Our Mission

The mission of Colorado State University Extension is "to provide information and education, and encourage the application of research-based knowledge in response to local, state, and national issues affecting individuals, youth, families, agricultural enterprises, and communities of Colorado."

The Tri River Area is comprised of four counties (Delta, Mesa, Montrose, and Ouray) and three major rivers (Uncompahgre, Gunnison, and Colorado). Elevation ranges from approximately 4400 to over 14,000 feet with most of the agronomic crops grown in two irrigated valleys (Uncompahgre and Grand). There are approximately 160,000 irrigated acres in the two valleys. The remaining area is comprised of primarily cow/calf operations. The majority of the population reside in the Uncompahgre and Grand Valleys which contain the three main cities of Grand Junction, Delta, and Montrose.

The Tri River Area Advisory Committee is made up of residents of all four of our assigned counties. They would like to hear of your thoughts on how our staff can be more effective in the areas listed below. Please feel free to contact them.

Family and Consumer Science

• Workshops on food safety and food preservation
• Expertise on radon testing and indoor air quality issues
• Nutrition and health promotion programs
• Budgeting and financial management classes

• Expertise regarding crop production and assistance in field corn, alfalfa, irrigated pastures and grass hay, pinto beans, onions, sweet corn and silage corn.
• Livestock and rangeland management
• Noxious weed management and control
• Public Land Issues

• Insect and plant disease diagnosis
• Master Gardener program
• Workshops for 'Green Industry Professionals' and backyard gardeners
• Expertise regarding sod farms, pesticide application, commercial nursery production, greenhouse crop production and vegetable crops.
• Soil and water testing for soluble salts and related soils information.

• Issues concerning dairies, selenium, and coal-bed methane.

• Active programs in all four counties with 1109 4-H members and 370 volunteer adult leaders

• Reaches limited resource Coloradoans with nutrition, food safety, and food-buying education, enabling them to establish healthy food-related behaviors.

The Western Colorado Extension & Research Center Home Page provides additional links to programs and information including:

• 4-H Youth
• Agriculture/Natural Resources
• Family and Consumer Education
• Gardening & Horticulture