Colorado Agriculture and Rural Communities

Colorado’s farmers and ranchers and our rural communities are a vital part of our economy. My first request as a United States Senator was to serve on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. I am on the Committee to stand up for Colorado agriculture and to ensure that Washington politics do not diminish a way of life that has been so important to our country’s economic security and fundamental to the spirit of Colorado and the West.

At this pivotal moment in our nation’s history, I believe that we can learn from the people of rural Colorado. Crops don’t grow because you have the right political connections; they grow because of hard work and determination. As Americans, I believe we need to apply the same approach to our most serious national problems and move past partisan politics so that we can get down to the business of getting results for the next generation.

As a member of the Committee, I will work hard to ensure the passage of legislation important to Colorado farmers and ranchers.

The Farm Bill

• First and foremost, I am fighting for the quick and correct implementation of the 2008 Farm Bill. In March 2009, I wrote a letter to the Secretary of Agriculture urging quick implementation of the disaster provisions of the Farm Bill so that producers can apply for and receive the assistance they need in a timely manner. I will also be watching other Farm Bill programs, including:
• Provisions specially designed to spur growth and provide opportunities in rural America, such as reduced barriers to credit for small businesses and a new rural entrepreneur assistance program.
• Funding for the beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program.
• Loan and grant programs for rural infrastructure, economic development, and broadband and telecommunications development.
• Programs designed to speed research and development of third-generation biofuels, construction of renewable energy facilities, and generation of wind energy.
• Programs dedicated to nutrition and ending child hunger.

I will work hard to make sure that rural communities can count on stable disaster assistance. Agriculture is a risky business because it is dependent on factors outside of human control. A stretch of soaring temperatures, months without precipitation and sub-freezing temperatures can devastate a crop, kill livestock and leave a producer in financial distress. For this reason I support maintaining a robust farm safety net and supplementary assistance to farmers in the event of disaster.

In these economic times, disaster assistance also means stepping up to the plate for Colorado farmers and ranchers who cannot find the financing they need to keep their farms running. As a result of the federal closure of New Frontier Bank in northern Colorado, thousands of farmers found themselves without the financing they needed to start planting in the spring. I worked with Senator Mark Udall and Representative Betsy Markey to request funding for emergency lending from the Department of Agriculture directed to these farmers, and to get an extension on the number of days farmers had to find alternative financing. I see it as a priority to do what I can to make sure our agricultural communities have access to the funds they need to stand on their own through this crisis.

Ensuring the Survival of Rural Communities

• As I travel around the state, I frequently hear that supporting the survival of rural communities is a critical component to a strong national agriculture policy. From expanding access to health care to finding a way to remedy the chronic shortages of teachers in rural areas, there is a lot of work to do to make sure that our rural cities and towns can continue to support the farmers and ranchers vital to our economy. That is why I support taking action to ensure their continued economic viability, including:
• Comprehensive health care reform that expands health care access for those living in Colorado’s remote farming and ranching towns. In fact, earlier this year the Senate passed an amendment I introduced that assured this Congress will increase its commitment to attracting and retaining qualified medical professionals at rural health centers and rural hospitals.
• Investments to continue to unleash the economic potential of the new energy economy in rural areas, including construction of renewable energy facilities, and the expansion of wind and solar energy, and third-generation biofuels in Colorado’s rural communities.
• A transformation of our public education system that solves the problem of teacher retention, and helps to stop the chronic shortages of teachers in rural areas.
• Linking rural economies to the rest of the world through the expansion of high-speed internet and cell phone service.

Encouraging Young People to Start Careers in Farming

I will support federal efforts to encourage young people to start careers in farming and ranching. The average age of farmers and ranchers is now 57 and continues to increase. The 2008 Farm Bill includes provisions that will help beginning farmers and ranchers enter the industry by reducing barriers to credit access and offering technical assistance. I will pay special attention to implementation of these programs that are designed to attract young people into agriculture because the survival of our agricultural economy is dependent on the involvement of the next generation.

Preserving our Agricultural Heritage

I will work hard to make sure we preserve our agricultural heritage. The value of Colorado’s open lands extends beyond livestock and crop production; open lands purify water and affect its flow, provide wildlife habitats, and have an aesthetic value. Whether farmed, maintained as rangeland, or enrolled in a conservation program, Colorado’s open lands are an essential component to our heritage.

We must also support conservation programs, such as the Grasslands Reserve Program, the Conservation Reserve Program, and the Conservation Stewardship Program. These programs can help preserve open space and provide environmental benefits for all by rewarding good land management practices.

With the right investments, priorities and cooperation between citizens, community leaders, businesses and civic organizations, I believe we can do more than just overcome the current economic crisis. We can rebuild rural economies, strengthen agriculture, protect the land, and improve the quality of life in rural Colorado for this generation and generations to come.