A bill passed during the 2026 Colorado legislative session will support a new generation of farmers and ranchers by creating opportunities for financing startup costs.
According to the Colorado Department of Agriculture, the state is experiencing a nation-leading loss of agricultural land; 1.6 million acres have been taken out of production in the past five years. Senate Bill 26-64, which goes into effect Aug. 12, aims to protect farmland by making it easier for farmers and ranchers to secure financing for at-risk farmland through a financing tool.
The bill also will expand eligibility for the Colorado Agricultural Future Loan Program to include water conservation; water, sanitation and irrigation districts; and ditch and reservoir companies. This expansion will make it easier for land stewards to protect vital resources including water.
Bill Sponsors
Senate Minority Leader Cleave Simpson, Southern Colorado farmer and rancher · Sen. Dylan Roberts, D-Dist. 8 · Rep. Karen McCornick, D-Dist. 11 · Rep. Matt Soper, R-Dist. 54