agriculture

Ranching is a foundation of the US West and The Western Slope, and has been for more than a century, but the way we raise beef cattle has been industrialized over the last half century. A local rancher is flipping the script on the industrialization of the cattle industry - pioneering new (and old) ways of thinking about raising cows.

Conditions on the Colorado River are worsening quicker than expected, reports the Denver Post. The seven states in the river basin made little progress saving water over the summer. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is looking for support from the community in identifying the person who illegally killed a desert bighorn sheep off Highway 141 between Gateway and Grand Junction. A new Colorado law seems to be increasing access to medical care for people who suffer from a condition known as gender dysphoria. A researcher in our region is analyzing a new way to grow vegetables and flowers using roof top space.

During the pandemic, small business loans saved some businesses in Colorado with money for capital and operating costs to keep people on the payroll. Kate Redmond reports now those loans will be deferred once again. Plus, cities in the fast-growing West are spreading out, especially along Colorado’s front range. Today we continue our series from the Mountain West News Bureau on women ranchers with a look at efforts to save some space for agriculture.

During the pandemic, small business loans saved some businesses in Colorado with money for capital and operating costs to keep people on the payroll. Kate Redmond reports now those loans will be deferred once again. Plus, cities in the fast-growing West are spreading out, especially along Colorado’s front range. Today we continue our series from the Mountain West News Bureau on women ranchers with a look at efforts to save some space for agriculture.

We conclude the Rocky Mountain Community Radio collaboration on fossil fuel transitions with the 19th story in the series. It’s hard to imagine a carbon neutral world without considering airplanes. Aviation contributes about 2.5 percent of annual CO2 emissions worldwide. As KOTO’s Matt Hoisch explains, airports are starting to find ways to bring down that number.

We conclude the Rocky Mountain Community Radio collaboration on fossil fuel transitions with the 19th story in the series. It’s hard to imagine a carbon neutral world without considering airplanes. Aviation contributes about 2.5 percent of annual CO2 emissions worldwide. As KOTO’s Matt Hoisch explains, airports are starting to find ways to bring down that number.

Farming is challenging. A forum in Montrose this past weekend brought practical information for participants to weather the changing industry. Kate Redmond has more. Plus, families are struggling with the loss of financial aid, after a temporary expansion of the Child Tax Credit expired. But some lawmakers in our region want to make that policy permanent. Bert Johnson with the Mountain West News Bureau reports.

Farming is challenging. A forum in Montrose this past weekend brought practical information for participants to weather the changing industry. Kate Redmond has more. Plus, families are struggling with the loss of financial aid, after a temporary expansion of the Child Tax Credit expired. But some lawmakers in our region want to make that policy permanent. Bert Johnson with the Mountain West News Bureau reports.

Looking at drought maps in 2021 it was striking to see that the areas in Colorado and in California that are under the most intensive tillage also were suffering from the most extreme drought. Could there be a relationship?

Finding and affording a plot of land on which to grow your own food isn't easy. Kate Redmond reports on a local organization seeking to change that.