Miscellaneous

The Upcoming 2010 State of the Rockies Report Card: Agriculture in the Rockies

Published on by mgottfried

2010 Cover

The 2010 State of the Rockies Report Card is the first ever Report Card to be dedicated  entirely to one subject: agriculture. The 2009-10 student Project Researchers spent the summer investigating the historical, demographic, financial, organizational, production, and land use issues of agriculture in the Rockies Region. Their analysis of multiple data sets, mapping projects, academic papers, and interviews will provide a unique and comprehensive look at the challenges and successes of agriculture in our region.

The 2009 State of the Rockies Field Trip

Published on by mgottfried

The State of the Rockies Project will be heading out in the field from July 6th until July 13th. The focus of our summer research trip will be agriculture in the Rockies, and we’ll be visiting family farms, large corporate farms, non-profit organizations, dairy operations, and the Malpai Borderlands Group. One van and 1700 miles through New Mexico and Arizona!

Watch for our “Notes from the Road” to hear more about the trip. First stop on Monday: the Javernick Family Farm (Canon City, Colorado) and the Quivira Coalition (Santa Fe, New Mexico).

Monday, July 6th

The group had a great experience meeting with Javernick Family Farms, and Beckie gave the student researchers a tour of their operation, discussing their experience with farmer’s markets, Community Supported Agriculture, and organic certification. The students asked questions about the local organic grower’s associations and the challenges of keeping the small farm in the family. Weed control was a major issue at the farm given the moisture this spring, requiring much volunteer labor and creative solutions (plastic tarps for the tomato plants).

Next stop was the Quivira Coalition in Santa Fe, where the group met with founder Courtney White. Courtney discussed the issues related to grassbanking, conservation easements, and public-private land partnerships. He also emphasized the importance of economic sustainability and Western beef production, not simply land sustainability. Quivira offers direct marketing of grass fed beef, as well as river restoration and range management courses. Courtney provided the students with new perspectives on climate change, fossil fuel challenges, and ranch carbon footprints.

Rockies Project Welcomes 2009-10 Research Team

Published on by mgottfried

Six Colorado College students have been selected as student researchers for the 2009-10 State of the Rockies Project. With declared majors ranging from Mathematical-Economics to Sociology, hometowns spanning Colorado Springs to Kathmandu, and interests including ranching, bicycle racing, and everything in-between, this team brings a diverse background to their common research. Learn more about the new researchers HERE.

2008-2009 Wild Rockies Speaker Series Underway

Published on by mgottfried

The Rockies Project kicked off their speaker series on Monday with Hunting: Blood Sport or Wildlife Management Tool? Speakers from Rocky Mountain Animal Defense and the Colorado Wildlife Federation discussed the ethics, stereotypes, and necessity of hunting in the West.

Next Speaker: Monday, Oct. 6: “Can We Save Colorado’s Rivers? The Future of the Cache la Poudre of Northern Colorado.” Featuring speakers from the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District and the Save the Poudre Coalition. Gates Common Room, 7pm, refreshments to follow.

2008 State of the Rockies Field Trip: Part 2

Published on by mgottfried

August 4 – 8 the Rockies team traveled through New Mexico learning about wildlife management on a few unique ranches and preserves. Outside of Raton, NM, researchers spent two days touring the Vermejo Park Ranch. Though game and predator wildlife populations at Vermejo Park are healthy, through the Turner Endangered Species Fund they are working to re-introduce the black-footed ferret and Rio Grande cutthroat trout, among other species. Next, researchers visited the Fort Union Ranch, where the Fort Union National Monument and Santa Fe Trail are also located. Here, researchers learned the struggles of turning a profit on a working ranch, and the importance of preserving open space and history. After a brief stop at the Wind River Ranch, the Rockies team ended their trip with an overnight stay at the Valles Caldera National Preserve, a  unique land management experiment by the federal government. In 2002, after being purchased by the government from private owners, management of the Preserve was transferred to the Valles Caldera Trust, who valiantly pursue the missions of multiple use, sustainability, and financial independence.