Policy Resources Toolkit
Public policy impacts nearly every aspect of agriculture and rural life throughout the state of Colorado. As a grassroots organization, CFB members help to guide Colorado Farm Bureau’s annual policy activities. These policy priorities protect and promote agriculture and rural values, and are meant to help set agendas for policymakers and inspire proactive engagement during the legislative and rulemaking processes.
The below resources have been created in an effort to inform the public on key legislative issues. These summaries are not meant to be exhaustive, and we encourage you to read legislation as it’s been written and engage in the policymaking process. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Director of Public Policy, State Affairs and General Counsel, Austin Vincent.
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Agriculture Labor Rules
The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) adopted the new rules as part of the implementation of Senate Bill 87 (SB 87). Introduced in February of 2021, SB 87 was signed into law by Governor Polis in late June of 2021. The new CDLE rules on agriculture overtime and labor conditions went into effect at the beginning of 2022.
Colorado Agriculture Labor Toolkit
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Animal Welfare
Colorado law addresses livestock welfare in a way that protects animals from harm, neglect, and mistreatment. Current statutes pertain to confinement standards, humane slaughter methods, and cruelty to animals, amongst others – all of which prioritize animal welfare, quality of life, and health and safety.
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Broadband and Wireless Access
Colorado’s rural communities depend on broadband internet and wireless coverage. These services play an essential role in modern farming practices, healthcare and telehealth systems, education, and rural economies.
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Carbon Reduction in Agriculture
Modern agricultural practices prioritize efficiency and rely heavily on technology. The innovative practices that farmers and ranchers use make agriculture a sustainable industry, and one that is proactively working to preserve precious natural resources, limit GHG emissions, sequester carbon, and find alternative solutions to addressing the threats of climate change.
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CORE Act
Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and U.S. Congressman Joe Neguse’s Colorado Outdoor Recreation & Economy (CORE) Act proposes the protection of over 400,000 acres of public land in Colorado.
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CRP Flexibility
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a land conservation program administered by the Farm Service Agency. In exchange for a yearly rental payment, farmers enrolled in the program agree to remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and plant species that will improve environmental health and quality.
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Farm Bill
The Farm Bill—a massive piece of federal legislation—is up for renewal in 2023. The Farm Bill is an omnibus bill governing policy in many areas related to the agricultural sector, including farm income support, food assistance, trade, and more.
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Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)
A TMDL is the calculation pertaining to the maximum amount of a pollutant allowed to enter a body of water so that the waterbody can and will continue to meet water quality standards for that specific pollutant. A TMDL establishes a reduction target for a pollutant, and allocates load reductions to the source or sources of that pollutant.