Yuma Conservation District Home

The Yuma Conservation District's Mission is to protect natural resources through conservation research, education and incentives that encourage sustainable agricultural practices to create a vibrant rural economic community

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Our Projects

Alternative Crop Insurance
Pilot Program

Purpose : Encourage the adoption of non-traditional low water use, value added crops through development of alternative crop insurance
Funded by :
Risk Management Agency
2010-2011
Test Plots

Specialty Crop Test Plots
Purpose : Encourage the adoption of non-traditional low water use, value added crops through development of alternative markets and an informed public.

Funded by :
Colorado Department of Agriculture & the
Yuma Conservation District
2010-2012 Northeastern Colorado Biodiesel Feasibility Study

Purpose: Assess the viability of building an oilseed crushing plant and refinery in Yuma County. To reduce dependency on the Ogallala Aquifer, diversify cropping opportunities in North East Colorado and create local entrepreneurial opportunities.

Funded by:
Colorado Department of Agriculture
2011

Community Garden

Yuma Community Garden
A community garden is a place to interact with neighbors, develop new contacts through out the community, access locally grown food, improve your community, provide entrepreneurial opportunities, and have events, contests and celebrations. Youth Conservation Camp

Purpose: Provides local children an opportunity for hands on learning related to conservation locally and beyond.

Sponsored by:
The Fish Hatchery staff in Wray, Colorado Department of Wildlife, Irrigation Research Foundation, Josh and Amy Melby, Mustain’s, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Quality Farm and Ranch, Ray and Amy Pinney, Sara Olsen, Shop All, Yuma Business Connection and the Yuma Conservation District
Matching Grant

Water & Energy Conservation Incentive Program
Purpose: Allow producers to conserve and manage available water by implementing precise incremental adjustments of water application, fertilization and chemigation. Producers will also achieve energy savings by having remote access to the pivot controls; allowing them to stop, start, and adjust irrigation from their home office or mobile phone

Funded by :
Colorado State Conservation Board
2012 & 2010

Pathways

Republican River Basin Pathways Project
Purpose : Raise Traditional Crops on less water, promotes long term sustainability of the Ogallala Aquifer and mitigates long-term economic impacts of compliance with the Republican River Compact Settlement agreement of 2002.
Funded by :
Federal Conservation Innovation Grant
2005-2009
REACH

Rural Efficient Agriculture Communication Hub
Purpose : Create a one stop online database where producers can find and compare regional information on different crops, inputs, water consumption, economics, current studies, actual yields and value added opportunities and other useful information to assist in making profitable and sustainable management decision.
Funded by :
Colorado NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant
2009

NRCS Programs Available

This section will show producers what
NRCS programs are available in the
Republican River Watershed
of Colorado

        Our Sales Programs

Tree and Drip Irrigation Supply
Contact the office today for an order
form or to check availability

For more information Click Here

Books are available
at the office or purchase
them through this link Click Here
Buffalo Brand Grass Seed
Cover Crop
Native Grass
Turf Seed
Contact the office for a quote.

No project is to big or small

Student Programs and Opportunities
Educational programs for students sponsored by the Yuma Conservation District include 2nd Grade Sammy Soils Coloring Contest, 5th Grade Arbor Day, 6th Grade Poster Contest, 7th & 8th Grade Salvador Memorial Science Fair Award, Camp Rocky, Ted Tuell scholarship

Water and Nutrient Management 319 Project-Completed 2006
Producers adopted Best Management Practices on 45,000 acres during a four-year project to protect ground water quality and raise awareness about the connection between agricultural practices and quality of ground water in the Ogallala Aquifer. Funded by an EPA Grant administered through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment 2002-2006.
More information. The Final Report. (PDF)


Locally Led Conservation
The need for local leadership in managing our natural resources was one of the most important factors leading to the establishment of conservation districts nearly 60 years ago. The process of local people working to assess community conservation needs, make decisions and implement solutions is called Locally Led Conservation.

                                              NRCS Conservation Partnership
The district provides office space for an NRCS field office in western Yuma County. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is the primary federal agency that works with private landowners to help conserve, maintain and improve their natural resources. More information.

YCD Celebrates 50 Years
On Tuesday November 11, 2008 the Yuma Conservation District hosted it's fiftieth annual meeting at the Club at Indian Hills. The night included display boards spanning the previous 50 years, presentation of the ADM Community Partnership grant by Deb Heid, recognition of the Outstanding Cooperators of the Year Carrol and Vicki Flemister, Distinguished Service Award for 50 years of dedication and honorable service presented to Bud & Genève Mekelburg, key note speech by National Association of Conservation Districts, President John Redding and the Grand Prize a $500 travel voucher generously donated by Bank of Colorado was won by Tim Powell.

The locally grown menu featured French Onion Soup onions grown by Jensen Onions, garlic mashed potatoes grown and donated by Joe and Kellie Newton, baked beans grown and donated by local ADM producers, pork tenderloin grown and donated by Murphy Brown, prime rib donated by Scharmm, butter and sour cream grown and donated by Yuma County Dairy and cheesecake.

Founding members of the Yuma Conservation District that were present include Perry Blach, Willard Gorman and Bud Mekelburg.

2013 Meetings of the Board of Supervisors, Second Wednesday of each month at the district office, 12 p.m.