HomeMy WebLinkAbout20030341.tiff Col• rt. •
University
Knowledge to Go Places
Agricultural Experiment Station
16 Administration Building
Fort Collins.Colorado 80523-3001
(970)491-5371:FAX:(970)491-7396
http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/AES
January 15, 2003
Dear Friend of Agriculture:
As you know, agriculture is an important aspect of Colorado's past,present, and future. From
the viewpoint of Colorado's economy, recent statistics show that total agricultural sector output
exceeds $5 billion. A recent survey of Coloradoans revealed that 80%of them feel that
agriculture is very important to the quality of life in Colorado; 85% feel it is very important to
maintain land and water in agriculture. The maintenance of open space and other quality of life
considerations are important contributions of agriculture to Colorado's future.
The Agricultural Experiment Station, as an integral component of Colorado State University, has
a mission to conduct research that supports an agricultural system which is profitable and
environmentally sustainable. Our research program strives to be relevant to the needs of
agricultural producers, processors, and marketers as well as reflect the concerns of consumers. In
an effort to share the results of our research activities, we are pleased to send you a publication
highlighting results from nine research projects conducted by Agricultural Experiment Station
scientists. These projects were selected from our 143 ongoing projects to illustrate the breadth of
Agricultural Experiment Station programs,which range from crop production to human
nutrition.
I hope that you enjoy the report. If you have questions or comments concerning the report or our
program in general,please contact me.
Sincerely,
ee E. So ers
Director
C'7-7Lin r-a- 00 : EX 2003-0341
Agriculture, the essential investment
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The Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station 2002 Annual Report was produced by the Colorado Agricultural Experiment
Station,Colorado State University Outreach Communications and Technology,
and Colorado State University Publications and Printing.
E-mail: aes@coop.ext.colostate.edu
Web: http://www.colostate.edu/depts/AES
Editors: Barbara Dennis,Jeannine Kline
Writers: Bill Cotton,Paul Miller,Mark Minor,and Dell Rae Moellenberg
Photography: Bill Cotton
Design: Terry Nash,Cathay Zipp
Production: Terry Nash
Colorado State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws,regulations,
and executive orders regarding affirmative action requirements in all programs.The Office of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services.
In order to assist Colorado State University in meeting its affirmative action responsibilities,ethnic minorities,women,and other protected class
members are encouraged to apply and to so identify themselves.
This annual report summarizes the results obtained are being conducted to evaluate the genetics of weeds
by a selected group of the more than 140 ongoing research and ecological processes controlling the invasiveness of
projects supported by the Agricultural Experiment particular species. The base funding increase provided
Station at Colorado State University.The Agricultural by the Colorado legislature for invasive plant species
Experiment Station is an integral component of Colorado research will significantly enhance our efforts to address
State University, your land-grant university, and it is the economic and productivity impacts of these plants.
committed to conducting Appreciation is extended to
research on the agricultural all who supported our efforts
and natural resource needs of to obtain additional funds for
the people of Colorado. Our this program enhancement.
mission is to support research - The results of research
leading to an agriculture shared in this report
that is economically viable, represent the diversity of
environmentally sustainable, efforts conducted by faculty
and socially acceptable. The supported by the Agricultural
•
Agricultural Experiment Experiment Station at
Station research efforts extend E ' Colorado State University.
across the entire campus e "ear Many of the research projects
involving faculty and staff � described receive significant
from more than 20 academic support from state, regional,
departments in 6 colleges. In and federal funding agencies.
addition to projects conducted Each year, the Agricultural
by faculty located at Fort Experiment Station compiles
Collins, we have a network of a report on external funding
off-campus research centers of our agricultural and natural
conducting research to meet resource research program.
agricultural production needs The total external funds
in different regions of the received by our faculty exceed
state.To address the complex $20 million per year. Thus,
problems facing agriculture, funds provided by the state of
it is essential that academic Colorado leverage at least a
departments and off-campus two-fold increase in external
research centers work in �_ support for our research
concert with each other to programs. We are proud of
solve problems through our faculty and their abilities
interdisciplinary efforts. to conduct relevant and
An initiative was funded important research.
by the Colorado legislature for the 2001-2002 fiscal year I hope you enjoy this report. Please contact me if you
to enhance funding for research on invasive plants, better have any questions concerning the research program
known as noxious weeds. Invasive plants are a serious supported by the Agricultural Experiment Station at
threat to the productivity of range and forest lands as well Colorado State University.
