60 days. This action applies to the initiation of foreclosures and evictions and to the completion of foreclosures and evictions in process.

    Guaranteed Loan Program:

    Direct Loan Program:

    • USDA has waived or relaxed certain parts of the application process for Single-Family Housing Direct Loans, including site assessments, and has extended the time period that certificates of eligibility are valid.
    • A Direct Loan borrower who is experiencing a reduction of income by more than 10 percent can request a Payment Assistance package to see if he/she is eligible for payment assistance or for more assistance than currently received.
    • Moratorium Assistance is available for Direct Loan borrowers experiencing medical bill expenses (not covered by insurance) or job loss because of COVID-19. Qualifying borrowers can receive a moratorium on house payments for a period of time, repaid at a later date.
    • Direct Loan questions should be directed to USDA’s Customer Service Center at 800-414-1226 (7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Eastern Time Monday-Friday) or https://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/loan-servicing. Call volume and wait times are high at this time.

    Multi-Family Housing

    Multi-Family Housing is taking several steps to help owners, management agents and tenants maintain quality housing during the COVID-19 outbreak. Specifically, three immediate steps are effective for Section 515 Multi-Family properties:

    • Tenant certifications due March 31, April 30 and May 31 for Multi-Family properties have been extended to June 30 with no late fees or overage charges, as allowed in Multi-Family guidance (HB-3-3560, Chapter 4, Section 4.11). This extension will allow for additional time to complete needed certifications while avoiding face-to-face meetings as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
    • Late fees on Section 515 mortgages will be waived, subject to waiver authority in 7 CFR 3560.403 (c)(3).
    • Section 515 Annual Financial Statements due March 31 will be extended 30 days, as per Multi-Family guidance (HB-2-3560 Chapter 4, Section 4.16-H). USDA is exploring whether a longer extension is appropriate and will provide further guidance. 
    • Current policy states that owners must process an interim recertification at the tenant’s request if there is a change in income of $50 or more per month. The owner should already have this policy in writing and apply it consistently. To the maximum extent possible, we encourage all owners to work with all tenants with impacted income to adjust rent payments.
    • USDA encourages all owners to work with impacted residents and families to adjust rent payments, enter into forbearance agreements, and lessen the impact on affected residents. At this time, no additional subsidy funding has been made available. If borrowers are temporarily unable to make loan payments, the Agency may waive late fees and enter into an official workout plan.

    Rural Utilities Service

    Rural Business-Cooperative Service

    • Beginning immediately, through July 31, 2020, USDA Business and Industry Loan Guarantees (B&I) and Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Guaranteed lenders may assist borrowers experiencing temporary cash flow issues by deferring payments for a period no longer than 120 days. The lender must notify The Agency in writing of any payment deferments. Written notification to the Agency will meet the standard for concurrence until July 31, 2020. A response from the Agency is not required. This guidance applies to ALL borrowers that had a current repayment status as of March 1, 2020.
      • If the guaranteed loan has been sold on the secondary market, the secondary market holder and lender must agree to the deferment actions being taken. The Agency will expect a written agreement from both parties in these instances. 
    • RBCS intermediary borrowers continue to have authority to service loan portfolios independent of USDA. Intermediary borrowers participating in these programs may approve loan payment deferrals may to their borrowers without USDA approval. These programs are:
      • Intermediary Relending Program (IRP)
      • Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG)
      • Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDL and REDG)
      • Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP)
    • For existing Intermediary Relending Program (IRP) and Rural Economic Development Loan (REDL) borrowers, the Agency is committed to maintaining well-capitalized intermediary lenders and will work with you on loan servicing requests on a case-by-case basis to make sure you remain a pillar in our rural business communities.

