Washington, D.C. – Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, welcomed an announcement that the Colorado Conservation Tillage Association (CCTA) will receive $1.6 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to implement a farmer-led initiative focused on soil health and regenerative management systems.
The CCTA was selected to receive funding through On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials (On-Farm Trials) Soil Health Demonstration Trial, a new component of the Conservation Innovation Grants that Bennet helped establish and secure funding for in the 2018 Farm Bill. In September, Bennet sent a letter to Matthew Lohr, Chief of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in support of the CCTA’s proposal.
“For farmers across the Eastern Plains, finding ways to promote soil health practices while boosting incomes is essential to sustaining a strong farm economy,” said Bennet. “This grant will go a long way in giving farmers the tools and resources they need to pursue innovative long-term strategies to improve soil health, in turn benefitting our rural communities.”
“We are very honored to receive this grant award,” said CCTA President Michael Thompson. “It is exciting to work on a project that will help farmers and ranchers improve their production practices and soil health in the High Plains.”
The funding from the Conservation Innovation Grants for Farm Conservation Innovation award will enable CCTA to implement the Farmers for Advancing Regenerative Management Systems (FARMS) initiative to implement sustainable soil health management while maintaining farmer profitability. Specifically, the funding will enable CCTA to provide technical assistance to farmers, facilitate working groups, and mentor transitioning producers.
More information about the CIG On-Farm Trials is available HERE.