Regional Agricultural Feasibility Supports Livestock Producers & Meat Processors

March 10, 2023

The Community Agriculture Alliance (CAA), Colorado State University (CSU), Northwest Colorado Development Council (NWCDC), and Colorado Northwestern Community College (CNCC) are developing a regional agricultural infrastructure feasibility study for Moffat, Rio Blanco, and Routt Counties. The feasibility study will gather input from agricultural producers to support efforts to secure future federal grant opportunities. It is funded by a $25,000 grant from the Just Transition Fund (JTF), a national philanthropic initiative that supports communities and organizations that are impacted by the changing coal economy. 

The intent of this project is to report what we hear to business owners and policymakers to enact change and create a food ecosystem that supports more value-added agricultural and food processing activities. Value-added activities involve further processing or packaging raw ag products to help earn more money from farm products. For example, ranchers can package beef and sell directly to consumers or further process it into jerky or sausage.

“Our agricultural sector is one of the key pillars of our economy,” said Tim Redmond, NWCDC Chair and Routt County Commissioner. “The NWCDC, CAA, CSU, CNCC, and our community partners are dedicated to growing this important sector to diversify the economy, which is critical in the face of the sunsetting of coal.” 

The study will begin with in-person or virtual interviews with our producers in Northwest Colorado to better understand processing, storage, distribution, barriers, and marketing needs. The feasibility study will identify opportunities for our community to come together to overcome the challenges facing our livestock producers in Northwest Colorado. We are asking for producers to sign up for the study, by clicking the Google Form Link: https://forms.gle/T5u2pzpCRA33b7Ss8 or email Libby Christensen, Ph.D, CSU Extension, Statewide Food and Agriculture Specialist at libby.christensen@colostate.edu.  

Through a series of NWCDC Ag Producer Meetings last November in the three counties, we’ve heard about the challenges facing livestock producers. To be able to make regulatory or economic structural changes, we need to systematically capture these experiences. Ranchers will have access to the study to help them apply for grants and loans. 

The confidential interview should take about an hour to complete. If you decide not to participate in the interview, you may withdraw your consent and stop participation at any time. We will not collect your name or personal identifiers. 

Community partners include the Moffat County Cattlemen’s and Cattlewomen Associations, the Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District, and individuals, including Stetson Livestock and Villard Ranch, LLC. 

About NWCDC
Northwest Colorado Development Council (NWCDC) is an intergovernmental agreement between Moffat, Rio Blanco, and Routt Counties and the member communities, Craig, Hayden, Meeker, Oak Creek, Rangely, Steamboat Springs, and Yampa. Together these communities work collaboratively to diversify the regional economy and to support workforce development, affordable housing, access to child care, and regional transportation.

About JTF
The Just Transition Fund (JTF) is a national philanthropic initiative that supports communities and organizations that are impacted by the changing coal economy. Through its Federal Access Center, JTF provides technical support and grants to communities and organizations seeking to tap into an expanding number of federal funding opportunities.