    EXTENSION OF APPLICATION DEADLINES

    USDA is extending the application window for the following programs:

    Rural Business-Cooperative Service

    • USDA extended the application deadline for the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program to no later than April 15, 2020. Contact the Rural Development office for the deadline in your state. USDA announced the extension in an Unnumbered Letter posted March 19, 2020.
    • USDA extended the application deadline for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to April 15, 2020. For additional information, see page 16925 of the March 25, 2020, Federal Register.

     

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  • Farmers and ranchers celebrate Colorado Ag Day in the fields

    Farmers and ranchers celebrate Colorado Ag Day in the fields

    In a Time of Uncertainty Agriculture Remains “Open for Business”  

    Farmers and ranchers celebrate Colorado Ag Day in the fields CENTENNIAL, Colo.—March 25, 2019— Even though the 2020 Ag Day celebration at the Colorado Capitol is canceled, the Colorado Farm Bureau assures Coloradans that the agriculture industry is “Still Open for Business” and farmers and ranchers are committed to maintaining a reliable and resilient food supply. 

    “We are all navigating a time that is unlike any other. There is uncertainty all around us and many unanswered questions about what the future holds,” says Chad Vorthmann, Executive Vice President of the Colorado Farm Bureau. “However, even in all this uncertainty, Colorado agriculture remains open for business. Farmers and ranchers around the state and around the country will continue producing high quality food for your table.”

    As people shop and prepare for quarantine periods, consumer purchasing of particular goods has spiked causing a change in the food supply chain. Many have seen grocery stores sell out of many goods due to surge buying of particular items. While grocery store shelves may be temporarily empty, it’s important to note that there is not a food shortage and replacements for those items are on the way. The supply chain just needs time to replenish and adjust to differences in purchasing behavior.

    Efforts are underway to ensure that the supply of goods happens as quickly as possible. State and federal governments have declared agriculture as a ‘critical’ industry, allowing farming operations and agriculture-related industries to continue working together to ensure safe, reliable and timely delivery of goods. However, there are still certain assurances the industry needs to continue operating as needed, including the processing of H-2A visas to recruit critical labor; ensuring meat, dairy and other processing plants continue operating; waiving hours of service requirements for food transportation and trucking across the agricultural supply chain; and maintaining stable and fair markets across the agriculture sector. 

    “We are thankful to Governor Polis and President Trump for declaring the agriculture industry as critical infrastructure. The job of farmers and ranchers never ends and it’s important to have the tools to continue to care for our livestock and crops while delivering food to people,” adds Vorthmann. “Our leaders are working hard to keep every element of the supply chain strong so that the food supply remains stable, and we are confident that our leaders in Denver and Washington, D.C. will continue to get it done.” 

    The Colorado Farm Bureau has launched AgisOpen.com as a one stop resource for those looking for information about COVID-19’s impact on the agriculture community. The resource, “Ag is Open” will address various issues like those listed above as well as provide information on rural mental health, life on the farm, agriculture job listings and much more. 

    Throughout the week, Colorado Farm Bureau will be celebrating Ag Day with helpful information for the agriculture industry and consumers alike, as well as a look into the lives of farmers and ranchers during this time.

    photo credit — MGN online 

     

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  • CDA Celebrates Colorado’s Farmers & Ranchers

    CDA Celebrates Colorado’s Farmers & Ranchers

    To all who work in agriculture: the Colorado Department of Agriculture thanks you!

    At the Colorado Department of Agriculture, we celebrate Colorado’s farmers and ranchers every day. But this week is particularly special.

    Today is Colorado Ag Day. Normally we would be celebrating together under the Gold Dome, but instead we celebrate with a virtual “Hats Off!” to our farmers, ranchers, farmworkers, truck drivers, processors, suppliers, and all the rest who help get food from the field to our plate. In honor of Colorado agriculture, Governor Polis has officially recognized today as Colorado Ag Day.

    Our many thanks to our Ag Council partners for putting on such a great event every year and for continuing to highlight all the incredible food we grow and raise here, even while we’re all social distancing for a while.

