Agriculture
Industry Overview
| Each year, Colorado produces fresh, high quality products for millions of Colorado residents as well as consumers nationally and internationally. Nearly half of Colorado's 66 million acres are farms and ranches, and Colorado agribusinesses contribute about $16 billion to Colorado's economy. Colorado farm and ranch market receipts (including forestry and government payments) totaled over $7.1 billion in 2005. Additionally, agriculture is a vital part of Colorado's economy, providing more than 105,000 jobs. Agricultural hotbeds in Colorado include the Eastern Plains, the Western Plateau and the San Luis Valley. However, with 31,369 farms and ranches encompassing more than 31 million acres, agriculture is well represented throughout the state. Products The variety of products grown and raised in Colorado is truly remarkable. Of course, like any state, Colorado has its core commodities. In fact, Colorado ranks in the top 10 states for 16 field crops, fruits and vegetables.
Colorado's Top 10 Farm and Ranch Products (2005)
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Hungry for a juicy steak?
Colorado has plenty. With more than 12,000 beef producers, the cattle industry is the largest ag sector in the state, bringing in $3.1 billion in cash receipts.Love a baked potato with
Ranked fourth nationally in production of potatoes, Colorado produces 2.5 billion pounds of potatoes annually. your steak or French fries with your leg of lamb? Having steamed veggies or salad for dinner?
Colorado is the nation's third largest carrot producing state and the nation's third largest lettuce producer.Need something to quench your thirst?
Annual production of eight million bushels of barley help make Colorado one of the top three states in beer production. The state is also home to 64 licensed wineries. Cheers! |
But Colorado farmers and ranchers have diversified to an astonishing degree. Just some of the farm and ranch products grown and raised in Colorado include:
Alfalfa Hay |
Alligators |
Anasazi Beans |
Apples |
Apricots |
Aquaculture |
Barley |
Bell Peppers |
Bison |
Broccoli |
Cabbage |
Canola |
Cantaloupe |
Carrots |
Cashmere |
Cattle |
Cauliflower |
Cherries |
Chickens |
Chili Peppers |
Christmas Trees |
Corn |
Cucumbers |
Dry Beans |
Eggs |
Elk |
Emu |
Flowers |
Garlic |
Goat Cheese |
Grapes |
Herbs |
Hogs |
Honey |
Horses |
Jalapeno Peppers |
Kale |
Lambs |
Lettuce |
Milk |
Milo |
Mushrooms |
Nectarines |
Oats |
Okra |
Onions |
Ostrich |
Peaches |
Pears |
Pinto Beans |
Plums |
Potatoes |
Pumpkins |
Quinoa |
Rhubarb |
Seed |
Sheep |
Sod |
Sorghum |
Spinach |
Squash |
Striped Bass |
Sugar Beets |
Sunflowers |
Tilapia |
Tomatoes |
Trout |
Ungulates |
Vegetables |
Watermelons |
Wheat |
Wine |
Wool |
Xeriscape |
Yaks |
Zucchini |
and more! |
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Bottom Line
Colorado farmers and ranchers help to feed the world, exporting nearly $900 million in products. Mexico, Canada, Japan and Taiwan receive the largest share of Colorado food products. To keep up with population growth, between now and 2050, the world must produce as much food as it has in the past 12,000 years. Colorado stands poised to lead the way in high-quality, environmentally responsible agriculture into the future.
Plus, Colorado agriculture is more than just food. Farmers and ranchers help create products in construction, manufacturing, health care, education, transportation and personal care, such as:
X-ray Film |
Bandages |
Crayons |
Paper |
Piano Keys |
Insulation |
Footballs |
Shoes |
Plastics |
Tires |
Soaps |
Perfume |
Agricultural Growth Opportunities
The strongest growth drivers for Colorado agriculture in the coming decade will be through the application of biotechnologies, value-added food processing, and opportunities for energy production from wind and biomass.
The potential for biopharming in Colorado is being explored. Corn producing areas on the eastern plains have the potential for carefully controlled plots. Mesa, Montrose, and Montezuma counties on the western slope are also exploring biopharming, which could potentially benefit from the isolation of this area's corn fields from other corn producing areas, local water availability, and the ideal growing conditions provided by the warm days and cool nights in this region.
Links
Colorado Department of Agriculture
Colorado State University Agriculture
Colorado Foundation for Agriculture
Colorado Proud Program