Welcome to Food for Thought

As warm winter speeds peach season, CSU Innovator of the Year Ioannis Minas helps Colorado’s Western Slope growers prepare

As questions swirl about how a warm, dry year will impact the Palisade peach crop, one researcher is being recognized for helping growers make smarter, more precise decisions. Ioannis Minas, associate professor of pomology in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, was recently named CSU Strata’s Innovator of the Year for developing technology that helps producers pinpoint the optimal time to harvest.

“We have this reputation for producing the best peaches in the country – how can we use technology to make better decisions about harvest?” says Minas. Read More

‘Solar fences’ could help Colorado farmers harvest crops and the sun’s energy

As demand for renewable energy grows, researchers are exploring ways to integrate solar production without disrupting agriculture. At Colorado State University, a team is testing vertical “solar fences” that allow farmers to generate electricity while continuing to grow full-scale crops like corn. Mark Uchanski, associate professor in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, says the goal is to make agrivoltaics practical for real-world farming operations. Read More

Even if Coloradans slash their water use, their bills will likely rise during drought

CO Sun: 
As drought intensifies across Colorado, major utilities like Denver Water are preparing drought surcharges to offset millions in lost revenue as customers conserve. While designed to curb high outdoor use, the fees could still raise monthly bills. Chris Goemans, professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, says the approach can have lasting impacts. Read More

A dose of amino acids could give developing Western Slope peaches strength to survive deadly spring freezes

As spring freezes threaten orchards near Palisade, Western Colorado Research Center research scientist David Sterle is testing whether amino acids can help protect vulnerable peach buds. Early field trials show treated trees had up to twice as many surviving buds after cold snaps—an encouraging sign for growers facing costly losses. Read More

Cow vision’ goggles let farmers see the world on four hooves – and may improve animal welfare

New augmented reality goggles are helping farmers see facilities from a cow’s perspective — a concept that traces back decades to CSU Animal Sciences Professor Temple Grandin. She pioneered designing livestock systems based on how animals perceive their surroundings, improving welfare and handling. Today’s tools bring that idea to life for a new generation of producers. Read More

The “Aerobiome” – The hidden biology of air

A new mBio study from Carolyn Cornell and Jane Stewart reveals that the atmosphere isn’t empty— it carries shifting communities of bacteria and fungi between ecosystems above subalpine forests and grasslands in Colorado. Researchers found fungi are highly site-specific and sensitive to environmental change, while bacteria are more widespread and uniform. Sampling the “aerobiome” across heights, seasons, and times of day also showed strong vertical filtering, shaping how microbes move through landscapes. The work highlights the atmosphere as an active ecological highway linking ecosystems. Read More

Shifts in soil organic carbon dynamics during the transition from irrigated to dryland cropping systems

A new study published by Department of Soil and Crop Sciences researchers Agustín Núñez, Francesca Cotrufo, and Meagan Schipanski examine how irrigation retirement affects soil organic carbon in semiarid cropping systems. Across maize and wheat systems, they found that ending irrigation sharply reduced carbon inputs in maize, but had a much smaller effect in wheat. Soil respiration changes were driven more by reduced plant growth than by soil moisture itself, suggesting that productivity — not just drought — controls long-term carbon storage. Read More

Fighting fire with goats: CSU alumni restore California’s landscapes

A mobile herd of about 200 goats is helping California communities reduce wildfire fuel loads — and it all traces back to Andrew Bowler, a Department of Animal Sciences alumnus who now co-leads West Coast Grazing, a regenerative grazing business he founded with fellow CSU graduate Brittany Messinger. Bowler’s background shaped how the operation uses livestock as a land management tool rather than machinery or chemicals.

“Goat herding means living in sync with the seasons. It requires 24/7 attention, and the day is only over when the work is done,” says Messinger. Read More

Women Innovators in Food and Farming podcast: Cris Argueso, Agricultural Biologist

On the Women Innovators in Food and Farming podcaste, hosted by Amy Wu, Cris Argueso, an agricultural biologist specializing in plant molecular biology and genetics, discusses how advances in plant science are helping reshape crop resilience and productivity in a changing climate. Watch Now

Colorado’s small rural districts: A potent source of education and community

A new report from the Keystone Policy Center documents the strengths of Colorado’s small rural school districts, despite having to navigate policies built for districts 10 to 50 times their size. Agricultural economist Dawn Thilmany says schools are among the most critical anchors for rural communities, alongside access to healthcare—especially in regions where services can be 90 minutes away or more. Read More

Applause, Upcoming Events, and Announcements

• Jan Leach, CSU Distinguished Professor in the Department of Agricultural Biology, received an honorary doctorate from the University of Montpellier in recognition of her global contributions to plant pathology and scientific collaboration.
• Lily Edwards-Callaway, Lexi Firth, John Ritten, Catie Cramer, Anders Van Sandt, and Jessica Metcalf are among the researchers leading newly funded multidisciplinary projects aimed at strengthening rural Colorado communities, as part of a collaborative seed grant initiative supporting six awards focused on challenges such as workforce resilience, disaster response and agricultural innovation.
• CSU’s Equine Sciences team, coached by Alex Parsaye, captured the overall championship at the 2026 Collegiate Colt Starting Challenge at the Idaho Horse Expo, earning top honors across multiple rounds in a field of collegiate competitors.
• Quatez Scott, assistant dean for access and success, represented CSU in the LEAD21 leadership development program, joining participants from land-grant institutions nationwide and completing a yearlong series of in-person and virtual sessions focused on organizational leadership, collaboration, communication, and leading change.
• CSU’s IHSA equestrian team is headed to nationals for the first time in eight years after a breakout postseason season. The team will compete at the IHSA National Championship at Tryon International Equestrian Center in North Carolina from May 1–3.
• The Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture is co-hosting an Arbor Day Celebration & Tree Planting on Friday, April 24 from noon-1 p.m. on the north side of the Hartshorn building.
• Rams Remember Rams will be held on Thursday, April 29 from 5-5:30 p.m. on the north steps of the Admin building. Join us in remembering Tony Koski, Jessica Davis, and other CSU community members who passed away in the last year.
• AgNext will host Amy Ganguli on Friday, May 1, from 11–11:50 a.m. in Nutrien 140 as part of the Animals, Landscapes and Communities seminar series, exploring how supply chains, sustainability and customer expectations are shaping producer decisions and opportunities for alignment across industry, science and practice.
• Spring 2026 Commencement will be held Saturday, May 16 at Canvas Stadium. Two CAS recognition ceremonies will be held on Friday, May 15 – DARE + AnSci at 8 a.m, and AgBio + HLA + SOCR at 11 a.m. If you’re interested in volunteering, please email Megan Kapp.
• Save the Date: On Friday, July 10, CSU Rodeo will compete at the Learfield Collegiate All-Star Rodeo during Bulls & Beats, the Professional Bull Riders’ season-opening event at Canvas Stadium.