Research And Engagement

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Select a department or research facility below to filter by centers and institutes, programs, labs and public resources.

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Centers and Institutes

Organic Research Center at Rogers Mesa

Part of the Western Colorado Research Center Network, Organic Research Center at Rogers Mesa researchers organic tree fruits, table and wine grapes, organic seed production, and greenhouse studies.

Grand Valley Research Center

Part of the Western Colorado Research Center Network, Grand Valley Research Center researches irrigation water management, water resources, agronomy and integrated cropping systems. At an elevation of 4600’, the average growing season is 175 frost-free days.

Orchard Mesa Research Center

Part of the Western Colorado Research Center Network, Orchard Mesa Research Center researches tree fruits, wine grape production, food security and ornamental horticulture. At an elevation of 4750', the average growing season is 182 frost-free days.

Agricultural Experiment Station

Colorado’s leader in research, extension and agricultural education programs. Uses a multifaceted approach ensuring successful partnerships and outcomes for Coloradans. We enrich our programming to foster sustainable growth for Colorado-based agricultural industries and contribute to food safety and nutritional security.

Irrigation Innovation Consortium

Supports research to develop and accelerate the adoption of water and energy efficient technology and practices.

Southwestern Colorado Research Center

Our unique Center conducts research combining high-elevation crop and tree fruit production with the importance of limited water resources. We aim to develop novel technologies and plant varieties to optimize yield for high-elevation growers.

Temple Grandin Equine Center

Celebrates the role of the horse in society as a place of healing, treatment, education and research for diverse clients. With two locations, the TGEC is one of leading equine-assisted services programs in the world.

Center for Meat Safety and Quality

Focused addressing national and global food safety and quality issues to ensure that consumers worldwide have access to a dependable supply of safe, high quality and affordable food products.

Colorado Center For Integrated Pest Management

Provides research and outreach in integrated pest management practices that encourage the use of multiple and flexible strategies for the control of insect pests, plant pathogens and weeds and, sometimes, rodents and other vertebrates.

Western Colorado Research Center

Western Colorado has been a significant tree fruit producer and has also emerged as an important wine grape growing region. Our center investigates integrated cropping systems, organic agriculture, and developing these important commodities in the face of limited water resources.

Plant Growth Facilities

An Institutional Core Research Facility that is part of the Agricultural Experiment Station Network. Greenhouse space, growth chambers, cold storage rooms, laboratories and warehouse storage supports plant material research from multiple colleges.

Agricultural Research, Development and Education Center

ARDEC is a multidisciplinary group of researchers investigating the cooperative relationships between soils, crops and water resources. Offers community resources, student engagement programs and multiple collaborative conferencing events to advance agricultural science and research.

Arkansas Valley Research Center

Our center is committed to creating new information and techniques benefiting growers in the Arkansas Valley with a three-pronged approach. Our work identifies the importance of optimizing irrigation techniques, crop plant development, and understanding animal disease and prevention.

Eastern Colorado Research Center

We are a complete livestock production research center studying all phases of livestock growth and health. Our research is geared toward optimizing rangeland grasses and grazing management for beef production coupled with livestock nutrition and breeding.

Plainsman Research Center

Our center is grounded in the historical legacy of the devastating dust bowl days. We dedicate our research to identifying and improving dryland and limited irrigation cropping systems on important crop varieties like wheat, sorghum, beans and oil seeds.

San Luis Valley Research Center

We have been part of the historic agricultural importance of the San Luis Valley for over a century. Our research focuses on potato selection and cultivation, seed certification, community development and enhancing historic pest control techniques.

Labs

Nachappa Lab

Plant-Virus-Insect-Vector-Interactions. Our lab investigates non-vector insect pests such as wheat stem sawfly and hemp russet mite.

Pearce Laboratory

Uses molecular biology and genomics approaches to understand the genetic basis of important traits in wheat and potato. Through applied technology, contributes to the development of higher-yielding varieties with improved quality.

