Welcome to Food for Thought
Here’s a roundup of the latest top stories from the College of Agricultural Sciences.
In this week’s Food for Thought roundup, we’re highlighting how CSU research and innovation make a difference in the real world, from the colorful plant varieties tested at the Flower Trial Gardens to the exciting projects graduate students shared at this year’s GradShow. We’re also looking at how agriculture supports conservation and sustainability, with efforts like the Future Cowboy event at the National Western Stock Show and research on conservation easements that help protect Colorado’s landscapes for future generations.
This Colorado town inspired Disneyland’s Main Street
Locals love to share that Fort Collins inspired Disneyland. But how is the College of Ag involved? If you’ve admired the colorful planters in Old Town, you might be surprised to learn that many of those plants were first tested at the CSU Flower Trial Gardens. The gardens test new varieties from plant breeders worldwide to see how they perform in Colorado’s tough climate. Visitors can vote for their favorites, and many of these plants end up in garden centers across the country. The gardens are a local favorite, and they’re free and open to everyone. Read more
Tickets now on sale for Future Cowboy event at CSU Spur
Celebrate the cattle industry’s role in today’s world at the Future Cowboy event during the National Western Stock Show on January 25. Hosted at the Temple Grandin Equine Center in the Vida building at CSU Spur, the event includes a leather fashion show with CSU student designs, chef-made offal dishes, stories from ranchers, ag tech founders, chefs, and designers, plus a Western wear market and line dancing.
So, what is a Future Cowboy? “I think a future cowboy can also be anybody who’s buying into this ethos that cattle can be a healthy and productive part of our landscape, as well as a healthy and productive part of our meals and our wardrobe,” says Jordan Kraft Lambert, director of the Ag Innovation Center at CSU Spur. Read more
The event runs from 1 to 6 p.m. at Denver’s National Western Center. Tickets are $70, and attendees are encouraged to wear their best Western outfits. Read more
‘Nature’s Bounty’ seminar shows conservation easements deliver huge public returns
At this year’s Green Bag Seminar Series at Colorado State University, Professor of agricultural and resource economics Andrew Seidl shared his research on the economic and ecological benefits of conservation easements in Colorado.
These voluntary agreements between landowners and other groups limit land use in return for tax credits. Since 1995, they have generated billions in public benefits from $1.2 billion in investments and have helped preserve over 2 million acres of land, boosting local economies. Seidl pointed out that putting a dollar value on ecosystem services like wildlife habitat and recreation shows how important they are. He also noted that markets often fail to reflect the true value of private land stewardship.
“Markets are not reflecting the true value of stewardship of private lands. Farmers and ranchers are being compensated for producing beef, lamb, and corn, but not for the other ecosystem services they’re providing,” he says. Read more
Graduate students awarded $24K in awards at 10th annual GradShow
Congratulations to Natalie McCaffery, Andre Lucas Simoes Araujo, and Kamal Neupane for winning the Top Scholar Awards from the College of Ag! At the 10th annual GradShow, 295 graduate students from all eight colleges and special academic units at Colorado State University presented their work, highlighting innovative research, creative projects, and entrepreneurship.
- Natalie McCaffery, “Evaluating Process-Based Models to Support Tier 3 Soil GHG Inventories” – Soil and Crop Sciences
- Andre Lucas Simoes Araujo, “Investigating Resistance to Auxin Herbicides in Kochia Population from Colorado” – Agricultural Biology
- Kamal Neupane, “Structural Dynamics of WRKY Transcription Factors Binding W-boxes in Rice” – Agricultural Biology
CSU program sends three students to World Food Prize Foundation event
The International Agriculture program hosts the Colorado GROW Youth Institute, a daylong program that encourages students to consider the critical issue of global food security. In October, three Colorado high school students from the program represented the state at the World Food Prize Foundation’s Global Youth Institute in October.
Since it began, the Colorado GROW Youth Institute has worked with about 45 students from 12 counties, 15 educators, and 30 community experts to explore global food security through research, mentorship, and experiential learning. Read more
Horses complete epic ride and find new purpose at Temple Grandin Equine Center
The horses of the Roundup Riders of the Rockies (3R) have had two remarkable lives. First, they were trained to handle 100 miles of tough mountain trails. Now, they bring strength, comfort, and healing to children and adults facing physical, emotional, and developmental challenges at the Temple Grandin Equine Center.
“I’m dumbfounded by the things we see here every day,” said Adam Daurio, TGEC Director. “These kids have so many challenges, and the horses have been able to change their lives for the better, just like they’ve changed mine.” Read more
Thanksgiving meal costs expected to fall as turkey prices drop
Did your Thanksgiving dinner cost a bit less this year? At least when it comes to turkeys, prices are expected to be 5 to 10% lower after years of supply chain issues and avian flu, according to Dawn Thilmany, professor of agricultural and resource economics. However, canned and processed foods may still be more expensive than before because of higher labor costs and tariffs on materials like aluminum.
“The real way to keep this cost-effective is to do as much of it from scratch as you can, because basic food ingredients are always going to be cheaper than something that’s had a lot of work or hours spent on creating it for you,” she says. Read more
If You’re Questioning the State of Your Soil, Here’s How to Test It
There are many reasons to test your soil, like keeping kids and pets safe, checking for contamination after events like wildfires, or making sure your garden soil is balanced. Thomas Borch, professor of soil and crop sciences, contributed to a recent NYT Wirecutter article about the best places to take soil samples. He suggests using “judgmental sampling,” which means “zeroing in on areas where higher-risk items might have burned, such as a lawn mower, electric vehicle, or car.” The article also recommends Extension offices as their top pick for accurate, user-friendly, and affordable soil tests.
The article also recommends Extension offices as their top pick for accurate, user-friendly, and affordable soil tests. Learn more about CSU Extension here
The Sustainable Landscape: Learning from the Past to Address Current Land Management Challenges
Lindsay Burnette, assistant professor of landscape architecture, received a Collaboratory grant from CSU SoGES for a project that explores how people have interacted with Western lands over time. This competitive award helps build research and scholarship communities by bringing together CSU faculty from different fields to tackle important climate and sustainability issues. Read more
Hiring: Professor & Head, Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture
CSU is seeking a Professor and Department Head to lead a department that combines science, technology, engineering, and math with the art and practice of horticulture, environmental horticulture, and landscape architecture. If you know someone who would be a great fit, please share the job posting with them! Read more