Vision in Action

Colorado's breathtaking scenery, wide-open spaces and pastoral settings have untold value–to the state's residents, visitors, agriculturists...and developers.

Definition of this value depends on who you ask, but if you ask the members of the Western Slope coalition called Agrivision 20/20, you'll get a passionate answer!

A group of western Colorado leaders, including Brent Young, agricultural marketing agent for Extension in the Tri River area (Delta, Mesa, Montrose & Ouray counties), recognized what they thought was a disturbing trend in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

"Agricultural land was disappearing at an alarming rate in neighboring resort counties," said Young. "In fact, it happened so fast that agricultural land was gone in about 10 years." He knew that the trend of disappearing agricultural land probably would be repeated in the counties he worked in. Large tracts of land, held for generations in ranches and farms that preserve open-space and wildlife habitat, were being sold to capitalize on rising property values.

"We were seeing double-digit growth in the area. Farm land and open space were being subdivided, a number of support agribusinesses had gone by the wayside, and we were getting close to losing our ability to have a sustainable agriculture," said Young.

Young, a person whom many credit with bringing the growth issue to the public's attention, along with his Extension colleagues, Robbie Baird-LeValley, Extension livestock agent, and Wayne Cooley, Extension agronomy agent, decided to take action. They began organizing a series of public meetings among farmers and ranchers, county commissioners and economic development groups in the Tri-River Area. With the Delta-Montrose Area Vocational-Technical Center as a partner, Extension launched AgriVision 20/20 at a conference in March 1997.

Since then, a number of economic councils, economic development associations, land conservancies, agricultural cooperatives, city and county governments including Mesa and Ouray, have joined AgriVision 20/20, whose goal is to help protect the remaining farm and ranch land in the area. Another powerful ally that embraced the effort is American Farmland Trust, a non-profit group that works nationally to prevent agricultural land from being taken out of production. The group has almost 20 years experience in securing easements and educating the public about the benefits of protecting farm land.

"Extension agents and other leaders knew they needed to get their arms around what was happening to the agricultural economy and the impact that growth was having on agricultural lands in that dynamic region," said Jeff Jones, AFT's Rocky Mountain field director."They found out the community was really interested in protecting agricultural land, and that stabilizing the land base was important to keeping a viable economy."

"Agriculture obviously needs to be profitable for farmers and ranchers to hold onto their land and pass it on to their children," Young said.

So with that issue in mind, the AgriVision 20/20 approach to preserving agricultural land had three components–develop strategies to increase profitability for farmers and ranchers, promote voluntary land-preservation methods, and increase awareness of the issue among the non-agricultural public.

Since its inception, AgriVision 20/20--the agencies and organizations that make up the coalition--have produced concrete results. The organization promotes voluntary land conservation, value-added opportunities and other more profitable options for agricultural producers. They recently received a three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Fund for Rural America to find ways to improve the profitability of the livestock industry in Delta, Mesa and Montrose counties, as well as Logan County in northeastern Colorado. The first year of the grant was spent on a feasibility study focused on use of facilities near Delta for a packing plant that could process meat from domestic animals and exotic species such as elk. That approach proved unworkable; however, the Montrose Economic Development Council studied other options, which included building a new packing plant, using Swedish technology to develop a portable facility, or developing a modular facility. Additionally, the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union examined the potential of a regional packing plant that would process meat from animals shipped in from all over Colorado and parts of New Mexico and Wyoming.

Other efforts are also underway. One is a study of the possibility of converting a mill in Fruita into a facility to process oil from grain seeds. The main product from that operation would be industrial motor oils. Another effort involves a Western Sugar Company study of the possibility of revitalizing the area's sugar-beet industry.

Young pointed out the unique aspect of agricultural production in the four-county area. "The value of agriculture and agricultural land--especially in Mesa County-- is in the unique climate and soils that allow fruit orchards and vineyards to grow," he said. "You can't grow peaches just anywhere." He also noted the area's ability to produce high-quality crop seeds. "Our low humidity suppresses water-borne disease and allows plants to produce disease-free seeds for the next crop."

Jones said, "Extension has been an amazing ally in this effort. I am so impressed with the Extension agents–they have made such a difference in our ability to do our job. The big picture of what AgriVision is providing is a great framework to build from in that region. Observing how it evolves can help the American Farmland Trust replicate that process in other communities that are losing agricultural land."

Young stressed that the most important reason to keep a vibrant agricultural economy in the Tri River Area is for the quality of life. "Losing our agricultural land means losing open space, natural resources and habitat--our way of life."

Photo Cutline: The goal of AgriVision 20/20–a partnership of agricultural groups, economic councils, land conservancies, and city and county governments in Colorado's Tri River Area--is to help protect and preserve farm and ranch land in the area.. The team of Extension agents and other leaders–including (left to right) Robert Bleiberg, Mesa County Land Conservancy, Susan Hanson, Delta County Administrator, Brian Mullor, American Farmland Trust, Mary Chapman, liaison to AFT, Jeff Jones, Rocky Mountain field director for American Farmland Trust, and Extension agents Robbie Baird-LeValley and Brent Young–are credited with bringing community awareness to the plight of the agricultural economy and the impact that growth was having in that region.

For more information, contact your local Colorado State University Extension office.

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