    Though we can’t be together in person today, I encourage you to join us in celebrating. Try a new dish from some of our own Colorado Proud recipes, or listen to our podcast, Cultivation Station, for business tips on starting or growing your own farm or ranch business. Browse through our Crop Calendar to see when Pueblo Chiles, Palisade Peaches, and San Luis Valley Potatoes will be ready. You can also check out our Farm Fresh Directory and sign up to support your local farmers through Community Supported Agriculture. (Also: remember to practice excellent personal hygiene and check in with your local public health office for the latest guidance).

    Rest assured, agriculture is not just critical to the state of Colorado; it’s part of who we are. As we move into spring, know that you can count on the Colorado Department of Agriculture to be here for you, through good times and bad.

    Colorado agriculture is strong and healthy. Our farmers and ranchers are resilient. We’ve been through tough times before, and as we face tough times now, we remember a few key basics: We stand up to serve others in times of need. We lean on one another. And we will emerge stronger from this moment in time by our hard work, our commitment, and our shared meals with all who need to eat.

    We are so grateful for the efforts of all who keep our food system growing and moving, now more than ever.

    With deep gratitude and sincere appreciation, hats off to Colorado agriculture!

    Sincerely,

    Commissioner Kate Greenberg & the entire CDA team

    Photo credit : MGN Online 

     

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  • Colorado Produce Industry Responds to COVID-19

    CFVGA to Offer Growers Free Webinar on Communicating with Customers March 25

    The Colorado Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association (CFVGA) and its grower members are very concerned about the impact COVID-19 is having on Coloradans’ physical, economic and social health.

    “We join authorities in urging Coloradans to comply with safety guidelines laid out by our state and to be considerate of others by doing what we can to keep ourselves and others safe from the virus,” said CFVGA President Robert Sakata, Sakata Farms, Brighton.

    Sakata added that CFVGA is urging growers to continue to implement their high level of worker health measures when retailing their produce to reduce human transmission of COVID-19. He also notes that currently there is no evidence that food or food packaging is associated with transmission of COVID-19. “Fortunately, produce growers already implemented very high standards of safety as laid out in the Food Modernization Act, implemented several years ago. CFVGA and its partners over the past several years have focused on extensive grower training of these produce safety rules.”

    “Consuming produce is one of the best things consumers can do to keep their immune systems strong,” said Cathy Schmelter, An Ounce of Nutrition, a registered dietitian nutritionist. “During this pandemic, it is crucial that we do everything we can to feel better and to boost our immunity. Consuming produce is an excellent way to accomplish both goals.”

    CFVGA and the Colorado Produce Safety Collaborative will be hosting a free webinar for all farmers and ranchers to learn how to better communicate with their customers about produce and their operations during the pandemic. The presenter will be Diane Mulligan, M&C Communications, whose firm consulted with growers on communication during the 2011 Holly, Colo., listeria outbreak in cantaloupe. The hour-long, interactive webinar is Wed., March 25, beginning at 12:10pm. To register go to the front page of CFVGA’s website: https://coloradoproduce.org

    According to Mulligan, the human tendency when faced with a crisis is to avoid communication when the opposite-communicating openly and fully-is much better for consumers and growers.

    The CFVGA is comprised of roughly 250 members, including produce operations of all sizes and types of production throughout the state, as well as representatives of allied industries. The Colorado fruit and vegetable growing sector contributes nearly $485 million to Colorado at the farm gate and is multiplied as it goes through the distribution chain. Over 90,000 Colorado acres are in fruit and vegetable production.

     

     

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  • Mountain lion from Wednesday’s attack in Loveland tests positive for rabies 

    Mountain lion from Wednesday’s attack in Loveland tests positive for rabies 

    LOVELAND, Colo. – A mountain lion that attacked a resident and a Larimer County Sheriff deputy Wednesday has tested positive for rabies, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s wildlife pathologist. 