as privately owned lands in Colorado. We are extremely
pleased that the Colorado legislature funded the first Lee E. Sommers
year of a phased initiative to provide base funding for Director
research on issues facing Colorado agriculture. Eight Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station
research projects on invasive plants have been initiated by at Colorado State University
faculty in weed science,range science,chemistry,ecology, Lee.Sommers@colostate.edu
biology, and entomology. In addition to applied research
on methods of controlling noxious weeds,basic studies
7
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Using Airborne Imaging to Predict and Research Wildfires
For years, Indy Burke, professor of forest sciences and Graduate student Jason Stoker,who is in the forest
one of a handful of University Distinguished Teaching sciences program, has made enormous progress in proving
Scholars,has concentrated her research on the communities that the technology works for assessing trees in studies
of life found below ground in the shortgrass steppe of the made before the Hayman Fire happened,Burke says. She
Great Plains. also gives credit to another graduate student and valued
Recently,she's been going into space with a different member of the team,Sonia Hall, who is in the University's
kind of research. ecology program.
Burke and her team are launching new research to "Now we can attempt to answer the questions: Could
develop and evaluate data generated from satellites and we have predicted where the(Hayman) fire was going
other airborne systems to predict and manage wildfire risk to go and how it would have burned? What kind of
in the Rocky Mountain West. In addition, information are we missing?What data
the team hopes to evaluate how fire do we need to predict fire behavior?" says
contributes to the release of carbon into the Hall.
atmosphere. The team will couple several types of
Considering the catastrophic forest0 �) - .L imagery with another high-tech system
fires that have swept through Colorado and Ne called FARSITE,a computer program
the West this summer and in past years, xx ' 4 t, that simulates the spread and behavior of
the research may help reduce the impact fires under conditions of variable terrain,
of wildfires, which have affected property ` _ ,� fuels,and weather. While FARSITE
and water supplies as well as the forest often is used on a real-time basis during
landscape fire suppression activities, the team
Burke and her colleagues hope to be will couple remotely sensed data with
able to predict the behavior and intensity FARSITF. modeling on landscapes before
of fires to help agencies and other prescribed burns and compare the output
organizations minimize wildfire risks with to experimental results.
fuel treatments and prescribed fires. In "One key question is: How much
addition to funding from the Agricultural carbon is lost after a fire and put into the
Experiment Station for field research,a atmosphere as carbon dioxide?" Burke
three-year grant from NASA is being used for imaging says. "We want to find out whether the same remote-
technology and technical support staff. sensing data sources can be used to quantify the carbon
A co-principal investigator is Merrill Kaufmann, consequences of wildfires and wildfire suppression.
' affiliate professor of fire ecology at Colorado State and "That part of the research speaks to the broader science
research scientist for the U.S. Forest Service. Kaufmann has and global-scale management question of the role of fire in
long-term data sets of Cheesman Reservoir, another key greenhouse gas concentrations, like CO,. Fuel is made of
study area for the team, and is contributing other valuable carbon stored on the earth's surface—three times as much
input for the research project. carbon is found in vegetation and soil as is found in the
"The goal is to use satellite or airborne imagery to atmosphere. And while it's stored on the surface as fuels,
find out the location and types of forest fuels—wood that once that fuel is burned, the carbon in it is carried aloft as
is likely to burn—before fire occurs," Burke says. "We've carbon dioxide—a greenhouse gas."
already gathered a lot of information to analyze. We had Burke's team includes Thomas Vonder Haar,University
several overflights of the Hayman Fire area before the burn Distinguished Professor in the Department of Atmospheric
and several afterward,and we'll continue to gather data Science and co-principal investigator on the NASA grant
using many remote-sensing systems, including one called and on the Agricultural Experiment Station project.
lidar." "Tom has been on the leading edge of remote-sensing
Lidar is an acronym that stands for Light Detection technology for his entire career," Burke says. "It's an
and Ranging. Similar to radar, lidar systems transmit and exciting time to be in this area of research and to share
receive electromagnetic radiation,but use laser (light) discoveries with team members."
rather than radio waves.
