Tracy Ross | Reporter
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People claim Americans, including Coloradans, have no real idea where their food comes from or what goes into producing it. They probably know even less about the role agriculture plays in Colorado’s economy, because somehow food isn’t as flashy as oil and gas, aerospace or skiing, even though without it those other industries wouldn’t exist.
Now, as happens few years, Coloradans can become better acquainted with the industry that gives them hoppy beer, juicy melons, sweeter-than-average carrots and tender sirloin. It’s through the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service’s 2022 Census of Agriculture released in February, and it offers valuable insights into demographics, economics, land use and activities on Colorado farms and ranches, which guides decision-makers of all stripes in the future of the agriculture industry.
“The millions of data points produced by the Census of Agriculture are used by decision-makers at federal and local levels, agribusinesses, researchers, trade associations and many others who serve producers and rural communities through the creation and funding of agricultural programs and services,” says Olga Robak, a spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Agriculture.
On March 27, the National Agricultural Statistics Service also released state and county profiles from the 2022 census as well as state rankings of the market value of agricultural products sold, which offers another view of the state of agriculture in Colorado. Here are some key conclusions from the reports.
Farm and ranch numbers shrunk while their sizes grew
Overall, the number of farms and ranches in Colorado decreased to 36,056 in 2022 from 38,893 in 2017, down 7.3%, while the average size increased to 838 acres from 818 acres in the same period, up 2.4%.
This correlates to research the University of Colorado published in 2023 about the number and size of farms globally. “We see a turning point from widespread farm creation to widespread consolidation on a global level, and that’s the future trajectory that humanity is currently on,” said Zia Mehrabi, assistant professor of environmental studies. “The size of the farm and the number of farms that exist are associated with key environmental and social outcomes.”
More from the report
➔ Producers pumped up production. Producers pumped out $9.22 billion in agricultural products, up from $7.49 billion in 2017. With farm production expenses of $8.16 billion, Colorado farms had a net cash income of $1.83 billion. Average farm income rose to $50,692. And a total of 34.8% of Colorado farms had positive net cash farm income in 2022.
➔ Farms and ranches used more renewable energy. A total of 4,960 Colorado farms and ranches used renewable energy producing systems compared with 4,609 farms in 2017, a 7.6% increase. The majority of Colorado farms, 86.6%, with renewable energy systems reported using solar panels.
➔ Producers continued to skew older, but at a slightly lower rate. The average age of all Colorado producers was 58.3, up 0.7 year from 2017. This is a slightly smaller increase than the average age increase between prior censuses.
➔ Beginning and young producers energized the market. There were 24,166 Colorado farmers with 10 or fewer years of experience in 2022, an increase in the number of beginning farmers from 2017 of 14.2%. Beginning farmers in Colorado are younger than all farmers, with an average age of 49. The number of Colorado producers under age 35 was 5,439, or about 8%. The 4,061 Colorado farms with young producers making decisions tend to be larger than average in both acres and sales.
Feeling a little more informed about the industry that puts food on millions of people’s tables? Now you can use some of this information at your next dinner party.
Have feedback, insights or ideas for The Sun’s rural reporter, Tracy Ross? Shoot her an email or give her a call.
“Significant” flight changes? Get a cash refund
The U.S. Department of Transportation adopted new rules this week that require airlines to promptly refund customers with cash if they didn’t provide the service as originally sold.
Refunds can be requested if “airlines cancel or significantly change their flights, significantly delay their checked bags, or fail to provide the extra services they purchased,” according to the agency.
A significant change is when a flight or departure is more than three hours late for domestic travel or six hours on international flights. Changes also include added connections, seat downgrades or connections to airports or planes that are less accessible for travelers with a disability.
Refunds can also be requested if passengers pay for extra services, like Wi-Fi, but can’t access the service; or for baggage fees if bags are mishandled or delayed. Essentially, a refund applies to any service purchased but not received. Customers can’t accept an alternative flight or travel credits if they want a full refund.