Leach Lab

Tackles challenges in the rice-bacterial blight-climate pathosystem and investigates multitrophic interactions in wheat, the Russian wheat aphid and the aphid-associated microbiome. Studies integrate physiological, molecular, genomic and genetic approaches, and involve laboratory and field experimentation.

McKay Lab

Focused on the ecology, evolution and genetics of local adaptation in natural plant populations.

Ham Agricultural Sciences Micrometeorology Laboratory

Focused on research in instrumentation development, water, carbon and energy transport between surface and atmosphere, and water and air quality issues.

Ode Plant-Insect Ecology Laboratory

Focused on the behavior and ecology - both pure and applied aspects - of parasitoid wasps and multitrophic interactions.

Pinedo Lab

Improves the health and well-being of dairy cattle, analyzing the interrelationship among cattle health, reproduction, and performance, both from the individual and the population perspective, considering the effect of multiple management systems.

Schipanski Agroecology Laboratory

Focused on understanding how plant-soil interactions mediate carbon and nitrogen cycling and placing this research within broader social and economic contexts.

Stewart Tree Pathology Laboratory

Focused on forest pathology research, from molecular to applied, including forest and shade trees diseases in temperate and tropical forests, and fungal pathogens affecting domesticated fruit trees.

Weed Research Laboratory

Focuses on weedy species including management and herbicide resistance. Projects also include crop/herbicide relationships and soil/herbicide relationships. Supports sustainable weed management in crops, rangeland, aquatics and natural areas.

Borch Environmental and Agricultural Chemistry Laboratory

Focused on topics such as water treatment and reuse for agricultural irrigation, forest fire impacts on surface water quality, permafrost thawing effects on carbon and nutrient cycling, and soil/water quality impacts on crop health.

Charkowski Laboratory

Provides growers with better management tools for important potato diseases. Works with bacterial and viral potato pathogens, and studies how the bacterial blackleg and soft rot pathogens Pectobacterium and Dickeya infect potato and how to best detect these pathogens.

Cancer Prevention Laboratory

Conducts both pre-clinical and clinical research to identify practical solutions that will empower an individual to adapt lifestyles that achieve and maintain a lower risk for cancer.

Center for Root and Rhizosphere Biology

Brings together a combined understanding of root-microbiome interactions to redefine the goals and practices of agricultural management and sustainability.

Fonte Agroecosystem Ecology Laboratory

Takes an ecological approach to understanding multiple functions and drivers within agroecosystems and then applying this knowledge towards the sustainable management of soils and farming systems worldwide

Prenni Agricultural Chemistry Laboratory

Focused on applying mass spectrometry to address important issues in food/crop safety and quality.

Fresh Produce Safety Laboratory

Focused on generating science-based information within preharvest to postharvest environments that can assist growers, packers, shippers and food handlers in reducing the risk of contamination with human pathogens along the production chain.

Programs

Livestock Judging Summer Camp

We work with our local 4-H and FFA chapters to create a 3-day skills building course for our future livestock professionals. The camp includes coaching on livestock judging, performance records, public speaking, and reasoning skills.

Thornton-Massa Lecture Series

Annual lecture co-hosted by the College of Agricultural Sciences and the College of Natural Sciences‘ Department of Biology focused on biodiversity, plant genetics, agriculture and horticulture.

The Colorado AgrAbility Project

A partnership between Colorado State University Extension and Goodwill Industries of Denver that provides information, education and services to farmers, ranchers, agricultural workers and their families with disabilities, illnesses, or conditions.

Pesticide Regulatory Education Program

Creates and promotes professional development opportunities for pesticide regulatory officials throughout the United States and its affiliated territories.

International Weed Genomics Consortium

Provides a platform for private and public collaboration to develop genomic tools and resources and to stimulate global research in weed biology and management.

Ag Adventure

Empowers students at Colorado State University to educate elementary students about the impact of agriculture in their daily lives and create a relationship between agriculture and their elementary curriculum.

International Livestock Forum

Brings together industry leaders, government professionals and members of academia to discuss domestic and international livestock and food production. In partnership with the National Western Stock Show.