3
wigging geeper
Subsurface Drip Irrigation Boosts Efficiency and Crop Yields
Kevin Larson is going underground to make better use An additional benefit is that drip systems promote
of water. He's testing a subsurface drip irrigation system uniform yield. "last year, my grain sorghum was as
on row crops at the Plainsman Research Center in Walsh. uniform as I have ever seen any crop," Larson says. "I have
"I've never seen such consistency and high yields in the a yield monitor on my combine, and from one end of the
plots," he says, "and it's with less water." Larson is testing field to the other, it didn't vary more than two bushels,
this irrigation method on corn, grain sorghum, sunflowers, whereas normally the yield could vary by 10 to 15 bushels.
and, in the future, soybeans. Drip irrigation isn't just a pipe Yield uniformity suggests that a probable limiting factor,
dream,either,since a new government aid program makes even water distribution,was overcome."
it attractive for farmers to invest in the water-efficient Typically, the advantage of drip irrigation is only
system. economically viable for cash crops, such as vegetables,
"Subsurface drip irrigation is the next quantum leap and is unaffordable for row crop farmers. However, the
in irrigation efficiency," says Larson. Since water never federal government is digging deep to help farmers go
reaches the soil surface in a subsurface drip irrigation underground and make better use of water. A USDA aid
system, there is almost no evaporation loss. This compares program covers up to 75 percent of the cost of a subsurface
to 50 percent efficiency for furrow irrigation,75 percent for drip irrigation system. "With this funding, it's cheaper
sprinkler, and a maximum of 90 percent for a "low-energy to put in subsurface drip than to convert from furrow
precision application" sprinkler systems. to center pivot irrigation system.," says Larson. The
Subsurface drip irrigation has a network of perforated Plainsman Research Center system was purchased with
tubing,called drip lines,buried one foot deep and five feet funds from the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station.
apart. Each drip line runs between two rows of crop. The Subsurface drip irrigation isn't without its challenges,
drip lines are divided into zones that are supplied well though. A good filtration system is a key component of a
water. Similar to a home sprinkler system, a controller and drip irrigation system. Any particulates in the water will
a system of valves turns the supply of water on and off to clog the emitters, the small holes in the drip line. Draining
each zone on a programmed schedule. the system for winter is important to prevent freezing.
For more than a decade, Larson has been Larson also has had rodents gnawing at his drip line,
experimenting with limited irrigation methods with furrow causing leaks. Fortunately, leaks are easy to detect, locate,
and sprinkler systems to make even better use of water. and repair.
Limited irrigation is used to create an economic balance This year's drought made subsurface irrigation
between the costs of irrigating versus the reduction of crop unusually challenging for Larson. There wasn't enough
yield if less water is applied. Farmers have a pretty good moisture in the soil to germinate his seeds. The drip
idea of how much water is necessary to get maximum yield irrigation system isn't designed to reach all the way to
from their fields. However, with high energy costs, Larson the surface where the seeds are located. Larson was able
has found it may be more profitable to pump less water to get his crops started since he still had the capacity to
than required on a field. The loss in crop yield is offset flood irrigate with gated pipe
by the cost of the water. Now Larson is applying limited to get the crops started. In
irrigation with drip as well. So far, he thinks the crops normal years, this wouldn't
respond well with limited irrigation applied with drip. be necessary; however, in
Besides efficient use of water, drip offers several exceptionally dry years, some
other benefits. With subsurface drip irrigation the entire redundancy is in order.
field is irrigated. Center pivot irrigation systems do not The final hazard to
water the corners of the field—about 20 percent of the crop subsurface drip irrigation is
area. Also, because subsurface drip irrigation waters the boredom, Larson jokes. "It's the
plants up to tour times per day, they are less stressed. most boring technology ever ' #
Crops under a center pivot only may be irrigated once a conceived You can't even tell _
week. Less surface water also means potentially less weed you're irrigating. I suppose if T.;;;;
germination. It's also easier to deal with any weeds,since one of the trade-offs for high
the farmer can run equipment in the field at any time economic yield is boredom, then ' ' �t
because it never gets muddy from watering. that's a small price to pay."
