Maximum Free-Market Agriculture
Bottom Line Up Front: In essence, Free Market Agriculture acknowledges that our agricultural community thrives when government provides basic infrastructure, secures property (water, land) rights, and then lets farmers farm. They know how to feed us – especially if we get out of their way. We’ll celebrate and empower the independent spirit of Colorado’s farmers and ranchers, who embody the pioneer free-market ethos. A flourishing deregulated ag sector ensures food security and robust rural economies, which benefits everyone from farm to city.
a. Empowering Farmers and Ranchers: Free Market Agriculture means letting our agricultural producers operate with freedom to innovate, trade, and manage their land without heavy-handed government interference. Agriculture was America’s first industry; it thrives when individuals can make decisions based on weather, market signals, and stewardship knowledge, rather than one-size-fits-all mandates. We trust our farmers and ranchers – they have generations of know-how about growing crops and raising livestock. We want to remove needless regulations and resist special interest meddling (like radical animal-rights or environmental groups imposing costly rules that aren’t grounded in sound science). The result will be a more prosperous rural Colorado and food security for our state and beyond.
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b. Current Issues in Colorado Ag: Our farmers face multiple challenges: drought and water scarcity, volatile commodity prices, labor shortages, and increasing regulatory burdens (e.g., on livestock practices, pesticide use, equipment emissions, etc.). In 2021, activists tried to pass the PAUSE Initiative (Prop 16) which would have criminalized common veterinary and animal husbandry practices and mandated absurd animal slaughter ages (essentially halting the meat industry) – fortunately, it was struck down. But the mere attempt rattled our ag community. Also, SB21-87 gave farm-workers unionization rights and overtime pay requirements; while fair labor is important, imposing industrial work rules on seasonal farm work could raise costs sharply and put small farms at risk. We also see encroachment of federal regs like possible limits on cattle methane or waters regulations that treat irrigation ditches as navigable waters. To keep ag free-market, we must shield it from overregulation and support expanded markets.
c. Our Commitments:
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1. Stop Anti-Ag Regulations: We will oppose any future versions of PAUSE or similar initiatives that undermine animal agriculture. Colorado’s livestock industry (beef, sheep, dairy, poultry) is a backbone – we won’t let extremists destroy it. We’ll also review state animal welfare laws to ensure they reasonably protect animals from true cruelty but don’t criminalize standard veterinary practice (like spaying, neutering, branding). We’ll involve vets and ag experts in any rulemaking. If needed, we’ll back a constitutional amendment clarifying the right to farm and ranch (some states have passed “right to farm” amendments to preempt such attacks). Similarly, we’ll push back on burdensome pesticide bans or fertilizer restrictions that some want in the name of environment but could slash yields. We favor collaborative environmental solutions (like encouraging precision ag, voluntary best practices) over bans and mandates. Colorado’s farmers are already good stewards; heavy regs will just make food more expensive and farms less competitive.
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2. Implement Sensible Overtime/ Labor Rules: SB21-87 on farmworker overtime is being phased in with eventually 40-hour weeks by 2025. We worry it might hurt both employers and workers (who often relied on longer harvest hours with overtime pay not previously required, now might have hours capped or mechanization replacing jobs). We will monitor its impact; if it’s harming the industry and even farmworker earnings, we’ll seek flexibility – perhaps higher hour thresholds during peak seasons, or special provisions for small farms. We support fair pay but also recognize ag work’s unique seasonality. We’d convene a meeting of farm groups and labor reps to find win-win adjustments. Also, we support visa reform (federal) for easier hiring of guest workers (H-2A) – at state level, we can streamline processing or housing rules for such programs to make it less bureaucratic for farmers to get needed labor.
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3. Promote Market Access: Free market ag thrives with open markets domestically and abroad. We’ll use the Colorado Department of Ag to help find new markets for our products: trade missions focusing on beef exports to Asia, wheat to new buyers, etc. While trade deals are federal, we can build relationships and marketing campaigns (like “Colorado Proud”) to elevate our products. Also, within the state, ensure local producers can sell direct to consumers easily. We’ll keep regulations light on farmers markets, farm-to-table sales, raw milk co-ops (with appropriate disclaimers), and meat processing. We should expand local processing capacity so ranchers aren’t stuck with a few big packers – maybe encourage small USDA inspected slaughter facilities via grants or easing zoning. More competition in processing is free market. We supported (as a state) in concept the 2020 state meat processing co-op efforts and will do more to decentralize meat packing.
4. Water Rights Protection: Agriculture uses the majority of Colorado’s water. We must protect the prior appropriation doctrine that underpins free-market water trading (sellers and buyers of water rights). Urban growth pressures water transfers; we’ll encourage innovative agreements like water leasing, rotational fallowing deals, rather than permanent “buy and dry” of farms. But crucially, we oppose any attempt to curtail ag’s senior water rights without just compensation. Some environmental proposals want to leave more water in streams – we can do that through voluntary conservation programs paying farmers, not by diktat. Also, we invest in irrigation efficiency projects and storage (more reservoirs to capture spring runoff) – balancing ecosystem needs and keeping ag viable. Free market ag depends on secure water rights and infrastructure.
5. Finance and Risk: Farming is risky (weather, prices). Free market doesn’t eliminate risk, but we can smooth it. Federal crop insurance exists, but state could supplement for niche crops or encourage private insurance markets. We will also maintain or improve Colorado’s Beginning Farmer programs (like low interest loan support, mentorship) to help new entrants overcome capital barriers. Land prices are high, young folks struggle – maybe create an easement program that allows retiring farmers to sell land at affordable price to a new farmer in exchange for tax benefit. Think outside the box to keep land in production and open doors for small free-market entrants rather than consolidation by big firms. We favor family farms and independent producers; they embody free enterprise.
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c. Right-to-Farm Protections: Colorado has a Right to Farm statute limiting nuisance lawsuits against farms from encroaching development. We will preserve and strengthen that. New suburbanites sometimes sue over normal farm smells or noise – we defend the farmer’s right to normal operations. That stability is crucial for free market ag; otherwise fear of litigation might stifle farming or invite regulation.