Welcome to Food for Thought

An invisible smoke is spreading across US cities – and making people more violent

Wildfires wreck property, livelihoods, and ecosystems, and new research shows that air pollution from wildfires also correlates with violent crime. “Our research showed that increased air pollution exposure is associated with higher levels of assaults, which is indicative of elevated aggressive behavior,” says Jesse Burkhardt, Associate Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics.

While visible smoke often stays local, wind can carry fine particles thousands of miles from a fire. As wildfires become more frequent and severe, these findings grow more urgent. Burkhardt says his work helps policymakers weigh the benefits of regulating air pollution against the costs of inaction in a changing climate. Read More

Prices are soaring on these everyday grocery items, driving up inflation

Inflation has reached a three-year high, driven by tariffs, drought and geopolitical conflict — “kind of the perfect storm,” says Dawn Thilmany, professor of agricultural economics. Lettuce has seen some of the sharpest increases, as production is concentrated in drought-stricken California and Arizona. Coffee prices have also surged, largely due to tariffs, according to Thilmany.

Rising fuel costs add further pressure, and transporting perishable goods like beef and produce is energy-intensive, especially in refrigerated trucks. But the high costs of fuel don’t stop there. “So you’re not only paying energy to ship it, you’re paying energy to keep it cool,” says Thilmany. Read More

Lifelong curiosity, love of nature shape Lynne Lewis’ path in environmental economics

Lynne Lewis, professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, textbook author, Nutrien Scholar, and brown bear enthusiast, has never gotten tired of learning. “[As a kid] I knew the name of every rock, every butterfly,” she says. “I liked science, and I was one of those kids who never got tired of learning.”

Lewis has built a career blending her love of nature with economic inquiry, becoming a respected teacher and researcher. She credits her connection with students as key to her teaching, finding the “light bulb” moment especially rewarding. “… I think I might be a young soul since I really connect with young people… I really enjoy getting to know them, learning from them, and I love to see the younger generation getting inspired.” Read More

In Western Colorado, CSU scientists are testing crops for a hotter, drier West

Western Colorado is no stranger to drought, and looking ahead, drought conditions are predicted to become more frequent, prolonged, and widespread across the state. Combined with other challenges, drought makes organic production especially difficult for Western Colorado growers.

“Especially here in the arid west, the soil’s tough, the pH is high, the drought stress, the short growing season — all of those things. We need some varieties that are adapted to those conditions,” says Bradley Tonnessen, a research scientist based at CSU’s Western Colorado Research Center – Rogers Mesa in Hotchkiss. The 80-acre site is the nation’s only 100% organic land-grant university research center and includes vegetable trials and research on organic pest management. The center also serves as a pillar for local organic producers. Read More

Landscape experts ask Colorado to “embrace the beige” for drought adaptation

For a water-wise landscape, “embrace the beige” — but not just beige. “It’s about all the different colors that we have available in our plants outside of green,” says Scott Curry, assistant professor of landscape design. He notes that a seasonally dynamic landscape includes “celebrating the idea that when our grasslands dry out, they turn brown and beige and pink and a little hue of blue.”

While lawns have their benefits, xeriscaping (or “zeroscaping”) has often carried a gravel-heavy reputation. In reality, water-wise landscapes can be diverse and attractive year-round. “We need solutions specific to our region and climate,” says Lori Catalano, associate professor of landscape architecture. “Native grasses, perennials, and adapted low-water species can create really beautiful four-season landscapes.” Read More

CSU funds forage-crop study to increase drought resilience

About 75% of irrigated farmland in the upper Colorado River Basin is used to produce alfalfa and other forage crops. Alfalfa is water-intensive, but in years of strong snowpack and full reservoirs it produces profitable hay and supports the state’s $5 billion livestock industry. In low-snow years, however, the crop becomes far more risky.

Researchers are exploring alternative forage crops such as peas and sainfoin that require less water. Supported by a Climate Ready Agriculture and Water Innovation Grant, the project will test perennial forages at higher elevations along the upper Gunnison River.

“We need to explore what happens when we don’t have that snowpack so we can help farmers with limited water still sustain their operations in a water-scarce environment,” says Perry Cabot, a CSU Extension professor in Western Colorado. Read More

Are less-thirsty crops a solution to Colorado’s growing water problems?

While the answers to Colorado’s growing water challenges may seem simple, the reality is far more complex.

One challenge for farmers is slow-moving bureaucracy when it comes to crops the USDA does not consider common, such as black-eyed peas. These are currently being tested for drought tolerance at the CSU Crops Testing program in Akron, Colorado. According to Sally Jones-Diamond, director of the program, farmers need special written insurance agreements to get insurance for specialty crops.

Can farmers get a price break on their risk? “One day if they get their act together, and they get black-eyed peas added, then yes. Until then, specialty crops are a risky bet many farmers can’t afford to take,” she says. Read More

Bigger Cattle Raise Stakes for Welfare, Handling, and Beef Quality

While the average U.S. cattle herd has shrunk in number, production has remained steady as producers focus on efficiency and profit margins. One strategy is increasing animal weight; the USDA predicts carcass weights will rise by nearly 50 pounds over the next two years.

But heavier cattle require careful management to maintain animal welfare and production efficiency. Lily Edwards-Callaway, associate professor of livestock behavior and welfare in the Department of Animal Science, says to think of animal weights on a bell curve. “We talk a lot about averages. When we look at things like lameness, mobility, and body condition scoring, we look at the average of the herd. The welfare of the animals on the really far ends of that curve can be pretty compromised,” she says. Read More

Applause, Upcoming Events, and Announcements

• John Barnhardt, Erik Sophir, and Phoenix Heavner of Barnfly Productions have received the Silver Telly Award in the Education & Discovery category for their Insect of the Week series, featuring insects at the Gillette Museum. Check out the full series here. Congratulations – we’re so happy to have you at our table!
• Save the Date: CSU’s 45th annual Ag Day will take place on Saturday, Sept. 12. The Nutrien Ag Day BBQ will be from 12-4 p.m. before the Rams take on Southern Utah at 5 p.m. Sign up to volunteer.
• Congratulations to Animal Sciences master’s student Juliana Messina on being awarded the Young Scholar Award by the American Society of Animal Science – Western Section.
• Cole Wilson, a graduate student in the Department of Agricultural Biology, received an honorable mention by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program, one of the nation’s most prestigious fellowship programs. Well done, Cole!
• Animal Sciences Professor Temple Grandin is up for induction into the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame. Cast your vote to recognize her decades of impact advancing animal welfare, livestock handling and industry standards.