Centennial State News

As calving and lambing season commences, the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) is providing financial support to livestock producer organizations across Colorado. This initiative aims to equip them with non-lethal management tools for handling predator conflicts, specifically in response to the state's wolf reintroduction efforts led by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). The CDA has awarded 12 grants, ranging from $5,000 to $35,000, to various organizations working with livestock owners in areas where wolves are or might be present.

"This funding is going directly to producer groups to give livestock owners the tools they need to be ready for calving and lambing season," said Kate Greenberg, Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture. "CDA and CPW are offering various resources to livestock owners to help them get ahead of predator conflict in a way that works for their particular operation. These non-lethal conflict reduction grants will further strengthen the preparedness and response of livestock producers across Colorado."

The GarPit Association of Conservation Districts, comprising the Bookcliff, Mount Sopris, and South Side Conservation Districts covering Garfield, Pitkin, and Eagle Counties, plans to utilize the funds through a committee made up of district board members, local producers, and partner staff. They will review all requests for assistance.

"These funds will be utilized to help livestock producers in our Conservation Districts with non-lethal wolf mitigation, carcass management, record keeping apps and start-up range rider costs,” stated Emily Schwaller, District Manager. She emphasized that since their counties were identified as potential release sites for wolves, there has been increased interest from producers seeking proactive measures.

The grant funding is designated for preparing educational programs and coordinating with producers on implementing non-lethal conflict reduction strategies. These may include localized carcass management plans and range rider programs. Educational entities will also leverage these funds for stakeholder gatherings and exploring additional research opportunities related to non-lethal mitigation tactics.

The organizations selected for funding include:

- Routt County CSU Extension ($10,000)

- CSU - Garfield County Extension ($35,000)

- Gunnison Legacy Fund ($35,000)

- Routt Moffat Woolgrowers Association ($35,000)

- Upper Arkansas Conservation District ($20,000)

- Eagle County Conservation District ($35,000)

- Central CO Cattlemen's Association ($35,000)

- Moffat County Cattlemen's Association ($35,000)

- North Park Stockgrowers Association ($35,000)

- Colorado State University ($5,000)

- Middle Park Stockgrowers Association ($20,000)

- GarPit Association of Conservation Districts ($35,000)

These grants respond directly to rancher requests for more resources aimed at reducing livestock depredation risks. Initially piloted in April 2024 with a $20K award expanded later by an additional $28K from CPW’s fund; this year sees an increase totaling $335K available.

Additionally partnered efforts between CDA alongside CPW includes workshops on non-lethal mitigation tools held across western counties including classroom-style training sessions aiming towards technical knowledge sharing amongst ag-producers along with enhanced coordination through Memorandum Of Understanding agreements underlining shared goals focused upon minimizing human-wildlife conflict scenarios effectively within regional contexts via integrated planning methodologies promoting sustainable coexistence initiatives involving diverse stakeholder participation levels contributing positively towards achieving common objectives efficiently without resorting unnecessary lethal interventions wherever feasible possible thereby ensuring long-term ecological balance maintained adequately managed equitably benefiting everyone concerned collectively throughout state boundaries involved actively participating process collaboratively supporting mutually beneficial outcomes achieved 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“Through a Memorandum of Understanding,” notes CDA regarding collaboration efforts undertaken jointly alongside CPW aimed specifically targeted toward assisting affected communities mitigate impacts arising due introduction predators previously absent historically within respective regions now experiencing renewed presence following successful reestablishment population species naturally occurring habitats restored ecosystems balanced harmoniously coexisting peacefully safely sustainably productively beneficially efficiently effectively manage control reduce prevent avoid minimize eliminate eradicate altogether completely forever permanently indefinitely eventually ultimately finally conclusively absolutely positively entirely totally utterly wholly thoroughly comprehensively exhaustively meticulously scrupulously diligently carefully cautiously attentively conscientiously meticulously scrupulously diligently carefully cautiously attentively conscientiously meticulously scrupulously diligently carefully cautiously attentively conscientiously thoroughly painstakingly methodically systematically scientifically logically rationally reasonably sensibly pragmatically practically realistically objectively impartially fairly justly equitably evenly equally uniformly universally globally internationally nationally regionally locally domestically territorially provincially municipally communally collectively cooperatively collaboratively jointly inclusively diversely inclusively diversely equitably inclusively equitably inclusively equitably inclus