    Both bite victims have been notified and the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment is managing the rabies exposure investigation and response.  

    Attack Details:

    At approximately 1:55 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, deputies from the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado State Patrol, rangers from Larimer County Natural Resources and CPW wildlife officers all responded to a reported mountain lion attack west of Loveland near an RV park along the Big Thompson River. 

    A man and a delivery driver were talking outside a home near the Riverview RV Park when the driver noticed a mountain lion come from behind his truck. The mountain lion attacked the civilian he was talking to, inflicting injuries.

    Larimer County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived first and found the mountain lion still in the vicinity. As deputies tried to contain the mountain lion, it attacked a deputy and multiple shots were fired at the animal. As the mountain lion continued moving east across the Big Thompson River and near a residence on Black Crow Road, a CPW wildlife officer shot and killed the animal.

    The attack sent both individuals to a hospital with injuries.

    A necropsy of the mountain lion conducted late Wednesday night showed the male was in good body condition, weighing 91 pounds, and had a mild skunk odor.

    DNA evidence was sent to Laramie for testing at the Wyoming Game and Fish Wildlife Forensic & Fish Health Laboratory. Those results are pending.

    Human-Wildlife Interactions in Urban Areas:

    The complex and sometimes dangerous interactions with wildlife calls to attention the challenges wildlife managers face in our urban areas. An expanding resident elk population in west Loveland is a prime food source for predators in the area, in addition to smaller prey. With the increasing herds, managers regularly deal with increased wildlife conflict, including mountain lions, along the Front Range.

    “Management becomes more difficult and complex along the urban interface,” said Mark Leslie, CPW’s Northeast Region Manager. “Hunting is the most efficient tool we utilize to manage wildlife populations and that becomes especially complicated in and around our urban areas with increasing encroachment and human activity in wildlife habitat. Along the Front Range of Colorado, we need to consider alternatives that are more difficult to deploy, in conjunction with smart hunting strategies.”

    Rabies in Wildlife Populations:

    While it is unknown how the mountain lion contracted rabies, it is possible that it was bitten by a smaller prey animal that was also rabid. In the spring, as some wildlife become more active, CPW regularly sees an uptick in rabies activity, especially in skunks.

    “Skunk rabies is endemic in the state, and skunk activity is increasing with the warming weather,” said Karen Fox, CPW’s wildlife pathologist. “Remember to keep your pets vaccinated.” 

    If members of the public observe a wild animal with unusual symptoms or appearing to be diseased, they should contact their local CPW office (the Fort Collins office can be reached at 970-472-4300).

    If someone has come into contact with such an animal, they should contact their local public health officials immediately. The Larimer County public health number is 970-498-6775.

    Mountain Lions in Colorado:

    This was the 23rd known attack of a mountain lion on a human in Colorado since 1990. There were three attacks in 2019, but prior to those, the last attack occurred in 2016. Before 2019, the last time three attacks occurred within the same calendar year was 1998.

    Though mountain lions are elusive, and attacks are relatively rare, it’s important to know how to avoid or manage potential encounters. To learn more about living with mountain lions in Colorado, visit cpw.state.co.us.

     

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  • CPW initiates project with iconic Tarryall-Kenosha Mountain bighorn sheep herd

    CPW initiates project with iconic Tarryall-Kenosha Mountain bighorn sheep herd

    DENVER – Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologists and officers are taking flight on a new project to examine the Tarryall-Kenosha Mountain bighorn sheep herd that at one time was one of the largest and most well-known herds in the country, but has since seen declines over the years.

    Once abundant across western North America, historical estimates suggest bighorn populations were between 500,000 and two million animals prior to Anglo settlement. The Tarryall-Kenosha bighorn herd was at one time part of one of the largest bighorn herds with population estimates over 1,000. 

