FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media contact: Karina Puikkonen, karina@ccalt.org, 720.557.8277

August 27, 2024

LAKEWOOD, Colo. – As the 118^th United States Congress prepares to reconvene shortly after the upcoming Labor Day holiday, the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT) is lending its support to the growing bipartisan call for Congress to pass the 2024 Farm Bill before the end of the year.

In late July, a letter endorsed by more than 500 organizations representing a diverse range of stakeholders in conservation, agriculture, nutrition and other related sectors was sent to leaders in both the United States Senate and House of Representatives, encouraging Congress to act on a Farm Bill before the end of the calendar year and outlining the risks to farmers and ranchers across America in failing to do so.  As a member of the Partnership of Rangeland Trusts (PORT), which is a signatory to the letter, CCALT supports this important call to action.

“Congress must act decisively to pass a new Farm Bill in 2024, ensuring that essential conservation programs continue to be a tool available to farm and ranch families across our nation,” said CCALT Executive Director Erik Glenn.  “These programs are vital for ensuring we continue to have land available for the production of the food, fiber, and fuel that is needed to support our growing population.

“Farm Bill conservation programs empower landowners to maintain productive use of their land while contributing to the conservation of our natural resources for future generations,” added Glenn.  “Moreover, these programs provide significant economic benefits to rural communities, generating substantial economic activity and creating jobs in areas where opportunities are often limited. By investing in these programs, we are not only strengthening the backbone of rural America but also ensuring the continued resilience and productivity of our nation’s agricultural sector.”

According to a recent report by the Colorado Department of Agriculture, the agriculture industry contributes $47 billion annually to the state’s economy and employs more than 195,000 people across 36,000 farm operations.

The letter, a copy of which is available here, was sent to House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, House Agriculture Chair GT Thompson, House Agriculture Ranking Member David Scott, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Agriculture Chair Debbie Stabenow and Senate Agriculture Ranking Member John Boozman.

CCALT encourages its landowner-partners to express their support for Farm Bill action by contacting their Colorado federal representatives.

About the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust
The Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT) is a nonprofit land conservation organization whose mission is to “…conserve Colorado’s western heritage and working landscapes for the benefit of future generations.” CCALT has partnered more than 400 farm and ranch families in the protection of more than 806,000 acres statewide to date.