The Colorado Department of Agriculture's new Agricultural Land Preservation and Access program is hosting two virtual public meetings in August 2026 to gather feedback on proposed rules for its Farmland Bridge Loan program.

The program is designed to allow eligible entities — including land trusts, water conservancies, and ditch and reservoir companies — to quickly access capital to protect agriculturally productive land and sell it to an eligible beginning farmer or rancher.

Department staff will present core concepts and proposed program rules at each meeting, and attendees will be encouraged to submit questions throughout. Both meetings are open to the public and require advance registration. Interpretation must be requested at least five days before the event.

Two sessions are scheduled:

A Virtual Town Hall is set for August 17, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Mountain Time. Registration is available at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/CVgfVb4rR52LgItBDW08Cw

A Virtual Industry Partner Q&A is set for August 18, 2026, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Mountain Time, and is geared toward industry partners across land preservation, land access, crop and livestock production, farmer's unions, and related fields. Registration is available at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/xM4vAeS8Qea5MNCeRXvkBg

More information about the Farmland Bridge Loan program is available at ag.colorado.gov/events/farmland-bridge-loan-program-rules