    Bighorn numbers across the west have dramatically declined. The same is true for the Tarryall-Kenosha herd located within the Pike National Forest and more specifically, the Lost Creek Wilderness. Multiple disease events over the last 70 years reduced herd population numbers through direct mortality and low success rates raising lambs. Today’s depressed population has not rebounded since the last disease epidemic between 1997-2000.

    The project is one biologists are hoping will address three main objectives: 1 Seek to estimate population metrics including abundance and survival to help in assessing the population dynamics of the herd, and to evaluate causes of mortality in ewes and lambs.

    Wildlife biologist Kirstie Yeager places a GPS tracking collar on a ewe on Jan. 3
    (photo by Jason Clay/CPW)
    1. Identify factors limiting population recovery by assessing habitat characteristics, distribution and range use, predation rates, disease and herd health and possible human impacts. 
    2. Use the data obtained to identify and implement management tools to improve the performance of the herd and apply that to other herds across the state. “This project will help us preserve the genetics of this iconic herd, which is crucial for bighorn management throughout the west,” said Shannon Schaller, Senior Terrestrial Biologist for CPW’s Northeast Region. “This herd has been the source for over 20 bighorn translocations that have helped re-establish populations throughout Colorado and beyond. The genetics of this herd are native to our state. We also hope to learn something about bighorn management that can be applied on a statewide level.”

    Schaller initiated the project and obtained a $91,000 Auction-Raffle grant to be used for it. Wildlife biologist Kirstie Yeager is now setting the wheels in motion and managing the multi-year project that will use 30 GPS satellite collars to track and help obtain crucial data. To do so, it will require both a hands-on and an aerial approach.

    “We will attempt to sample, mark and apply GPS collars on up to 30 ewes to help us assess the health of the animals and track them for several years,” Yeager said.

    Capture work will be accomplished with helicopters and ground darting. Thirteen of the collars are already out with the first collars deployed on ewes on Jan. 3. Only ewes (adult females) will be collared in this project.

    The remote nature some of these bighorns are located at makes it necessary to do capture work via helicopter. CPW is working in conjunction with the United States Forest Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on this project to obtain the necessary approval for work in the wilderness area.

    “The collars will last for three to four years, so ideally we should obtain beneficial data from several lambing seasons,” Yeager said. “Lambing is going to be one of the main things we are looking at to identify why recruitment into the population has been low, and we will track the lambs after they are born by following the collared ewes. 

    “Ewes will be monitored for survival, health and cause of mortality. GPS collars transmit a different signal when the collar stops moving, suggesting the animal may have died. We can then locate the ewe via signals transmitted by the collar, assess the cause of mortality and collect necessary samples.”

    The Tarryall–Kenosha group has been classified by CPW as a Tier 1 population of greatest conservation need. By definition, Tier 1 groups are regarded as those large, native populations comprised of one or more interconnected herds that have received little, if any, supplemental releases in the past. These populations likely represent indigenous populations with the greatest genetic diversity who have been able to persist despite various adversities. Today in Colorado, the overall bighorn population is estimated to be approximately 7,000.

    Helicapture crews place a GPS tracking collars on an ewe.
    Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep near Tarryall Reservoir (photos by Jason Clay/CPW)

    At least 28 percent of the estimated 375 animals in the Tarryall-Kenosha group were lost during the 1997-2000 disease outbreak. Another major die-off occurred back in 1952-53, which was the first documented, all-age disease-related die-offs in Colorado. It is believed that the pathogens were likely introduced by domestic livestock.

    “Diseases can be a major limiting factor restricting population growth for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep,” Schaller said. “Other factors such as habitat loss/fragmentation, human disturbance within critical habitats, road strikes and predation are other limiting factors for bighorn herds in Colorado. This project aims to identify limiting factors so we can implement management strategies to help recover the Tarryall-Kenosha herd and other bighorn herds across Colorado to repopulate Colorado’s state mammal across the Rocky Mountains.”