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V,��riendly tAret eapon
Spotted Knapweed Has Multiple Benefits
Scientists have speculated for decades that spotted resistance to it. This discovery alone holds much potential.
knapweed is able to spread over large areas because of a For example, it may mean that specific amounts of catechin
secret weapon-an ability to release a chemical that kills could be used on lawns to kill weeds without killing grass
surrounding plants. Until now, they have never been able or on wheat without damaging the crop. The chemical also
to put their thumb on the phenomenon, but recently a is environmentally friendly and has existed in the soil for
Colorado State horticulture researcher who specializes in decades.
plant roots identified and isolated the chemical for the first Catechin kills other species of knapweed and is fatal to
time. What's more, the chemical is a completely natural and spotted knapweed only when artificially inserted into its
environmentally friendly herbicide that kills other weeds. cells in a laboratory. In nature, spotted knapweed does not
The discovery and isolation of the chemical,called permit catechin to re-enter the plant once the chemical is
catechin, within spotted knapweed may revolutionize the produced and released into the soil.
war against weeds. "It is a clever root to produce,secrete,and protect itself
"For years,scientists have talked about this chemical, from this chemical," Vivanco said. "There are only small
but they couldn't find it because it was almost impossible amounts of catechin inside the root at any given time;it
to separate from all the other compounds that naturally secretes it as it produces it."
occur in soil," said Jorge Vivanco,Agricultural Experiment The team has found that spraying catechin on plants
Station researcher and assistant professor of horticultural or adding it to soil is as effective as 2,4-D against pigweed,
biotechnology at Colorado State. "We looked for it in the lambs quarters,and other common weeds.Catechin
plant and found that the roots secrete the chemical." usually kills cells within the plants in an hour and kills the
Vivanco and a team of researchers at Colorado State, plants in about a week. The team still is investigating the
including postdoctoral candidate Harsh Pal Bais and length of time that it remains active in the soil to prohibit
professor Frank Stermitz,are investigating a wealth of plant growth and how far into the soil the chemical travels
applications for the chemical. after it is released. They also are looking at counter-active
Catechin, which can be extracted in laboratories, chemicals that may be released by other plants,such as
acts as a natural herbicide to most other plants,although plants native to Europe and Eastern Europe,where spotted
grasses and grassy-like plants, such as wheat,show some knapweed originated; many plants native to that area are
resistant to catechin.
The researchers are working with commercial
companies to make spotted knapweed catechin spray
available to consumers within a year or two.
A„ z�; Colorado State researchers also are working to transfer
�r . the genes that produce the natural chemical into other
plants to give them a built-in defense mechanism against
\siweeds.
ate,_."* t+ t Perhaps one of the most promising applications
•••••••• o �� Va ' of the discovery is the fact that spotted knapweed has
such a complex defense mechanism. Spotted knapweed
continuously secretes catechin, but immediately begins to
produce and release higher quantities of chemicals atthe
i3 slightest hint of a threat or stress.Just tapping its leaves
p�, automatically accelerates the plant's chemical response.
This trait could impact how long it takes the soil to recover
from the chemical to allow other plants to grow; for
example, during stress,such as a drought or an infestation
of insects that feed on the plant, more of the chemical may
be released and over a longer period of time.
7
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Precision Agriculture Takes a Closer Look
Seven researchers and a farmer stand in the middle of There hasn't been enough research done to tell what the
a cornfield one hot August afternoon on a farm near Brush. real issues are that result in yield variability.
Each of them sees something a little different.One grabs a But this multidisciplinary team of Colorado State
leaf and begins inspecting it, while another peels back the scientists,extension agents,AIZS Water Management
husk of an ear of corn. Others open the control panel on the Unit scientists,graduate students, industry partners,
sprinkler system and look inside. Some poke around at the and cooperating farmers all are studying the same fields
soil. This group of more than 30 Colorado State University and comparing data to understand the causes of yield
and USDA Agricultural Research Service scientists are part variability and see if precision agriculture offers economical
of an interdisciplinary team the Colorado Agricultural and environmentally beneficial solutions.
Experiment Station has assembled to find out how the "Our study in Colorado is unique," says Raj Khosla,
latest technology can be used to farmers' advantage. precision agriculture specialist at Colorado State. "We take
Farmers have always known that various parts of a systems approach in the use of precision technologies to
a field produce different crop yields. Regardless of the make better decisions." The concept of this technology is
variability, they really' had no choice but to treat an entire not just the use of high-tech, precision agriculture tools,but
field the same with respect to applying fertilizer, water, rather the economical use of those tools that also results in
herbicides, and pesticides. "A farmer may see an area that environmentally friendly farming systems.
