Colorado Farmers Turn to Winter Barley for Regenerative Agriculture

State grants help farmers like Todd Olander implement sustainable practices to improve soil health and sequester carbon.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 5:31am

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Colorado farmers are turning to winter barley, an ancient grain, as part of their regenerative agriculture practices to improve soil health, increase drought resistance, and sequester more carbon. Farmer Todd Olander received a state grant to partner with New Belgium Brewing and test the malting and brewing qualities of the winter barley, proving it can be a viable climate-smart crop. While switching to regenerative practices requires upfront costs, farmers are seeing long-term benefits to their soil and bottom line.

Why it matters

Agriculture is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, but regenerative practices like planting winter barley can help farmers reduce their environmental impact. Colorado is supporting these efforts through grant programs to incentivize sustainable farming and create new markets for climate-smart crops.

The details

Farmer Todd Olander implemented regenerative practices like planting cover crops, reducing tillage, and growing winter barley on his fifth-generation farm in Loveland. The state awarded Olander a $30,000 grant to partner with New Belgium Brewing and test the malting and brewing qualities of the winter barley. Downforce Technologies also measured Olander's farm, finding it sequestered more carbon and had better soil health compared to similar farms. While winter barley isn't a silver bullet, it provides early-season ground cover, weed suppression, and drought resistance, making it a valuable part of regenerative agriculture.

  • In 2025, the Colorado Department of Agriculture awarded $120,000 in grants for the Climate Smart Market Expansion Project.
  • Olander received a $30,000 grant in 2025 to partner with New Belgium Brewing.
  • Downforce Technologies measured Olander's farm over a couple weeks in early 2026.

The players

Todd Olander

A fifth-generation farmer and founder of Root Shoot Malting in Loveland, Colorado, who has implemented regenerative practices like planting cover crops, reducing tillage, and growing winter barley.

New Belgium Brewing

A brewery in Fort Collins, Colorado that partnered with Olander to test the malting and brewing qualities of his winter barley.

Downforce Technologies

A UK-based company that helped measure the soil health and carbon sequestration benefits of Olander's regenerative farming practices.

Colorado Department of Agriculture

The state agency that awarded $120,000 in grants for the Climate Smart Market Expansion Project, including a $30,000 grant to Olander.

Emily Philpott

The CEO and board chair of Dry Storage, a mill and bakery in Boulder focused on heirloom grains and flours.

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What they’re saying

“We must make sure our soil is resilient.”

— Todd Olander, Farmer and Founder, Root Shoot Malting

“Regenerative practices aren't always a philosophical or ethical choice, it's a business decision.”

— Amanda Laban, Markets Division Director, Colorado Department of Agriculture

“What we're trying to help people understand is that, like coffee, we have to adjust the entire supply chain and associated pricing.”

— Emily Philpott, CEO and Board Chair, Dry Storage

What’s next

The future of Colorado's Climate Smart Market Initiative remains unclear, as the Trump administration has proposed cutting funding for similar federal programs. However, the state agriculture department is seeking more funding to continue supporting regenerative agriculture projects like Olander's.

The takeaway

By embracing regenerative practices like winter barley, Colorado farmers are demonstrating that sustainable agriculture can be both profitable and environmentally beneficial. While the upfront costs can be high, the long-term improvements to soil health and carbon sequestration are paying dividends for farmers and the planet.