“We’re applauding the new rule changes,” said Danny Katz, executive director of public-interest advocacy organization CoPIRG in Denver. Katz also shared some travel tips for airline passengers.
The transportation department has a dashboard that customers can check how the 10 major airlines are doing on customer service at flightrights.gov. The refund rules are expected to go into effect around October.
Tamara Chuang | Reporter
Sun economy stories you may have missed
➔ Alterra CEO says skiing has reached a “tipping point,” resorts need to ease pain of “really, really mad” customers. In a Q&A, we talk with Jared Smith about climate change, next-gen finance and growing skiing without tarnishing the experience. >> Read story
➔ Xcel’s plan for new EV chargers, rebates cut by 40% by Colorado regulators. Colorado’s PUC was unconvinced Xcel’s plan was cost effective and would lead to greater adoption of electric vehicles >> Read story
➔ Colorado won’t legalize raw milk this year after proposal to allow direct sales to consumers spoils in the legislature. Colorado has some of the strictest raw milk laws in the West, requiring people to buy shares in a cow or goat herd if they want to get unpasteurized milk. >> Read story
➔ Boulder County’s Sans Souci mobile home park jumped at Colorado’s “opportunity to purchase.” Here’s how it’s going. >> Read story
➔ A unique Denver coffee shop has lost half its business due to nearby construction. It’s pleading for community help. >> Read story
➔ Colorado bill to regulate generative artificial intelligence clears its first hurdle at the Capitol. Opponents of Senate Bill 205 say consumer-protection rules could stifle innovations in AI, but supporters say we need to start somewhere. >> Read story
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Take the poll: Corporate profits and consumers
We’ve heard from many readers who say inflation may be slowing down, but prices are still high. Blame is all around, with many complaining about the grocery stores and local services for products and services they need on a regular basis.
Are companies making too much money? Take this week’s reader poll to share what stores, brands and services consumers patronize that seem to be making more than they should. >> Take the poll at cosun.co/3WzisUj
Other working bits
➔ Colorado gives $2 million to local tech hubs. The Colorado Technology Hubs initiative, which grew out of a federal effort to invest in technology outside the coasts, awarded $2 million to three local organizations aimed at increasing workforce development and partnerships in clean tech, cybersecurity and aerospace. The Colorado CleanRange Coalition in the Denver metro area and the Resilient & Adaptive Cyber Protection of Industrial Control Devices & Systems in Grand Junction each received $625,000. In Colorado Springs, $750,000 went to the Securing Space Assets Coalition to help unify research labs and partners to support the space economy. As announced earlier, the state was also named an official tech hub for quantum computing and is currently competing for up to $70 million in federal funding. >> Release
➔ PRIDE job fair touts hundreds of openings. Companies from Amazon to Xcel Energy are hoping to fill hundreds of job openings at the second annual PRIDE Job Fair on Wednesday. Organized by The Center on Colfax, which calls itself the largest LGBTQ+ community center in the Rocky Mountain region, the event is open to all job seekers. Participating employers are mostly active Center on Colfax partners who have signed off on its terms to not discriminate on factors, including gender, sex or citizenship. The event, at the McNichols Building in Denver’s Civic Center park, runs from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. >> Details
➔ Listen to the Daily Sun-Up podcast. The Colorado Sun’s Tuesday podcast typically features a deeper dive into a business or economy story. Take a listen to your regular What’s Working reporter Tamara Chuang talk about Colorado IPOs. >> ColoradoSun.com/podcast
Your usual What’s Working writer, Tamara Chuang, returns next weekend. If you like the monthly focus on rural Colorado, please let reporter Tracy Ross know. Don’t forget to check out The Sun’s daily coverage online. As always, share your 2 cents on how the economy is keeping you down or helping you up at cosun.co/heyww.
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What’s Working is a Colorado Sun column about surviving in today’s economy. Email tamara@coloradosun.com with stories, tips or questions. Read the archive, ask a question at cosun.co/heyww and don’t miss the next one by signing up at coloradosun.com/getww.
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