The Colorado Wildlife and Biodiversity Protection Act and What It Means for Livestock Producers and Landowners

On April 18th, 2025, the Colorado Legislative Council staff received language for a Colorado ballot proposal that is of significant concern for livestock producers and landowners in the state of Colorado. Currently, it has been assigned the number 2025-2026 #82 and a name. It is pending review and a comment hearing.

Colorado farmers and ranchers have always been stewards of the land. But now, under the banner of wildlife conservation, this sweeping new ballot proposal threatens the livelihoods, property rights, and the future of agricultural production in our state.

The proposed Colorado Wildlife and Biodiversity Protection Act may sound noble, but dig a little deeper, and it becomes clear that it is about ideology, control, and political agendas pushed by fringe groups far removed from the realities of rural life.

A New Unelected Commission with Sweeping Authority

At the heart of this proposed ballot initiative is the creation of the Wildlife and Ecosystem Conservation Commission (WECC). It would become a powerful new agency with almost no democratic accountability. None of its nine members will be elected. Instead, they will be appointed by universities, environmental groups, and policy institutes, with a requirement that no member may have any financial ties to agriculture, energy, or development.

Animal rights groups will use any means to target and attack animal agriculture.

“Foster Poultry Farms and the Animal Legal Defense Fund have reached a settlement in a lawsuit filed in 2020 over the company’s water use at its poultry plant in Livingston, Calif.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund alleged that Foster Farms’ operations violated the California Constitution by unreasonably using water during chicken slaughter and processing. While Foster Farms denied the claims, it agreed to continue efforts to improve water conservation and animal welfare practices at the facility, which is the largest chicken processing plant on the West Coast.

“This settlement will increase water conservation in a critically overdrafted groundwater basin,” said Christine Ball-Blakely, senior staff attorney for the Animal Legal Defense Fund. “It will also improve conditions for the many chickens slaughtered and processed in this plant each day.”

The announcement came days after the Pennsylvania Superior Court upheld a lower court ruling that blocked a subpoena from the Animal Legal Defense Fund seeking internal records from Farmers Pride Inc. The group had requested the records for use in the Foster Farms case, arguing that Farmers Pride used less water and more humane methods.

Idaho’s New Water Law: Understanding S1083 and Its Impact on Domestic Water Use

Idaho's Senate Bill S1083, set to take effect on July 1, 2025, brings new changes to the state’s domestic water laws. Each year, Idaho and its water users spend millions of dollars to address declining groundwater supplies. Since 2004, over 27,500 acres of domestic exempt irrigation have been developed in Idaho, and 55,696 domestic wells have been drilled. These domestic uses are not subject to curtailment and do not contribute to efforts to resolve the groundwater concerns. Limitations on new exempt domestic uses will only apply to those developed AFTER July 1, 2025.

Key Provisions of Senate Bill S1083

The bill redefines "domestic purposes" to include water for traditional water for consumption and stock watering. All other uses, including irrigation, will require an Application for Permit. However, it excludes multi-unit residential and commercial uses unless those uses meet specific criteria. This shift in language clarifies how domestic water rights are allocated and ensures that the term is applied in a manner consistent with the state’s long-term water goals. S1083 also defines in-home use.

Investing in the Future of Agriculture: AGPROfessionals Supports Valley Agriculture Education Foundation

At AGPROfessionals, we believe that the future of agriculture depends on the investment we make in our youth today. That’s why we proudly supported the Valley Agriculture Education Foundation’s Cultivating Legacy fundraiser—an inspiring event aimed at revitalizing the agricultural education program in the Valley School District in Southern Idaho.

Why We Support Agricultural Education

Agriculture isn’t just a career — it's a way of life that sustains our communities, fuels local economies, and connects generations. With deep roots in livestock production, farm development, and ag real estate, AGPROfessionals understands the importance of building a strong and knowledgeable ag workforce for tomorrow.

By supporting the Valley Agriculture Education Foundation, we’re helping empower the next generation of ag leaders through hands-on learning, career readiness, and community connection. When students have access to quality agricultural education, they gain skills that not only benefit them individually but also contribute to the long-term vitality of rural communities like those in the Magic Valley.

This article by Farm Babe talks about the numerous opportunities in agriculture. At AGPROfessionals we offer a full host of services that support agriculture. AGPROfessionals is a multifaceted agribusiness that provides a broad spectrum of services to farmers, ranchers, investors, and other stakeholders in the agricultural industry across the United States, including agronomy, engineering, environmental consulting services, planning, real estate and surveying.

A professional problem-solving firm, we focus on achieving our clients' goals and advocating their success from start to finish providing our On-Point Advantage SolutionsTM, a regulatory compliance service you can count on that assists our producer clients with recordkeeping and inspection requirements.

AGPROfessionals, headquartered in Greeley, Colorado, has team members strategically located in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Arkansas, and Idaho.

Article excerpts:

“When you think of ag careers, what jobs do you think of? Chances are your first answers might be farmer, rancher, veterinarian, or agronomist — the kind of jobs that work directly with animals or the land. These are definitely jobs that are a key part of ag, but there are a lot more jobs in ag than you might think.

