Western CO Soil Health, Food and Farm Forum

In this session, you will hear from local Hispanic producers about how their directions have
changed over time - dependent on needs, opportunities, and circumstances. Jesus Flores will talk about
the Farmer's Land Co-op at the Rio Grande Farm Park in Alamosa. Juan Lopez-Hernandez will talk about
the formation of the Sand Dunes Mushroom Cooperative in the San Luis Valley. Augustin Pantoja will
talk about his journey as the son of a farmer who is following in his father's footsteps but making new
and innovative adjustments to their agriculture business.

This session will be offered in Spanish with English interpretation available.

Explore the historical roots of natural farming practices and their critical importance in today's agricultural landscape. This session will delve into traditional farming techniques, the evolution of natural farming philosophies, and the relevance of these methods in addressing current agricultural issues.

Running a small farm is hard. Join Dylan from Sandy Seed Farm, an intensive small-scale vegetable operation, for strategies on finding balance between a fulfilling personal life and a bustling professional life.

Accessing land and navigating succession are some of the greatest challenges faced by farmers and ranchers. Alyssa will guide us through a discussion about various methods to access land, navigating conversations around succession, and building relationships with landowners seeking to pivot.

With input costs rising, commodity prices stagnant, the constant threat of financial ruin, and the number of ag producers in steady decline. Jason will demonstrate tools, practices and perspective to help you unplug from the noise and map a way forward without the anchor chain of the status quo.

In this session, you will learn about available resources for small agriculture and food businesses that are offered through Region 10, CSU Extension, and Colorado Department of Agriculture. Specifically, you will learn about available grants and small business loans, how to write a business plan and get technical assistance in business start-up, and how to sign up to use Region 10's commercial kitchen. You will hear a personal story from a small food business owner about how she was able to maximize her resources and get her business off the ground.
This session will be offered in Spanish with English interpretation available. 

Using historical data from the last 30 years, we will compare different farming methods to determine if changing methods really increases profitability.

Soil biology & nutrient cycling encompass the intricate interactions among soil microorganisms that facilitate the biochemical cycling of essential nutrients. We dig into how these processes function and how they are crucial for maintaining soil fertility, promoting plant health, and ensuring the sustainability of agroecosystems.