Welcome to Food for Thought
This week in our Food for Thought roundup, we recognize the unique challenges facing Colorado ag this year. As the New World Screwworm threatens livestock production, Jessica Metcalf is working to develop better lures for trapping this serious threat. We learn what Colorado consumers should watch out for during the cyclospora outbreak, how corn and peach growers are pivoting their operations, and what researchers have learned about soil organic carbon during this historic drought. Keep reading for these stories and more.
Research on foul odors and open wounds targets flesh-eating screwworm
The USDA recently announced $105 million to strengthen defenses against the New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite threatening livestock. Jessica Metcalf, professor of animal sciences, is leading a project to study what attracts the pest to open wounds, with the goal of developing more effective lures for detection and control.
“Because we had been working on the relationship among insects, bacteria and animal decomposition for the last 15 years, and the New World screwworm evolved from a decomposer – an insect that utilizes dead flesh to raise its young – we were well set up to tackle this problem,” she says.
What Colorado consumers should know about the cyclospora outbreak
Cyclosporiasis has sickened more than 4,000 Americans and hospitalized another 300, leading to large-scale recalls of fresh produce. While most cases are concentrated in the Midwest, “Colorado residents and produce growers should take the outbreak seriously, follow current recall information and watch for symptoms, but there is no reason to stop eating fresh produce…” says Eduardo Gutierrez-Rodriguez, associate professor in food safety systems.
If a product has been recalled or implicated, he advises consumers of it and thoroughly sanitize any surfaces it may have come into contact with.
CSU to celebrate 45th Ag Day with Nutrien Ag Day BBQ, football and family festivities
On Saturday, Sept. 12, Ram fans and partners from across the state will celebrate CSU’s 45th Ag Day, a longstanding tradition honoring our land-grant mission, agricultural traditions, athletics, and community. The 2026 Nutrien Ag Day BBQ will take place from 1-4 p.m. ahead of the Rams’ football matchup.
Tickets are expected to sell out, and early purchase is encouraged. More information is available on the Nutrien Ag Day BBQ website. Community members, students and partners are invited to help make the event a success by signing up to volunteer.
Olathe corn in short supply this summer as farmers cut back significantly
Producers of Colorado staple Olathe corn are streamlining operations, cutting acreage, and expanding direct-to-consumer sales to remain viable. “It shows a lot of entrepreneurial spirit…but it comes with a lot of work,” says Dawn Thilmany, professor of agricultural economics.
With scarce water supplies threatening agriculture, focusing on high-value crops could be a lifeline for producers.
“…we should encourage producers to use [water] on crops with a high value-per-acre like sweet corn, which currently creates revenues far greater than feed corn. Plus, we want economic activity that stays localized,” Thilmany says.
Peaches pay the bills for Western Colorado farmers, but prolonged drought makes their future uncertain
It has also been an extraordinarily challenging year for growers of another Colorado staple—Palisade peaches. Peach trees require about three feet of water per acre each season, according to David Sterle, research scientist at CSU’s Western Colorado Research Center in Orchard Mesa. With the region averaging just nine inches of annual rainfall—closer to five in recent years—water scarcity is an increasing concern.
Still, the crop remains highly profitable. With peaches bringing in $10,000 to $35,000 per acre, Sterle says the “juice is worth the squeeze,” noting that peaches rank among the top crops when measuring economic return per gallon of water used.
How CSU’s Ag Innovation Center is helping Colorado farmers tackle drought and drive agricultural innovation
At CSU’s Ag Innovation Center, Jordan Kraft-Lambert is helping Colorado farmers solve their greatest challenges by listening to them. So far, the center has 32,000 problems in their database. “We use that database to try to accelerate partnerships that can really solve some of those problems. One thing that we do is incubate and accelerate ag-tech companies that solve those problems,” says Lambert.
Raised on a northeast Colorado dairy farm, Lambert knows firsthand the challenges local producers face. She’s working to strengthen Colorado agriculture by helping farmers and ranchers adapt to drought, water shortages, and a changing climate through collaboration and practical solutions.
Poultry has sustainability edge over other proteins
Poultry is uniquely positioned to make sustainability advances more easily and quickly than competing animal agriculture industries. “I’m actually pretty jealous of the opportunities in poultry,” says Kim Stackhouse-Lawson, professor of animal science with a focus on beef research.
The reasons range from genetics and life cycles, an integrated supply chain and partnerships, and innovation that’s rich with data. “The opportunity from a sustainability perspective is just so rich with the data, the interconnectivity and what you can do with that,” she says of the advantages the poultry industry has.
CSU program brings adaptive rodeo experience to children during the Arapahoe County Fair
At the Arapahoe County Fair, children with special needs experienced the excitement of a rodeo during the annual PRCA Exceptional Rodeo, hosted by the Temple Grandin Equine Center, in partnership with Developmental Pathways. The Exceptional Rodeo gives children the opportunity to celebrate traditions of the American West, like meeting horses and professional rodeo athletes, practicing their roping skills, and riding mechanical or stationary horses and bulls.
“This is a community outreach program that showcases Western heritage, rodeo, and the power of the animal-human bond for all individuals, regardless of their abilities or disabilities,” said Adam Daurio, director of the Temple Grandin Equine Center.
A labor lockout in rural Colorado has a town asking: How do we survive?
In Fort Morgan, roughly a fifth of the population is employed by the Cargill meatpacking plant, where production has been halted since April. The closure has created uncertainty for workers and the city. If the plant remains closed, the financial impact could be devastating to the community.
Because of the record-low U.S. cattle herds, facilities across the country are operating below capacity, allowing Cargill to easily transfer cattle to other plants. As a result, the disruption is unlikely to significantly impact the beef market. In fact, the company’s operational costs decrease when plants operate closer to capacity, says Jennifer Martin, associate professor of animal science.
Soil organic carbon increases crop yield but can’t help with extreme drought
A recent study by CSU scientists published in Global Change Biology found that soil organic carbon benefits crops most under ideal conditions with moderate water availability. Previously, it was believed to improve crop yields during drought. However, “there needs to be some water in the soil for the plants to see benefits from improved soil organic carbon,” says co-author Nathan Mueller, associate professor in the Departments of Soil and Crop Sciences and Ecosystem Science and Sustainability.
“This matters for how we communicate the value of soil organic carbon to farmers. The benefits are real, and you don’t need an extreme drought to see them,” says Mueller.
New CSU-USDA SeedImages website ensures long-term access to critical seed identification resources
Seedimages.com has a new home through a partnership with the USDA APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine Science and Technology Identification Technology Program. Developed by CSU seed scientists in the early 2000s, the site has supported seed analysts, researchers, educators, and regulators worldwide for more than two decades. The transition preserves the archive while enabling updates, improved taxonomy, and long-term sustainability.
“CSU has always believed in the educational and scientific value of SeedImages.com…as this resource moves onto the USDA platform, we’re ensuring its continued growth, relevance and accessibility for students, seed analysts and agricultural professionals worldwide,” says Laura Pottorff, retired director of Colorado Seed Programs and emerita Extension specialist in CSU’s Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.
Applause, upcoming events, and announcements
- Chad Miller, associate professor of horticulture and Trial Gardens director has been recognized with the Outstanding Undergraduate Mentor Award from the American Society for Horticultural Science. Well deserved, Chad!
- 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.