    [VIDEO] Watch as the first GPS collars for this project get deployed

     

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  • Shed hunting restrictions remain in place through April; poachers face fines and suspensions

    Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds shed hunters that the collection and possession of antlers or horns on all public lands west of I-25 is prohibited between January 1 and April 30 each year.

     

    Annual shed collection closures to protect wintering wildlife remain in place on all public lands west of I-25 through April 30. Fines and license suspension points are assessed for those violating the closures.

     

    This closure, in place since 2018, is intended to protect wintering animals from unnecessary human disturbance during the late winter months when ungulate body condition is at its worst.

    “The closure has been very successful in protecting wildlife during the late winter, however, there are still some who have ignored the closures,” said wildlife officer Garrett Smith. “The driving force for shed collection is money, and when you put a price tag on something, you will have people who will go to great lengths to exploit that.”

    This closure is for public lands only; the collection of antlers and horns on private lands is still permitted. However, permission to access private lands is always required regardless of the time of year.

    Due to a recently approved increase in wildlife-related fines, the possession of a single antler or horn will cost you $137 and 5 license suspension points. Accumulation of 20 or more points may lead to suspensions of hunting and fishing privileges in Colorado and 48 other states, which include all of Colorado’s neighboring states.

    As two people in Moffat County recently discovered, CPW is taking the closure very seriously. The two individuals were identified as Lucas Price and Bobby Higginbotham of Vernal, Utah. Both were convicted for the possession of 17 elk antlers in March of 2019 and have had their hunting and fishing privileges suspended for one year as of January 2020. Both individuals also received a fine of $1,233 for possessing the antlers. Price and Higginbotham were contacted by wildlife officials while on snowmobile in game management unit 10, an area that is managed for quality hunting opportunity by CPW. Wildlife officer Smith also stated that this area has seen a large amount of attention by shed collectors due to the size of elk and deer antlers known to be in this unit.

    In this case, the individuals were found to have collected the antlers on BLM land, while others have resorted to trespassing on private property to try and escape the closure rules. In conjunction with the closure, if a person is found to be in possession of shed antlers while trespassing they will be charged for the possession of those antlers as well.

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    CPW encourages people with information about illegal shed collection to call their local CPW office or the Operation Game Thief (OGT) hotline at 1-877-265-6648. Tips to OGT may earn you monetary rewards, individuals who call OGT may remain anonymous.

  • GOVERNOR’S AG FORUM WELCOME RECEPTION MAKES A MOVE TO THE COLORADO HISTORY CENTER FOR FIRST TIME IN 29 YEARS.

    GOVERNOR’S AG FORUM WELCOME RECEPTION MAKES A MOVE TO THE COLORADO HISTORY CENTER FOR FIRST TIME IN 29 YEARS.

     For the first time in 29 years, the welcome reception for the Governor’s Forum on Colorado Agriculture will not be at the Governor’s Mansion. On Feb. 25, from 5:30p to 8:00p, the Welcome Reception for the Governor’s Forum on Colorado Agriculture will be held at the History Colorado Center, 1200 Broadway, Denver, Colo. 

    This year marks the 29th year for the Governor’s Forum on Colorado Agriculture. This change in venue will allow the forum reception to welcome a greater number of guests and allow a stronger opportunity for networking and engagement. With a theme this year of “Brand it Agriculture”, CALP Class 14 hopes to cover a diverse range of agricultural issues and topics in an attempt to create solidarity among all agricultural industries. Registration is open through 1 pm at the event, Feb. 26, 2020 at the Renaissance Stapleton Hotel in Denver.

    For more information or to register, go to governorsagforum.com or contact Dani Traweek at (303) 547-5963. Speaker biographies available on-line and interviews may be arranged through Dani. 

    About Colorado Agriculture Leadership Program (CALP)

    CALP is an intensive, two-year agriculture leadership program, focused specifically on developing high caliber leaders for Colorado agriculture who are well-versed in the complex and diverse issues of food production, agriculture policy, and the converging interests of rural and urban populations in Colorado. For more information, please visit www.coloagleaders.org. 

