Implementing Innovative Climate Change Procedural Instruments to Mitigate Livestock Farming Foodprint in Colorado State, United States of America

Abstract

In Colorado, cattle farming—the state's leading agricultural sector—is a significant source of methane emissions. In response, both the government and producers have initiated efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change and enhance sustainability. Recent policy developments include the Colorado Climate Plan (2018), the GHG Pollution Reduction Roadmap (2021), and the establishment of the Agricultural Drought and Climate Resilience Office (ADCRO) inside the State Department of Agriculture (CDA) in 2023. Simultaneously, livestock farmers have embraced holistic land management practices such as regenerative ranching (RR) and managed grazing. At the federal level, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 allocated $19.5 billion to support climate-smart agriculture, fostering the development of procedural instruments (PIs) to promote RR. This study examines how these recent PIs, as vectors of institutional innovation, influence climate governance in agriculture. Specifically, it assesses local implementation by analyzing farmers' participation in policy processes. Through interviews with state-level civil servants (CDA, NRCS, FSA), local extension officers, and mountain ranchers in Park and Routt counties—complemented by field visits—this research identifies key implementation challenges. Findings reveal significant institutional barriers, particularly linked to the crisis of fiscal federalism. Local agencies responsible for policy diffusion (e.g., CSU Extension, NRCS local offices, and Conservation Districts) face budget and personnel constraints, which limit their ability to support, diffuse, and promote climate-smart initiatives at the territorial level. However, some policy tools, such as Save Tomorrow's Agriculture Resources (STAR), have emerged as promising instruments, leveraging a self-assessment approach to enhance rancher cooperation in soil health and regenerative grazing practices.