Issue Position: Agriculture
Issue Position
Our district has nearly 26,000 farms and ranches which produce over $6.4 billion of agricultural crops (corn, wheat, grain sorghum, millet, sugar beets and hay) and livestock (cattle and calves, hogs, dairy products and chicken eggs) annually. It is the top ranked congressional district in the state for agricultural products, the 11 th ranked U.S. Congressional District for total value of agricultural products sold, and the 5 th ranked U.S. Congressional District for value of livestock and poultry products sold. Managing risk is essential for farmers and ranchers who face unpredictable and uncontrollable threats from the weather, pests, disease and commodity markets. Farmers and ranchers need a combination of crop insurance and farm and conservation programs to manage this risk, provide a safety net for their annual crop and livestock production and improve their land. Agricultural trade is essential to farmers and ranchers and the American economy. With the world's population expected to swell to nine billion by the year 2050, free and open trade is a priority for farmers and ranchers. Farmers and ranchers need the continued long-term investment of federal dollars into public agricultural research by USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and land-grant colleges such as Colorado State University for cutting-edge research to sustain a competitive agricultural economy, enhance the natural resource base and environment, and ensure high-quality and safe food. It also means protecting the water that our farmers and ranchers need to stay in business while sustaining population growth in Colorado which could double from 5 million today by 2060 to ensure a productive agriculture, a productive economy, vibrant and sustainable cities, a strong environment, and a robust recreation industry. In addition to producing food and fiber, Colorado farmers and ranchers are producers of renewable energy from wind, solar and biofuels which creates investments in rural Colorado from new jobs, lease payments to landowners and expansion of local and county tax bases.
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