Colorado’s Rural-Urban Divide is Shaping Agricultural Policy at The Statehouse

Mar 10, 2026

By Rae Solomon

Two themes are emerging from this year’s slate of agriculture proposals at the statehouse. Several bills wade into the age-old tensions of Colorado’s urban-rural divide. Meanwhile, another set of legislation suggests a bipartisan concern for the future of Colorado’s agricultural heritage.

The policies adopted under the golden dome in downtown Denver reach the farthest corners of the state. Several Republican lawmakers from rural areas say their main priorities this session involve blocking what they describe as ill-conceived legislation devised by urban lawmakers who don’t understand agricultural communities.

“All of my farmers and ranchers are the best stewards of the lands,” said Republican Representative Dusty Johnson, who represents Fort Morgan and is known as a fierce defender of rural culture and interests. “It's really scary when urban colleagues come and try to tell farmers and ranchers what to do when they've been doing this for generations.”

A rivalry between two bills seeking to set competing policies for agricultural overtime wages casts that culture gap in sharp contrast.

Click here to see more...

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.