is beginning to wilt," says Dwayne Westfall,a Colorado The scale of the project and the close collaboration of
State soil and crop scientist. "It may just be a sandy area, ARS and Colorado State scientists on the project are unique
but he will irrigate the whole field with more water than as well.All of the researchers are applying their expertise to
is needed on most of the field, when in fact, he should actual farm fields. "The Colorado Agricultural Experiment
reduce the application depth to what can be held by the Station funding has allowed us to move some of our
sandy soil." However, that management strategy may be research projects from a small scale,20 by 30 feet in size, to
changing with the advent of precision agriculture—tools and fields as large as an entire 175-acre center pivot field," says
techniques such as global positioning systems, geographic Philip Westra a Colorado State Weed Scientist. "The scale
information systems, remote-sensing technology',yield is at a much higher level than what we typically use as
monitors,grid soil sampling techniques,computer models, individual researchers." Farmers appreciate this approach
and variable rate applicators. since it makes the research more valid in their real-world
These precision farming technologies are being situation.
promoted as the solution to crop yield variability. "The "Most research is single-discipline oriented," says
problem is the industry is way ahead of the science," says Heermann. "We scientists tend to learn more and more
Dale Heermann with the ARS, Water Management Unit. about less and less. By working together, we bring our
combined expertise to bear on experimental design and
analysis,and we reduce the risk of tunnel vision." The
precision agriculture team members also get the benefit
of combining several scientists' worth of data into their
work. "Every year, we learn something new," sacs Westfall.
#i! "That's what research is all about."
The researchers are using the advanced technologies
i--1 and research methods in addition to farmers' experiences
with their fields to determine what is really going on and
\, what can be done to fix it. "This project is looking at the
integration of all of the management factors and identifying
• how they affect the final yield," says Westra. "Yield is
j what the farmer is most interested in, so we're using new
precision farming tools to create data livers tor weeds,
diseases,insects' fertility, irrigation,and other variables to
4; _ figure out how they overlap and combine to affect yield in
various parts of the field."
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Weed scientists like Westra are looking at the spatial
distribution of weeds and how they can be combated.
At the same time,ARS scientists led by I leermann are
evaluating technologies such as AccuPulse for delivering
4 fungicides with irrigation systems. This system is unique in
> that it uses the existing center pivot to get around the field,
I $ but its delivery system is independent of ir igation piping,
+lr unlike chemigation systems. Therefore, the chemical is
prevented from flowing back into the well,and a higher
concentration of product can he applied since it is not
i diluted with irrigation water;and it can be applied exactly
1:,.1h.
; „�; where needed. the ARS scientists also are researching the
� A�` use of soil electrical conductivity technology for mapping
'1 >_ soil types and the use of remote sensing to determine the
N.
3 crop's nitrogen status.
Plant pathologist I Toward Schwartz is studying
stitt
I, the spatial characteristics of plant diseases and testing
treatments for the diseases. Colorado State entomologist
Frank I'eairs is providing data on insect activity. He and a
staff of research associates and graduate students monitor
' traps for such pests as European corn borer, western bean
cutworm, and western corn rootworm. Khosla and Westfall
The geographic information systems,concept of data are working on managing nutrients. They use high-tech
layers makes it possible to see where the factors a farmer approaches such as monitoring chlorophyll content and
has to deal with overlap and interrelate. A key element leaf area spatial variation to evaluate the effectiveness of
of the study is to determine the unit of variability that is nutrient application.
reasonable for a farmer to manage. Early use of precision Tim Green with the ARS is studying the advantages of
agriculture relied on intensive grid sampling. This variable-rate seed planting for dryland systems. Weather
approach proved to be too costly, particularly on crops data at the research fields, including solar radiation,
with limited cash flow. Using remote sensing, the farmer's temperature,wind run, vapor pressure, and precipitation,
production experience,and statistical methods used in are collected and correlated. Precision agriculture project
natural resource applications, the team has moved to a manager Kim Fleming; Raj Khosla,precision agriculture
concept of production-level management zones. state specialist;and Cooperative Extension Agent Bruce
By correlating data layers the team divides a field Bosley are working to get farmers involved and transfer the
into management zones based on crop productivity: high, results of the project to them.
