Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., and other state and local leaders convened Friday, May 7 to show USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack the wildfire recovery and climate smart agriculture efforts happening across northern Colorado.
They visited two sites in the Cameron Peak Fire area in Larimer County -- the largest fire in Colorado history, burning 208,913 acres within the county. Bennet, Vilsack and Polis continued the day at Olander Farms and Root Shoot Malting to tour the malting facility and barley field. After, they held a roundtable discussion on climate change mitigation and adaptation, drought, conservation and soil health, the agricultural workforce, and other issues.
“I’m grateful to be in Colorado to see local and state organizations working alongside USDA agencies to create jobs, support local recreational economies, and ensure healthy soils and forests for future generations,” says Vilsack. “But we can and should do more, and President Biden’s American Jobs Plan and Families Plan provide the blueprint to address climate change, build back local infrastructure and get healthy food to Colorado families.
“We’re getting our economy back on track, and we can’t let up now,” Vilsack says.
Bennet discussed ongoing efforts to support climate smart practices on working agricultural lands.
“Secretary Vilsack understands that farmers and ranchers should be at the heart of American climate policy. I look forward to continuing to work with Secretary Vilsack and the Biden administration to support Colorado producers as they continue to deal with drought and wildfire,” Bennet notes.
Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg adds, “Agricultural producers play a critical role in addressing the climate and conservation challenges facing our state, and I am proud of the visionary, collaborative efforts of Colorado's farmers and ranchers in stewarding the iconic and working lands of our state.”
Wildfire response
Bennet made the case for long-term investments in restoring the nation’s forests to protect watersheds and communities from catastrophic wildfires through his Outdoor Restoration Partnership Act. Bennet introduced the bicameral, bipartisan bill with Reps. Jason Crow, D-Colo., and Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, to invest in forest and watershed restoration while creating millions of good-paying jobs. His outdoor restoration proposal was included in President Joe Biden’s American Jobs Plan.