Article excerpts:

“Agribusiness is a cornerstone of economic wealth in rural America. It’s the corn production in the Midwest, citrus in Florida, California’s diversified horticulture, and dairy in the Northeast that sustain local economies and put producers on the map for their products.

One county stands out in livestock production, particularly in cattle and lamb feedlots: Weld County, Colorado.

Located just an hour outside Denver, Weld County spans a large swath of northern Colorado along the Wyoming border. This region is home to farming towns that host some of the largest livestock operations in the country, producing 26 percent of the state’s agricultural output.

In the towns of Greeley, Fort Lupton, and Eaton, family farmers work alongside the largest players in the industry — including Cargill, JBS, and Superior Feed — to supply the market with high-quality animal protein.

Of the agricultural output from the county, four-fifths comes from livestock, according to the 2022 U.S. Department of Agriculture Census. The county holds the title as the nation’s highest producer of lamb by market value and ranks 11th in market value of agricultural products sold across 4,000 farms. In addition to livestock, Weld County produces row crops, pinto beans, and sugar beets.

DxE’s Escalating Assault on Agriculture

Radical Activism Turns into Targeted Harassment

The American agricultural landscape—built on hard work, innovation, and the constitutionally enshrined right to private property—has been under attack for years by animal rights groups, and those attacks seem to be escalating. Leading this escalation is Direct Action Everywhere (DxE), a fringe animal rights activist group whose tactics have evolved from trespassing and farm invasions to orchestrated personal harassment campaigns and coordinated economic disruption efforts. DxE has also backed ballot initiatives and policy changes aimed at banning large modern farms and supporting extreme proposals that would criminalize standard livestock practices. These policy efforts are often deceptively labeled as “transparency” or “humane reform,” when, in reality, they seek to dismantle the very systems that ensure food security and public health.

Their latest actions against Perdue Farms underscore how far this group is willing to go in the name of "animal liberation"—their ramping up of activities is a serious threat to civil liberties and is causing harm to food producers across America.

Article excerpts:

“Today, Congressman Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., and Congresswoman Lauren Boebert’s, R-Colo., legislation to delist the gray wolf from the Endangered Species List and ensure that action is not subject to judicial review passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee. The Pet and Livestock Protection Act will restore authority back to state lawmakers and state wildlife officials to control the gray wolf population. H.R. 845 will now head to the full House of Representatives for a vote.

“The damage to pets, livestock and wildlife from an unmanaged wolf population can no longer be ignored. The gray wolf has exceeded federal and state recovery goals, with over 1,000 wolves now thriving in Wisconsin. It’s time to take the next step, delist them, and let the people closest to the gray wolf manage their population levels,” said Congressman Tiffany.

“I’m very excited to see PALPA take another step towards being signed into law, which will be a huge victory for our ranchers, farmers and landowners in Colorado and across America,” said Congresswoman Boebert. “The science has been very clear on this topic for years: gray wolves are fully recovered and their comeback should be touted as a success story. Now it’s time we encourage states to set their own guidelines and allow ranchers, farmers, and landowners to protect their livelihoods. I look forward to voting for this bill on the House floor and ultimately getting it to President Trump for his signature.”

LAST UPDATE: April 17, 2025 -10:30 AM CST

HPAI (Avian Influenza) in Dairy Cows – RESOURCES and NEWS UPDATING AS INFORMATION IS RELEASED

Since March of 2024, we have been carefully monitoring news stories and information regarding the initial outbreak and spread of HPAI in dairies for our clients. Since this is a developing situation, we felt it would be helpful for producers to have easy access to information in one place.

Therefore, we have put together a list of articles and resources and will update this list as needed.

Information:

• APHIS Report: HPAI Confirmed Cases in Livestock HERE

• APHIS announces new indemnity policy to combat HPAI HERE

• Oregon Department of Agriculture:Oregon is one of six states to begin testing milk for H5N1 Avian Influenza HERE

  more

At AGPROfessionals, we believe in empowering the next generation of agricultural leaders through education and real-world insight. We’re proud to share that Tom Haren, founder and CEO of AGPROfessionals, was recently invited to speak at Colorado State University (CSU) to students of Kathie Troudt Riley’s Water Law Course. Kathie Troudt Riley is an instructor for several key CSU courses including AREC 375: Agricultural Law, AREC 342: Water Law, Policies, and Institutions, and BUS 660-720: Ethical, Legal and Regulatory Issues.

Real-World Expertise in Agricultural Development and Legal Policy

With over four decades of experience in agriculture, environmental compliance, planning and permitting, real estate, water rights, rural development, and more, Tom brought valuable perspective to CSU students.

His presentation provided real-world challenges involving the future demands placed on agriculture, land and water use, environmental regulations, permitting, and decision-making in the agricultural sector.

“Agriculture is more than producing food—it’s navigating the legal, ethical, and environmental frameworks that allow us to keep rural communities strong,” Tom shared during his talk.