medium,and low, for example. The farmer's insight is an Evaluating the economics of precision farming is a
important component."We are cognizant that the farmer necessary component of the project. "If a farmer cannot
knows which parts of his field are high production and make money with precision agriculture, he's not going
which are low," says Westfall. "We are trying to integrate to adopt it," says Westfall. However, what may not be
all of our information together,with heavy reliance on the economically feasible today may become a necessity in the
farmer's experience." future. Farmers can see the day coming when they may be
The theory is that when management decisions are legislated into using only a certain quantity of nutrients,
based on productivity zones,a farmer can make the herbicides,or pesticides on their farms. It will be up to the
most economical use of techniques of applying water, farmer to figure out where and when to best apply them.
nutrients, herbicides, pesticides,and other inputs. In the Precision agriculture may make a huge difference in
past,a farmer may have been tempted to spend significant both the decision and the application. "The only thing that
amounts of money on an entire field including parts of a hasn't gone up triple or quadruple in the last 20 years is
field that were not going to be productive, no matter what. the price of corn," says Larry Rothe, a cooperating farmer
Using precision farming techniques,a farmer can from Wiggins. "Our only chance is to figure out how to do
identify parts of the field that need special attention. The it with less money."
farmer can then decide if an input will be cost-effective, An additional commitment to precision agriculture
given what the zone will ultimately produce. by Colorado State is the creation of a new degree
The multidisciplinary approach fostered by the concentration: Applied Information Technology in
Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station and the Agriculture in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.
Agricultural Research Service is the key to both creating Undergraduates are trained in both technology and
the data layers and evaluating their relationships. For agriculture in this unique program.
example, the researchers are finding relationships between "I think precision agriculture is the wave of the future,"
soil type, fertility, and weed and insect infestation. A major says Westfall"We just don't know what it will end tip
component of this project is determining what drives these looking like in another 10 years. It may be something we
overlapping field relationships. can't even envision today,but it is here to stay."
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uestion Adictions
Research Turns Focus to Long-Term Climate Effects
On the wall in Roger Pielke's office is a bumper sticker The lab brings together the knowledge of more
that provides a clue to the state climatologist's way of than 100 researchers from 22 academic departments at
thinking: "Question Predictions." Colorado State and labs and departments at the University
It's not that Pielke,who also is a professor in the of Colorado at Boulder. Disciplines contributing to
Department of Atmospheric Science and president of the Droughtl.ab's efforts include atmospheric science,civil
American Association of State Climatologists, doesn't engineering,watershed sciences,soil and crop sciences,
believe in predictions. But to help people affected by the rangeland science, forest science,ecology, sociology,
weather—and that includes just about everybody—Pielke political science, and agricultural and resource economics.
would like to see the emphasis shift to vulnerability and "Severe Colorado droughts,such as the one we
resiliency rather than concentrate on predictions. currently are experiencing,have occurred in the past
In fact, Pielke gave testimony to that effect to the House and will happen again in the future," Pielke says.
Committee on Energy and Commerce in Washington, D.C., "With increased population along the Front Range,our
in late July. vulnerability to severe drought has greatly increased."
"The House testimony provided both my perspective DroughtLab serves as a framework for researchers
and the perspective of the AASC that there really is no to collaborate and develop a wealth of information that
foolproof method known to science to predict long-term helps water managers reduce Colorado's vulnerability to
climate because of the many feedbacks between land drought. Research will be conducted on campus and across
surfaces, the atmosphere,oceans,and other variables," the state at the Agricultural Experiment Station research
Pielke says. "As well, the human influence on climate is centers located in communities throughout Colorado.
significant and multifaceted and has greater impact on Outreach education,statewide Cooperative Extension
climate than what has been suggested by national and efforts, technology transfer, and the communication of
international assessments." drought knowledge to state and local officials and the
"By focusing on vulnerabilities rather than predictions general public will complement the lab's research efforts.
as a focus of research, I think the scientific community While Colorado is quite vulnerable to drought, Pielke
can provide more comprehensive and likely more useful says that vulnerability varies with specific water users.
information to decision makers." "For agricultural interests on the eastern plains, wet
As an example, Pielke says that tree-ring records over fall seasons would he great—the dryland farmers could
the past 800 years show more serious droughts than those actually recover fairly quickly from dry summers. But
experienced in the 20'"century, and those events were the municipal water supplies of the Front Range cities
natural—humans had little or no influence. He suggests require longer recharge time,and that's one reason why
that our society needs to plan ways to deal with events on the DroughtLab will look at these diverse impacts to try
the magnitude of such climate changes,especially in light to quantify them so managers know what we can recover
of the burgeoning human population and higher demands quickly from,what takes longer,and what they can do to
on resources now taking place. help mitigate or adapt to droughts."
