BENEFITS OF
AGRICULTURE

Colorado’s diverse agriculture industry is the 2nd largest contributor to the state’s economy, with over $20 Billion annually. The economic contribution doubles to $40 billion annually when you include the food industry. Colorado’s agricultural community supports more than 170,000 jobs and more than half of counties in Colorado are “ag dependent” with one in every ten jobs being tied to the industry.

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Colorado’s hard-working farm and ranch families help feed the nation, supports wildlife, protects the environment, supports rural communities, and is helping build new energy economy.

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Water is the lifeblood of agriculture and more than 80% of the consumptive use of water in the state is directly tied to farming and ranching. It is important to note that agricultural water use is most often not the last use of the water, with return flows stemming from agricultural irrigation allowing for additional beneficial uses as the water moves through the system. To that end, irrigated agriculture, through the historic doctrine of prior appropriation, provides wildlife habitat and important wildlife corridors, vibrant riparian systems, and healthy watersheds.