By Shannon Lukens.

 

Community leaders and ag producers met with representatives of U.S. Senator Michael Bennet’s office in Craig and Steamboat late last week, to find out how the Farm Bill can better help Northwest Colorado. The Farm Bill is a trillion dollar package that runs through Sept. 2023. Senator Bennet has been on the Agriculture Committee since 2009.

More on the Farm Bill from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

More on the Farm Bill from the Department of Agriculture

Here’s Matt Kireker with Sen. Bennet’s office.

“It’s invaluable as we’re gearing up for next year’s reauthorization of the Farm Bill that we hear from folks on the ground here in Northwest Colorado.”

 

Local Routt County rancher Jo Stanko spoke at the meeting and said the Farm Bill provides a safety net for farmers and ranchers, plus opportunities in education, conservation, and innovation.

“It just helps us keep moving forward in agriculture to do the best we can.”

 

Rio Blanco County Commissioner Ginny Love said collaboration is important.

“We need to realize that we’re a small area here. We all work together very well: Routt County, Moffat County, and Rio Blanco County. And we need to continue to be strong in our efforts to bring agriculture to the forefront.”

 

Representatives from Senator Bennet’s office are taking information from all of the community sessions back to his office in Washington D.C.