Pielke''taken a big step in that direction with the In the end, I'ielke recognizes the difficulty in
establishment of DroughtLab with colleagues Jose Salas, understanding all the variabilities of climate and how land-
professor of civil engineering,and Robert Ward,director use alters the local microclimate and cumulatively affects
of the University's Water Center and the Colorado Water the regional climate,but that's not going to keep him from
Resources Research Institute. DroughtLab is a new asking"what-if" questions: If we had an above-average
collaborative drought analysis and management laboratory rainfall,could we recharge the aquifers, given what we
that redirects current resources and establishes new studies know about the system?What would happen to our
to provide information to government leaders,businesses, reservoirs if we have a dry winter?How vulnerable are we
and individuals as they plan for and manage drought to long-term drought?
events. Along with Pielke,Salas serves as co-director of the And those are some big questions that keep Roger
lab. Pielke coming back to work every day. "Climate is
multidimensional, unpredictable,and fascinating,"he says.
13
i
V
h ate
e r raders
100-Year-Old Exchanges Along the Cache la Poudre
In dry years like the West has experienced recently, and recreational interests. With increased pressure from
it's not hard to understand why water has always been a urban use,water exchanges also are frequently harder to
source of power and struggle among the haves and have- perform because there is less water that isn't being used.
nots. When Colorado was still wild, many water disputes Many water users in the Poudre Valley feel that if
were settled with gunfights and fist fights; today, water is the water exchanges are discontinued because of new
as precious a commodity as ever,and its management is demands,agricultural production in the valley will
sometimes still a source of contention. decrease.Agriculture is important to the area economically
About 100 years ago, residents and water managers and aesthetically by providing wildlife habitat and open
along the Cache la Poudre River began the practice of space. Water exchanges allow landowners to water crops
trading water as a peaceful way to manage the river so and pastures later in the season than normal stream flow
the needs of all residents were met would allow, meeting the modest but
equitably and with mutual benefit. For important differences in the upper-and
example,when an upstream ownerillillil
lower basin growing seasons.
needed more water in the spring than s "The big downside is the potential
the fall while a downstream owner disruption to important water
needed more water in the fall than the exchanges that meet crop production
spring, the two groups traded water. -' . ll needs and maintain a balance in
Trill
Today, the practice of water exchanges i- _ 4�,i i 1 canal flows These exchanges often
y , �; are forgone because a cooperating
continues,but water management and �° exchange partner no longer can be
water resources to serve ever more y
diverse needs and people who may not found due to changing philosophies,"
understand and value the old system
.. mss. _ l says Wilkins-Wells. ' Irrigated lands
are becoming strained. in the Rocky Mountain region are
In a recent study,John Wilkins- unique, producing crops that represent
Wells, a senior research scientist in the an important, irreplaceable sector of
Department of Sociology,and several national food production. For instance,
colleagues found that not only does the the removal of production through
long-trusted system of water exchanges urbanization tends to directly affect
still work and work fairly well,but the s farmers who raise specialty crops,
system also continues to illustrate how ,,I ' ,,er e.'` vegetables, fruits,berries,sugar
managers can cooperate inexpensively beets,beans,potatoes,and barley
to share scarce resources. that consumers enjoy as fresh, local
"Water exchanges play an important role in the Poudre produce and important feed crops for the red meat and
iRiver Basin because they accommodate different needs dairy industry"
in the upper and lower basin,different junior and senior Wilkins-Wells points out that new management options
water right holders,and differences in water availability," -such as water markets,water rentals, interruptible water
says Wilkins-Wells. "Water exchanges are a socially supplies, water banks,expanded water reuse capabilities,
important strategy in meeting demands and reducing and pressurized secondary supply systems-are in part
conflict over water because they require communities to expansions of water exchanges.
work cooperatively in managing their water resources. "Water exchanges play a role in all of these new
Water exchanges are inexpensive and don't require a lot of approaches to water management.They are the lubricant
infrastructure; in fact, they often decrease the need for new for other practices,"says Wilkins-Wells. "If water
storage facilities because they allow water to be moved exchanges are lost or disrupted due to a misunderstanding
around the basin to address specific needs in a flexible about their function or importance, then the entire river
system." basin management program begins to unravel. Whether
In recent years, the use of water exchanges has caused or not they are central to river basin management today
conflict as water is reallocated to fill urban needs. Water may be questioned,but they are certainly an essential
exchanges can be viewed as a nuisance by municipalities component of this management"
1 14
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Late Season Calving Improves Costs and Profits
y �� ..