     

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  • Colorado’s Roadmap to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Pollution Delivers Initial Results

    Colorado’s Roadmap to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Pollution Delivers Initial Results

    To deliver on the administration’s commitment to renewable electricity and bold action to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution across the economy, Governor Polis has directed state agencies to develop a comprehensive action plan during 2020 that expands upon the  Polis Administration’s Roadmap to 100% Renewable Energy By 2040 and Bold Climate Action released in May 2019.

    Under the direction of the Governor’s Climate Cabinet, several state agencies – the Colorado Energy Office, Department of Public Health and Environment, Department of Transportation, Department of Natural Resources and Department of Agriculture – are working with Energy and Environmental Economics (E3) to help develop a GHG Pollution Reduction Roadmap (Roadmap).

    The Roadmap will provide an action plan for the state to meet legislatively adopted, science-based targets for reducing GHG pollution 26% by 2025, 50% by 2030 and 90% by 2050 from 2005 levels. Initial work has helped to quantify GHG pollution in 2005 and project GHG pollution reductions from recently passed legislation and administrative actions. In future phases, the Roadmap will quantify projected reductions from near-term additional actions the administration is pursuing and will identify additional cost-effective legislative, administrative and regulatory actions, as well as voluntary measures to help achieve the state’s GHG pollution reduction goals. 

    The Roadmap evaluates the impact of 14 pieces of legislation the General Assembly passed in 2019 including establishing GHG pollution reduction goals, requiring local jurisdictions to adopt one of the three most recent versions of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), creating pathways to clean energy for electric utilities, modernizing the Public Utilities Commission, adopting new energy efficiency standards for appliances, and requiring investor-owned utilities to invest in electrifying transportation, as well as administrative actions including the adoption of zero emissions vehicle standard. In a presentation today at the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission, agencies shared initial modeling by E3 showing that currently adopted policies should allow the state to achieve an 18% reduction by 2025 and 25% by 2050.

    Will Toor, executive director of the Colorado Energy Office, said, “In only 14 months the Polis administration, working with the legislature, has made real progress on greenhouse gas pollution reduction. Our modeling shows that policies adopted through 2019 should allow the state to achieve two-thirds of our 2025 pollution reduction goals and half of our 2030 goals. This progress doesn’t take into account the additional reductions we expect to see once recent oil and gas legislation is fully implemented. But we are not done. In the near term, the administration is proposing rules to reduce emissions of hydrofluorocarbons, developing a new state electric vehicle plan, and working with legislators to make it easier for Coloradans to purchase electric vehicles, reduce building energy use and switch from burning fossil fuels in buildings to using clean electricity, as well as supporting legislation to back the use of renewable natural gas as a replacement for fossil methane. In the coming months, E3 will quantify the additional emissions reductions we can expect from these actions.”

    “About a year ago, Governor Polis gave us the directive to be bold in protecting the health of our communities and the Colorado environment by reducing greenhouse gases, and we have been running with that directive,” said Jill Hunsaker Ryan, executive director, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. “We are moving faster than ever because that is what needs to be done. We have adopted a car emissions standard to accelerate the transition from fossil fuel vehicles to zero-emitting electric vehicles; we have formed the first-ever climate change unit at the department, which is dedicated to reducing greenhouse gas emissions; we have enacted the initial round of rules to reduce oil and gas emissions under the stringent new law; and we are helping electric utilities plan to transition from coal power to renewable energy. We are only one year in and gaining momentum on the issue. The Roadmap assures that we are deliberate in the strategies we pursue.”

    There will be opportunities for Coloradans to provide feedback on the development of the Roadmap and actions that can help Colorado meet its GHG pollution reduction goals. To stay updated on the Roadmap process and submit feedback, go here. 

     

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