Author Description

Dear Friends,I am pleased to introduce the 2016 Colorado Annual Agricultural Statistics Bulletin.As farmers and ranchers, the decisions we make affect our businesses, the food system, and ourcommunities. It is vital that we base these decisions on solid and comprehensive data.This book offers the opportunity to get a clear picture of Colorado agriculture and how it has evolvedthrough the generations. It provides decision makers, from producers to legislators, the ability tomake informed decisions.I truly believe our farmers and ranchers are the cornerstone of our great state and country. Withoutthem, we would not enjoy the abundant food we have available to us, one of the lowest food costs inthe world, and national food security because of our ability to provide enough food to feed our people.Our success is shaped by the valuable information found is this book. At the Department ofAgriculture, we use this book to help make planting decisions, track our export markets, and createnew marketing opportunities.From our own back yard to the global marketplace, the Colorado Agricultural Statistics Bulletin is avital resource.I would like to thank NASS, the National Agricultural Statistics Service, and all of the farmers andranchers whose cooperation makes this book possible.Don BrownCommissionerThe Colorado Agricultural Statistics Bulletin is compiled by the National Agricultural Statistics Service,Mountain Region Field Office, which is an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, incooperation with the Colorado Department of Agriculture.