Resources

The DCD focuses on a number of conservation activities and programs including: invasive weed removal, micro-hydro projects, irrigation system upgrades, soil moisture monitoring and help with general irrigation/agriculture questions.

Links

Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA)

Colorado River District (CRD)

RiversEdge West

Gunnison River Basin

CSU WCRC Rogers Mesa

Colorado Association of Conservation Districts (CACD)

Valley Organic Growers Association (VOGA)

Pollinator Partnership

Funding Opportunities

CWCB Agricultural Emergency Drought Response Program

NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant

CO Dept. of Agriculture

"at a glance" events & funding

USDA Grants to Help Meat and Poultry ProcessorsExpand Capacity

Wool Quality Improvement Program

Funding, Assistance, and Rescources.

National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Conservation Partners Program Grant

Seed Peace Casey's Fund Supporting Farmers

Colorado Ag Water Alliance Drought Assistance for Livestock Recording

CRD Community Funding Partnership Grants

Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) Program

Fertilizer Investment & Expansion for Long-term Domestic Supply

Apply NOW for NRCS Programs

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service

We are pleased to announce a new grant opportunity for agricultural producers in our district through the Technical Service Provider Engineering Funds program.

We are offering financial assistance to help cover the cost of hiring Technical Service Provider (TSP) engineers for your NRCS irrigation projects.

If you have an active NRCS EQIP contract and are facing delays due to engineering backlogs, this program may help you move forward faster. Funds are available to cover
the portion of TSP engineering fees for design and checkout not covered by NRCS. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through NRCS referral now through August 31st,
2026. To learn more or to be referred for this program, please contact your local NRCS office in Delta or reach out to us at deltaconservationd@gmail.com.

We look forward to helping you complete your conservation projects!

Your Ag Tech Input Needed

CSU Extention is applying for a WSARE grant to bring a large ag tech conference to Colorado.

For this grant and to inform other decisions around findign doable ag tech solutions for Colorado growers, would you take 5-8 minutes of your time to complete this survey? Your participation is much appreciated!

Please take ag tech survey by August 15th.

Thank you!

Ag Tech Survey

Cyclospora Outbreak Info

CSU Extension, in partnership with the Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, Colo Dept of Public Health and the Environment, and Colo Dept of Agriculture, has published three guidance documents on July 23, 2026 for public use targeting consumers, growers/processors, and retailers.

An overarching message is that, while FDA and CDC note that lettuce appears to be the source of the national food born illness outbreak, no Colorado source of the illness has been identified and thus consumers should not hesitate to purchase and consume Colorado grown lettuce through wholesale and direct to consumer market channels.

Producers are reminded to continue best practices in food safety (FSMA Produce Safety Rule, GAP, etc.) throughout the production, harvest and post-harvest life cycle of produce farming.

As we near August - Colorado Proud month - our growers are bringing their produce to market for Coloradans during a water scarce growing season, offering their best harvest in a time when buying local couldn't be more important.

Guidance for Colorado growers and produce processors

What Colorado consumers need to know

Guidance for Colorado retailers and food service

Free Beet Curly Top Virus (BCTV) Diagnostic Testing

Provided by Colorado State University Plant Diagnostic Clinic, during the month of August

Colorado is experiencing an unprecedented outbreak of Beet Curly Top Virus (BCTV) during
the 2026 growing season. This insect-vectored virus has caused widespread disease across
the state, particularly on the Western Slope, resulting in significant losses to susceptible
crops.
To better document the extent of this outbreak and support Colorado growers, the
Colorado State University Plant Diagnostic Clinic, in collaboration with the Rogers Mesa
Research Center and Tri-River Area Extension, is offering free BCTV diagnostic testing
throughout the month of August for commercial growers and agricultural
researchers. Priority will be given to samples from Mesa, Delta, and Montrose counties.