Welcome to Food for Thought

Sprouting success: On Colorado’s 150th anniversary, we revisit a CSU wheat variety that defied the odds and helped establish the state’s agricultural industry

Wheat developed at Colorado State University is central to Colorado’s agricultural success and generates more revenue for CSU than any other intellectual property, accounting for 54% of its annual IP income. This legacy began in the late 1800s with Defiance wheat, bred to withstand Colorado’s harsh climate, and continues through the Wheat Breeding and Genetics Program, whose varieties now make up about 85% of the wheat grown in the state.

“Defiance wheat highlights the university’s origins in experimentation and problem solving to improve lives and strengthen the state’s economy,” says Gene Kelly, director of the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station and soil science professor. Read More

Why are eggs an economic indicator?

Remember this time last year, when the price of a carton of eggs skyrocketed to more than $6? While egg prices have since fallen to about $2.35, many items in the national “market basket” remain expensive, including staples like bread, bananas, and bacon. So why are eggs often used as an economic indicator? “Knowing their prices and whether they’re affordable or not is going to tell you how much pain a typical household is feeling in their grocery bill,” says Dawn Thilmany, agricultural economist.

Still, today’s low egg prices may be misleading. During the avian flu outbreak that sent prices soaring last year, producers rapidly rebuilt their flocks, resulting in an oversupply of eggs. Thilmany cautions that these lower prices may not last, especially as rising oil costs and tariffs could push prices higher by increasing transportation and packaging expenses. Read More

This Tamale Act could throw open the door for more home kitchen entrepreneurs in Colorado

Lawmakers are considering a new bill that would lift the ban on refrigerated cottage foods, like tamales, casseroles, and other homemade goods. The Expanding the Colorado Cottage Foods Act (HB26-1033) would enable cottage food producers to grow and become economically viable businesses, says Dawn Thilmany. However, she adds that these businesses might outgrow the home kitchen very quickly. “No matter what someone’s trying to do out of their home, it is very hard for people to accelerate at the level they want to until they’re in one of these more sophisticated facilities where you can really have a workflow,” she says. Read More

Pasture to Profit podcast: agricultural economist John Ritten

In the most recent episode of the Pasture to Profit podcast, John Ritten, agricultural economist and Director of Grazing Land Research and Engagement at AgNext, discusses how livestock producers should respond to drought conditions across the Mountain West. Ritton emphasizes flexibility both in grazing management and financial planning and encourages producers to document their decisions so they are better prepared for the next drought. Listen Now

How drought impacts food production and Colorado communities

In a year when almost 90% of Colorado is already experiencing drought, and nearly half of the state is in extreme drought, the impacts will affect just about everyone and everything in the state. Chris Goemans, professor and agricultural economist, spoke with CSU SOURCE about how food producers and municipalities manage for drought, who gets water first, and what happens to those who don’t, and what added costs and policies Coloradans should expect to see this year. Read More

The Audit podcast: Embrace the beige: Reimagining lawns amid Colorado’s historic drought

As Colorado faces its worst snowpack on record and water restrictions have already been announced in several cities along the Front Range, it may be time to rethink the traditional lawn and embrace more sustainable landscape options. Scott Curry, assistant professor of Landscape Design and Contracting, and Lori Catalano, associate professor of Landscape Architecture, discuss America’s history with lawns, the environmental challenges they pose, and the benefits of xeriscaping, while offering practical tips for homeowners looking to conserve water, reduce their environmental impact, and create beautiful, resilient landscapes. Read More

Colorado farmers scale back crops and fear for survival as drought, tariffs and war take their toll

This summer is shaping up to be a difficult one for Colorado agriculture, with farmers facing threats on nearly every front. Warm temperatures, persistent dry conditions, and turbulence far beyond the state’s borders are forcing many producers to scale back planting or skip planting altogether. Colorado shoppers may notice fewer locally grown options in grocery store produce sections this season, raising new questions about the long-term viability of farming in the state.
“In Colorado’s rural communities, we are looking at survival,” says Mike Bartolo, breeder of the famed ‘Mosco’ chile and former research scientist for the CSU Arkansas Valley Research Center. Read More

Ready to start your vegetable garden? Here’s what experts think all beginners should know