Food Systems Initiative

Conducts research on emerging, trans-disciplinary food systems issues motivated and prioritized by diverse state, national, and international stakeholders.

Pet Food Alliance

Brings together members of the pet food and rendering industries together to collaboratively develop implementable solutions for industry challenges and identify opportunities for innovation, growth and mutual success.

AgNext

Leads animal and ecosystem health research while enhancing profitability of the supply chain. serves as the crossroads for producers, industry partners and researchers to come together to innovate solutions for sustainability in animal agriculture.

Landscape Architecture Days

Annual student-organized landscape architecture lecture series featuring industry professionals from around the United States.

Bull and Female Sale

Student-led annual sale of registered Angus and Hereford bulls and females. Members of the student Seedstock Merchandising Team selection, development and marketing.

Landscape Plant Research

Research and demonstration gardens for annuals, perennials and woody plants.

Legends of Ranching Performance Horse Sale

Annual Equine Science program supporting student development in communication, event management and working with staff. Culminates in April with a Performance Horse Sale that includes a comprehensive catalog produced by students.

Meat Judging Team Catering Services

Student-run and operated catering service. All proceeds go to the CSU Meat Judging Team to help fund the program and support the supply and travel needs of the team.

Plainsman Agri-Search Foundation

Membership group open to anyone interested in agriculture. Plans research, secures financing when needed, and promotes the extension of research activities through annual meetings, field days and seminars.

Organic Production

Develops a foundation of organic practices for perennial fruit tree, vine plantings and an array of vegetables. Demonstrates best horticultural practices within the framework of organic standards and a systems approach.

Colorado Dry Bean Foundation Seed Program

Provides the seed industry with genetically pure and disease free seed stocks of Breeder and Foundation class dry bean, especially those cultivars developed by the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station.

Table Grapes Trial

Identifies promising varieties of table grapes for western Colorado growers based on productivity, winter hardiness, flowering and harvest dates, pest and disease resistance, adaptability to common production methods, market acceptance, fruit quality, Identify potential for value added use - juice, raisin.

Dryland Cover Crops

Incorporates cover crops into the semi-arid environment of Southwestern Colorado and Southeastern Utah to overcome soil erosion, poor soil quality, weed competition and low productivity.

Hemp Resource Center

Develops and conducts a national survey and conference to gauge knowledge and assess research and education needs in hemp breeding, production systems, nutrient and pest management, testing for cannabinoids and heavy metals, economics and marketing, and post-harvest methods.

Pomology Program

Develops novel, non-destructive technologies to estimate internal fruit quality, the evaluation of new cultivars and rootstocks, the factors affecting orchard and environmental productivity, harvest and postharvest quality of peaches, sweet cherries, and apples, and understanding the environmental and biological bases for cold hardiness and damage.

Seed Technology Educational Programs

STEP is made up of personnel from public and private sectors working to provide education and resources to people interested in seed science and technology. Provides courses in seed science through distance education, images for seed identification and other seed industry resources.

Specialty Crops Program

Empowers growers and producers throughout Colorado by supplying science based information to inspire innovation, competitiveness and success. Collaborates with researchers both in Colorado and nationally to address the needs of specialty crops producers.

Wheat Breeding and Genetics Program

Provides Colorado’s wheat industry with a source of locally-developed winter wheat varieties with superior adaptation for Colorado’s tough climatic conditions.

Bioinformatics Consulting

Provides consulting to faculty, staff and students on methods to use for analyzing biological data. Consultants are experts in bioinformatics tools and methods for the analysis of next generation sequencing data, and are experienced with proteomic and metabolomic data.

Crops for Health®

Unique transdisciplinary research program the goal of which is to improve the disease prevention characteristics of food crops, thereby reducing chronic disease morbidity and mortality.

Colorado Variety Testing Program

Crop variety performance trials conducted by Colorado State University’s Crops Testing Program to provide unbiased and reliable information to Colorado crop producers to help them make better variety decisions.

Public Resources

COMET-Farm

A whole farm and ranch carbon and greenhouse gas accounting system that guides users through describing farm and ranch management practices, including alternative future management scenario, to generate a report comparing the carbon changes and greenhouse gas emissions between current management practices and future scenarios.

