Colorado Agriculture & Air Quality Symposium
Agriculture groups partnered in hosting agriculture and air quality symposiums in Colorado to inform producers about the impacts of nitrogen deposition on sensitive ecosystems.
Members of Colorado’s Agriculture and Air Quality Technical workgroup heldtwo symposiums focusing on ways agriculture is helping to reduce nitrogen deposition impacts at Rocky Mountain National Park through more efficient use of nitrogen in farming and ranching operations.
Although nitrogen is an important input in today’s agricultural operations, volatilization, transport and subsequent deposition has lead to increasing concerns for officials at Rocky Mountain National Park and other areas with sensitive ecosystems. Scientists believe current levels of nitrogen being deposited in Rocky Mountain National Park are twice the acceptable rate.
“The purpose of the Agriculture and Air Quality Technical Workgroup is to bring agricultural producers, environmental interests and regulators together to discuss how a collaborative approach toward reducing nitrogen’s impact on Rocky Mountain National Park can be a win-win for everyone involved,”said Bill Hammerich, Chief Executive Officer of the Colorado Livestock Association.
Members of the agriculture and air quality technical workgroup engaged with agricultural producers to address nitrogen transport and deposition.
Symposium objectives for agricultural producers included the following:
• Learn how to help reduce nitrogen deposition impacts and preserve RMNP and other lands for future generations
• Learn how nitrogen is transported regionally and how agricultural operations remote from the Park are thought to be contributing to increased deposition levels;
• See how Best Management Practices can increase efficiency and reduce nitrogen loss, keepingmore on the farm for crops and lowering costs for producers; and
• See how voluntary actions today can reduce the need for future ammonia regulations.
Presentations at symposiums can be viewed via links below.
•What’s in the Air and Why Should You Care?
•Rocky Mountain National Park Ecological Effects of Excess Nitrogen Deposition
•Rocky Mountain Atmospheric Nitrogen and Sulfur Study (RoMANS)
•Agriculture’s Response to Nitrogen Deposition Concerns at Rocky Mountain National Park
•Air Quality Assessment Tool for Livestock Producers
•Ammonia Best Management Practices & Weather Monitoring & Notification Systems
“As a farmer, controlling nitrogen loss is an important part of resource management,” said ChrisTallman, past President of the Colorado Association of Wheat Growers and Kiowa County farmer. “We are facing increasing regulations in every aspect of our business. Taking a voluntary approach to reducing nitrogen emissions helps us reduce nitrogen costs, be good neighbors, and avoid future regulations.”
Symposium sponsors included: Colorado Association of Wheat Growers; Colorado Cattlemen’s Association; Colorado Corn Growers; Colorado Dairy Producers; Colorado Department of Agriculture; Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment; Colorado Livestock Association; Prowers County Public Health & Environment; National Park Service; Natural Resources Conservation Service; Rocky Mountain Agri-business Association; Rocky Mountain Farmers Union; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and the West Greeley Conservation District.