The season for veggie gardens is nearly here, and it’s not as complicated as beginner gardeners might think. Jennifer Bousselot, assistant professor of horticulture and landscape architecture, shares her top tips for beginner gardeners and her favorite crops to grow. “…Think of some other crops that you like. Carrot seed sprouts readily, and homegrown carrots are so sweet! Or, if you like parsley, try growing that from seed. It is fresh, pest-resistant, and remarkably easy to grow. Some of my other favorites are leafy greens, beets, green beans, and squash,” she says. Read More

CSU celebrates first cohort of neurodiverse RAM Scholars and their mentors

This spring, the first cohort of RAM Scholars will graduate from the program, where CSU student mentors help prepare neurodiverse adults for careers in agriculture. The program is driven by the Department of Human Development and Family Studies and its occupational therapy program, but relies on faculty in areas such as animal sciences, horticulture, and landscape architecture to open their classes to the scholars and mentors. As part of their program, the scholars took Temple Grandin’s livestock handling course, who is well-known worldwide for her work in neurodiversity and animal science. Read More

The huge, untapped potential of planting rooftop gardens in cities

The benefits of green roofs are becoming increasingly evident. Not only are they an attractive alternative to barren, white rooftops, but rooftop vegetation can help prevent flooding, reduce heating and cooling costs, and even extend a roof’s lifespan, all while supporting pollinators and enhancing urban biodiversity. Agrivoltaics may add even more benefits to green roofs by providing protection from wind and reducing evaporation

“…In theory, you can actually have a shallower green roof if you’ve got shade integrated, and still have high diversity and high plant success,” says Jennifer Bousselot, who specializes in rooftop agrivoltaics. Read More

CSU-TAPS kicks off fourth farm management competition

CSU TAPS is kicking off its fourth season, inviting competitors, primarily farmers and farmer led teams, to remotely make management decisions on “mini farm” plots located at CSU’s ARDEC research facility. Top performing teams are recognized for their results, while participants gain a unique opportunity to test new strategies.

“TAPS’ unique format supports producers in trying different strategies and ag technologies without risk to their own operations through the growing season,” says Amy Kremen, associate director of the Irrigation Innovation Consortium.
Accessible to anyone with internet access, this year’s competition also includes two FFA teams from Hotchkiss and Holyoke, a combined team of students from CSU and the University of Colorado, and a team from Fort Morgan Community College, giving students hands on experience applying classroom learning in a real world setting. Read More

Colorado FFA Career Development Events draw 1,870 high school students to CSU Campus

More than 1,800 FFA students from across Colorado gathered on campus last week to compete in the annual FFA CDEs. Hosted by the College of Agricultural Sciences and coordinated by the Agricultural Education team, the CDEs brought together FFA members from high schools across the state to showcase skills developed through classroom instruction and hands-on agricultural education.

“This event has a tremendous statewide impact for both rural and urban students who have chosen agriculture as their pathway of study. We hope these experiences help students see Colorado State University as a place where they belong — and where they can help make our college even stronger,” says Kellie Enns, associate dean for student success and faculty affairs. Read More

Applause, Upcoming Events, and Announcements

• Join us in honoring the achievements and contributions of our students and colleagues at the AES/CAS Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, from 3-5 p.m. in the Lory Student Center Ballroom D.
• Congratulations to Matt Camper, master instructor in agricultural biology, who has received the 2026 Board of Governors Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award.
• Congratulations to Chuck Harp, research associate at the C. P. Gillette Museum of Arthropod Diversity, who has received the Distinguished Administrative Professional Award for outstanding achievement in outreach, teaching, administration, and research.
• Joseph Toman, Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, has been named a fellow in the Diana Wall Sustainability Leadership Fellows program, which prepares future innovators and thought leaders with state of the art science communication and career development training.
• This April, the CSU rodeo team held its 76th Skyline Stampede, featuring events such as goat tying, steer wrestling, barrel racing, and bull riding.
• Earlier this spring, CSU engineering students competed in interdisciplinary teams during the Ag-A-Thon, a competition that challenged participants to tackle real world agricultural problems.
• The Colorado Water Center and CSU Extension will host a free webinar, “The D Word: A Discussion on Drought, Community Impacts, and Resources,” on Thursday, May 14, from 6–7:30 p.m. Speakers will discuss the impacts of the current drought situation in Colorado on communities and agriculture and share resources to help individuals and communities respond and adapt. Register here.
• 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.