Regenerative Agriculture Program
The Colorado State Board of Land Commissioners (State Land Board) is committed to managing state trust lands in a way that generates revenue for Colorado's public schools while also promoting long-term ecological health and resilience. Our Regenerative Agriculture Program is a key part of this mission, working with our agricultural lessees to implement practices that enhance the land, improve productivity, and contribute to a more sustainable future for Colorado.
What is Regenerative Agriculture?
Regenerative agriculture is a holistic approach to farming and ranching that focuses on rebuilding and restoring soil health. By working with natural systems, these practices lead to a host of benefits, including:
- Improved Soil Health: Enhancing soil's organic matter and microbial life.
- Improved Water Cycle: Building healthy soils that can hold more water, making them more resilient to drought.
- Improved Carbon Cycle: Drawing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in the soil, which helps mitigate climate change.
- Enhanced Biodiversity: Creating healthier ecosystems for plants and wildlife.
- Greater Economic Resilience: Improving the long-term productivity and viability of agricultural operations.
- Drought Resilience: Healthier soils, rich in organic matter, have an increased capacity to absorb and retain water. This improved water infiltration and storage means that during periods of drought, the land can hold onto moisture for longer, providing a more stable environment for forage growth and supporting livestock through drier conditions.
Our program supports these practices through education, partnerships, and innovative lease stipulations that incentivize land stewardship. We believe that by working together, we can create a legacy of healthy, productive lands that will benefit Colorado's schools and communities for generations to come.
Program Highlights
The Colorado State Land Board's Regenerative Agriculture Program supports a variety of on-the-ground practices, including:
- Adaptive Multi-Paddock Grazing: Managing livestock grazing to mimic natural patterns, allowing grasslands to recover.
- Reduced Tillage: Minimizing soil disturbance to protect its structure and microbial life.
- Cover Cropping: Planting non-cash crops to keep the soil covered, prevent erosion, and add organic matter.
- Integrating Livestock: Using animals to cycle nutrients and improve soil health in cropping systems.
- Biological Carbon Program: Participating in voluntary carbon markets to generate new revenue streams for our lessees and beneficiaries while promoting climate-smart land management.
- Infrastructure Improvements: Fencing, virtual fencing, water systems
- Drought planning: Stocking conservatively and ensuring appropriate recovery periods for pastures allows more management flexibility and resilience to drought.
And much more!
Resources
- Noble Research Institute
- State Land Board Carbon Sequestration Leasing
- Colorado Department of Agriculture
- Be sure to check out their Soil Health Program and their Agricultural Stewardship Tax Credit
- Natural Resources Conservation Services
- Colorado Association of Conservation Districts
Meet the Program Manager: Jesse Price
Jesse Price is the State Land Board's Regenerative Agriculture Program Manager. He works directly with lessees to provide technical assistance, answer questions, and explore opportunities for adopting regenerative practices on state trust lands. He is also a producer himself, based in southeast Colorado, where he implements regenerative management practices on his and his family's cow-calf operation. Jesse is passionate about sustainable land management and is eager to connect with lessees who are interested in learning more or discussing new approaches for their operations.
Interested in learning more? Reach out to Jesse at jesse.price@state.co.us.