A budget proposal put forth by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis includes what the administration calls historic funding for agricultural programs, including a disaster preparedness, response and recovery program.

The governor’s overall fiscal 2024-25 budget request is $18.4 billion, a 6% increase from the 2023-24 final budget, according to the Center Square, a news website. The budget maintains a reserve of 15% and projects a growth in state spending of 6.5% above last year’s expectations, the site reports.

Among the Democratic governor’s agriculture-related spending proposals is funding for renewable energy projects through the Agricultural Drought and Climate Resilience Office and more money for the NextGen Ag Leadership Program and the Ag Workforce Development Program.

This year, the state Department of Agriculture named animal health and welfare as a key priority, and the budget includes money to help two animal welfare programs into a new division of the agency.

Bringing the Bureau of Animal Protection and the Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act Program together as the Division of Animal Welfare will allow CDA to provide better support to both programs by helping consolidate resources and increase coordination on providing education and support to animal owners, ranchers, law enforcement, and other stakeholders, the agency asserts.

“This move aligns our two animal welfare programs under one work unit to leverage department resources for increased efficiency, to standardize inspection and investigation methods, and to collaborate on prevention and outreach,” said Colorado State Veterinarian Maggie Baldwin.

To view the CDA’s requests, click here. The governor’s budget proposal is here.

Source: Colorado Department of Agriculture