Growing up in Southwest Iowa, it doesn’t take long to realize that the phrase “corn is in everything” isn’t just a saying — it’s the reality when living in the endless cornfield of Iowa. Surrounded by farmland and a strong sense of agricultural tradition, farming isn’t just a profession in the Midwest — it’s part of the culture. Almost everyone I knew growing up was either a farmer, related to one, or had close ties to agriculture. In high school, it was common for my friends to rush home after class to help with chores — feeding cows, driving grain carts during harvest, tending to goats and chickens, and pitching in on the family farm.

My own summers were spent immersed in agriculture, working early mornings at a calf ranch where my dad served as manager. It was during these formative years that I found a deep interest in both the dairy industry and the broader world of agriculture. That passion led me to join my high school’s FFA chapter, an experience that expanded my understanding of agriculture beyond the typical image of livestock and crops.

FFA Opens Doors to Opportunities

FFA introduced me to the diversity within the field — from horticulture and forestry to food science and conservation. One of the most unexpected yet rewarding experiences was soil judging. Competing against students from other schools, we evaluated soil profiles, learning to identify the physical features that make soil unique and, ultimately, essential. While plants and animals often steal the spotlight, soil judging gave me a profound appreciation for the earth beneath our feet — the foundation of all agriculture.

AGPROfessionals’ Karen Gerfen Glueck Speaks at American Agri-Women Mid-Year Meeting in Fort Worth, Texas

Karen Gerfen Glueck, Vice President of Communications and Strategic Planning at AGPROfessionals, was a featured speaker at the American Agri-Women (AAW) Mid-Year Meeting held in Fort Worth, Texas, this past weekend. Hosted by the Texas Panhandle Chapter of American Agri-Women, the event brought together some of the most influential voices in agriculture to collaborate on the future of the industry.

Leading the Conversation in Agricultural Advocacy

Karen Gerfen Glueck shared her expertise in strategic communications, agricultural policy, and storytelling, emphasizing the critical role of effective messaging in today’s agricultural landscape and how AI can play a vital role. With decades of experience bridging the gap between agriculture and public perception, Karen highlighted actionable strategies for women in ag to elevate their voices and shape the narrative around modern farming and ranching. Her presentation focused on how to leverage AI to develop clear, consistent messaging that can help agricultural advocates counter misinformation and build trust with consumers, policymakers, and media outlets.

Article excerpts:

“USDA has provided some clarification on it decision to release rural energy funding for rural electric cooperatives, small businesses and farmers that the department is releasing potentially billions for rural energy projects.

Initially, the department's news release implied grant and loan recipients have the option of repurposing the language for their funding to fit the Trump administration's energy goals.

USDA on Wednesday responded to questions from DTN stating that the department will honor its funding commitments to rural communities "including the farmers, ranchers, and small businesses at their core -- and their essential role in building a stronger, more energy secure America."

The announcement also included a voluntary 30-day window for awardees to review and revise their project plans. "USDA Rural Development is contacting individual recipients with directions on how to participate. Rural Development will review and must approve any proposed changes. Awardees that do not respond via the website will be considered as not wishing to make changes to their proposals, and disbursements and other actions will resume after 30 days. For awardees who respond via the website to confirm no changes, processing on their on their projects will resume immediately."

Weld County Planning/Building Division Introduces New Inspection Scheduling System

Weld County residents can now enjoy a more efficient and user-friendly way to schedule building inspections. On March 17, 2025, the Weld County Planning and Building Division rolled out a new inspection scheduling system designed to enhance customer service and streamline the process.

Previously, scheduling an inspection required calling a hotline and waiting for a callback. With this upgrade, residents can now schedule, manage, and track inspection appointments directly over the phone. This system also offers convenient features such as rescheduling or canceling appointments, checking inspection results, and speaking with a staff member when necessary.

“We are excited to offer this new system to our residents,” said Weld County Planning Director David Eisenbraun. “It provides a more seamless experience, allowing customers to have more control over their appointments and reducing wait times. This change is part of our ongoing effort to modernize our services and make it easier for our community to access the resources they need.”

To take advantage of this new scheduling system, call the dedicated inspection scheduling number at (970) 400-3015. For more information and detailed instructions, visit the Weld County Building Division’s inspection process information webpage.

Protecting Farmers: Laws Against Deceptive Employment by Activists

Farmers and ranchers work tirelessly to provide safe, sustainable food for Americans. Unfortunately, radical animal rights activists have increasingly targeted livestock operations by gaining employment under false pretenses. These activists infiltrate farms, stage or manipulate footage, and then release misleading videos to falsely discredit hardworking agricultural producers. In response, several states have enacted laws that make it illegal to gain employment in livestock production with the intent to harm or defame farmers. These laws are essential in protecting property rights, biosecurity, and the integrity of American agriculture.

States That Have Taken Action to Protect Farmers

Several states have passed legislation preventing deceptive employment practices by anti-animal agriculture activists to ensure that livestock producers are shielded from harmful misinformation campaigns. Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Utah, Wyoming, and more have passed laws to protect farmers and ranchers.

Anti-Animal Agriculture Groups and Their Many Lawsuits