Welcome to Food for Thought

Class gives students statewide view of agricultural innovation

As part of the Exploring Colorado Agricultural Systems (AgBio 505) class, students toured CSU’s 10 research centers, located throughout the state. Along the way, they experienced firsthand the realities of Colorado agriculture — from cutting-edge ag technologies and efficient irrigation systems to agrivoltaics and drought impacts. Open to all majors, this summer’s class even included a lifelong learner not enrolled in a degree program. “Most of these students work in labs, and that’s where they spend the majority of their time. This class gets them out into the field, and there’s no substitute for experience,” says Amy Bibbey, program manager for the Agricultural Experiment Station. Read More

‘Weird’ weather playing role in low Colorado miller moth migration

Miller moths have been elusive this year, which may be good news for some people, but bad news for plants that need pollination. Moths are important pollinators, even more than butterflies, according to Whitney Cranshaw, emeritus professor of entomology and extension specialist. The warm, dry winter in the Mountain West set off a sequence of events that reduced army cutworm populations, which is the caterpillar stage of the miller moth. “Never seen it like this, this has been an extraordinarily weird year,” says Cranshaw. “The bottom line is there isn’t going to be much of a miller moth problem this year.” Read More

Stamped for more | Cows that stay, pay

A growing body of research shows how genetics can improve both productivity and sustainability in beef cattle. In a recent release from the American Hereford Association, Greg Thoma, AgNext Director of Agricultural Modeling and Lifecycle Assessment, and Mark Enns, John E. Rouse Chair in Animal Breeding and professor of animal science, shared their research insights.

Maternal heterosis is the performance boost that improves fertility, longevity and lifetime productivity in commercial cow-calf systems. Using a 10-year lifecycle assessment, Thoma found that crossbred Hereford-Angus females produce more calves, stay in the herd longer, and ultimately generate more total pounds of beef, demonstrating greater profitability over time.

Enns shared that collaborative research by AgNext and the American Hereford Association found measurable genetic variation within cattle populations for sustainability traits such as methane emissions and nitrogen use. This means producers can apply selection pressure to make meaningful genetic progress in reducing environmental impacts. Read More

Teff grass: A high-quality forage for hay or grazing

Teff — originally grown in Ethiopia and used as a grain — is a warm-season annual grass grown in many regions of North America for livestock, primarily as a summer annual forage for hay or grazing. There are a lot of benefits to teff — it is drought tolerant and high-quality, and its high-protein and Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) make it a good option for livestock grazing. “Teff has a high NDF but a fairly low ADF, which is the slowly digestible fraction of the fiber. I think this is one reason it’s good for horses that have sugar problems; it is not releasing a whole bunch of those sugars at once,” says Joe Brummer, Emeritus Associate Professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences. Read More

The role of earthworms in feeding the world

Sun, seed, rain, labor, and… worms. These “soft engineers” are responsible for supporting over 140 million metric tons of grain and legume production annually, according to Soil and Crop Sciences Professor Steve Fonte and his colleagues. As worms move through soil, they digest organic matter, which is released as nitrogen, which benefits crops differently in different parts of the world. Soil may hold as much as half of the planet’s biodiversity, and earthworms are just starting to be recognized for their contributions in feeding the world. Small, but mighty — we are thankful for the big contributions of the humble earthworm. Read More

Garden not growing? This lab at CSU Spur might be able to help

If your garden isn’t growing as well as you’d like — the Soil, Water and Plant Testing Laboratory at CSU Spur might be able to provide some answers, whether you’re a farmer, home gardener, or government agency. “Gardeners can test anytime during the growing season, and we can help troubleshoot so they can amend their soil to be a better environment for the plants they’re hoping to grow,” says Wilma Trujillo, a soil scientist and laboratory director. 

Growing almost anything successfully requires the right balance of nutrients. This year has been especially challenging due to drought and a record warm winter, and the lab has seen a significant uptick in samples from across the state and country. Read More

What’s Working: Why hamburgers cost more today

The cost of beef has risen significantly, in particular — ground beef. A tight cattle supply and high operational costs have led to the closure of several processing plants across the country, and the imbalance of supply and demand is pushing prices higher – which benefits ranchers. 

“If you actually look at how wages have grown over the last 30 years and how beef prices have grown, this is what people should be paying for beef…we just had a policy in this country that almost kept food too cheap,” says Dawn Thilmany, professor of agriculture and resource economics. Read More

Bird flu, screwworm underscore why disease surveillance is critical

The reemergence of the New World screwworm and bird flu are two examples of why disease surveillance is critical for prevention, which is far less costly than response. A new paper published in Choices, “Lessons Learned in U.S. Animal Disease Surveillance for Commercial and Smallholder Systems in the Twenty-First Century,” includes Amanda Countryman, professor of agricultural and resource economics, along with other agricultural economists. The article highlights different diseases at different points in time, and the costs and outcomes associated with them. Read More

The future of large animal medicine

CSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences has opened a new 15,000-square-foot livestock hospital, expanding care for large animals and helping address the shortage of veterinary services in rural Colorado. The facility supports livestock producers while improving animal health, welfare, and productivity across the region.

The hospital also provides veterinary students with hands-on training in livestock medicine. Designed with input from Temple Grandin, it features elements that enhance animal comfort, including curved cattle chutes. Read More

Applause, Upcoming Events, and Announcements

• Reece Bailey, pursuing an M.S. in horticulture, is a 2026 AmericanHort HortScholar, which provides recipients with real-world industry experience and opportunities through professional development, networking, and mentorships. Congrats, Reece!
• “Arsenic, cadmium and mercury are potentially threatening the health of millions of people due to contaminated rice,” says Thomas Borch, professor of soil and crop sciences. Borch and his colleagues, including University Distinguished Professor Jan Leach, and Sean Fettrow, a postdoctoral researcher released a perspective this month in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment that describes a management approach preventing the uptake of heavy metals in rice grains to protect human health.
• This summer, Vivi Rupenthal, Livestock Business Management major and Allie Grande, a recent alumna starting her Animal Science master’s degree this fall, are completing internships with the U.S. Meat Export Federation. We can’t wait to hear all about it!
• Learfield College Rodeo and the PBR are debuting the Collegiate All-Star Rodeo during the PBR’s Bulls and Beats event set for July 10-12 at Canvas Stadium. Two teams, led by celebrity rodeo coaches, will compete in rodeo events like bareback riding and barrel racing. The CSU Rodeo Team will be on the south team, coached by Trevor Brazile and Dale Brisby.
• 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.
• 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.