Plant Disease Information

Plant disease fact sheets and newsletters.

Colorado Center for Sustainable Pest Management

Facilitates coordination among scientists and educators to address complex challenges facing Coloradans and train students to prepare them for diverse career paths in crop protection and plant heath. Promotes improved communication among key collaborators and stakeholders to advance the knowledge and adoption of IPM, enhanced coordination and responsiveness of IPM research, and increased availability of safe, affordable, and high-quality crops to consumers.

Beef Cutout Calculator

Predicts approximate sub-primal yields and cutout values of beef cattle. allowing producers to rapidly vary carcass carcass/live weights, Yield Grades, and/or yield grade factors to ascertain expected cut-out weights and USDA Choice and USDA Select dollar values.

Ram Country Meats

Student-run and operated educational facility providing students with hands-on experience in the retail meat industry. Sells cuts of beef, pork and lamb, and processed meats for pickup on campus.

Plant Diagnostic Clinic

Offers plant disease diagnosis, agricultural insect identification and plant identification, and provides recommendations for the client. Colorado’s state lab in the National Plant Diagnostic Network.

Wheat Disease Newsletters

An important public service for Colorado wheat growers that shares important updates on disease outbreaks, tools to identify and combat disease, and strategies for prevention and healthy crops.

Agricultural and Natural Resources Archive

Preserves and provides access to historical records that enhance understanding of the state’s agrarian and natural resource heritage. More than 100 collections contain source materials ranging from meeting minutes and correspondence to oral histories, diaries, maps and photographs.

Hemp Insect Website

Provides hemp producers a way to recognize and to better understand the insects, mites, and other “bugs” that are associated with the “new” crop, industrial hemp, presently being grown in North America.

Colorado Environmental Pesticide Education Program

Provides accurate, up-to-date information on pesticide laws and regulations, environmental protection, worker protection, and pesticide safety for applicators, trainers, agricultural workers and supervisors, and the general public.

C. P. Gillette Museum of Arthropod Diversity

Nearly five million specimens in the aquatic insect orders, the Lepidoptera - butterflies and moths, the Diptera - flies, gnats and mosquitos, and the Hymenoptera - ants, bees, wasps and relatives.

The Bug Zoo

Strives to bring a deeper appreciation for arthropods through hands-on learning opportunities with live insects, enthusiastic volunteers, and continuing involvement in the Fort Collins community. Home to over 30 different species of arachnids, insects, and other arthropods.

Research and Engagement

Flower Trial Gardens

Outdoor display and test areas that allow students, researchers, industry representatives, homeowners and extension personnel to learn, teach and evaluate through horticultural research and demonstration projects conducted in the unique environmental conditions of the Rocky Mountain/High Plains region.

Agricultural Experiment Station

Southwestern Colorado Research Center

Department of Agricultural Biology

Our research focuses on the complex interplay between plant health, weed science and entomology, and how they impact the critical balance of a healthy ecosystem. Our work is essential for ensuring a secure and sustainable food supply, and the health of our planet.

Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

Our work covers a spectrum of theoretical and applied research in nearly every aspect of the economics impacting our lives. Students work with our faculty to understand the complexities of agricultural and resource economics and share valuable information to improve local and global societal well-being.

Department of Animal Sciences

Improving profitable production of horses and food animals through science and technology, resource management, and food product enhancement, with emphasis on addressing societal issues concerning food safety, product quality and value, animal care and management, and environmental impacts of animal agriculture.

Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture

We make it our business to design and build the future with evidence-based creativity. Our research combines technology and the natural world developing new strategies to improve plant nutrition, fertility, and production. By sharing our work our hope is to expand and enhance the future of our natural landscapes.

Department of Soil and Crop Sciences

Focused on the formation and persistence of organic matter in soil, organo-mineral interactions, and the role of the soil microbiome in these processes. We study how soils are affected by land use, environmental contamination and climate change with the goal of proposing soil management solutions that assure a sustainable future for humanity.