On a blue-sky price for steers may be better with late-season calving as
day at the foot well. "By selling later, there can be an advantage as prices
of the LaPlata rebound after the flood in the market in October and
� Mountains, November,"says Zalesky.Z
Douglas Zalesky, To test the theory,Zalesky randomly divided in two a
superintendent of herd ot cattle at the San Juan Basin Research Center in May
the San Juan Basin 2001.One herd was bred to calve in the traditional March/
Research Center April season and the other in May/June Over five years,
x "> walks among one the herds will stay separated and repeatedly bred for their
" of his two herds of corresponding calving season. The calves from both groups
cattle. The calves will he weaned at seven months. Heifers born to each herd
are small for late will remain as replacements.
August,but they're Zalesky will record and analyze statistics on breeding,
supposed to be. calving,weaning,and health. He will track nutrient content
The calves are of the forage and the amount of hay produced at the
part of a five-year research center and its nutrient content. Economic variables
k. experiment to test including the amount of hay fed,and its cost labor costs,
yr, i le. the efficacy of late- health costs,and net values of calves will be evaluated. So
season calving at far in 2002, Zalesky has had to feed approximately one-
the San Juan Basin third less hay to the late calving group as compared to the
Research Center near Hesperus. The study is an example traditional herd.
of how the research center is conducting management The drought is setting back the study because of the
research to mimic a commercial ranch. "We are doing more lack of natural forage. At the research center's 7,500-foot
systems-type research to study how resources intertwine," elevation, there are only about 100 days to grow feed.
says Zalesky. Zalesky thinks the later calving season will optimize this
Traditionally,cows are bred to calve during March and short growing season typical of the Four Corners region.
April to get steers ready for market as early in the year as Since the San Juan Basin Research Center's study is similar
possible. "March and April is about as early in the spring to a commercial ranch, the results of the study will be
as ranchers can get away with," according to Zalesky. readily applicable to the region's ranches.
However,calving so early in the spring may come with a
price of increased feed, labor, machinery,and health costs.
Zalesky theorizes a later calving season in May and wr, � a Saar :
x: .,<, '
June will offer ranchers some economic gains. A cow's
nutrient requirements are highest right after calving. Little
forage is available during the traditional March and April
calving season,so ranchers must feed their herd hay and
alfalfa. By May and June, natural forage availability and
its nutrient content are much better. The herd's feed may -
need to be augmented in the fall, but the herd's nutrient ao ,-... , t
demands are lower at that stage of development than in -
the spring. The later calving season may he a better match
between cow nutrient requirements and forage nutrient
production. phis should reduce the costs of feed and the
labor of getting the feed to the herd.
In addition, similar studies done in Nebraska have
indicated a lower incidence ot calf illness and fewer deaths
associated with a later calving season. The ultimate market
17
61Zronnic aSt1n 1Sease
New Prion Research
s� a :,:: ::.:.C ? .'$AA cG
Im When Ed Hoover became interested in chronic wasting lymph nodes long before _ „ "� "
b Y I : , ' ` `Ne. , "
disuse, little was known about the mysterious illness it reached the brain. We - -
or what caused it. CWD is a transmissible neurological demonstrated that CWD can �,4 iiit +1t-Al g'.:
disease of deer and elk characterized by loss of body be transmitted through oral a ."Sr;' ,'?:
y b
condition,Odd behavior,and death. exposure," Hoover says t � t .
Despite the mystery, Floover at first was reluctant to The success of that initial .� kyn . z.
get involved in CWD research. His work in the Department study encouraged other 'Ill' �, ?a
of:Microbiology, Immunology,and Pathology at Colorado funding agencies to invest m `�
State focused on viruses his research developing a vaccine Hoover's work, leading to niiiii
v
against the feline leukemia virus has resulted in the near further investigations.
eradication of that once highly prevalent disease. But the "We've gone on to study
infectious agent of CWD is neither virus nor bacteria. It the nerves as the agent's transit route to the brain. We did
appears instead to be a prion,essentially a protein without some studies on the location of the agent in lymphoid
associated nucleic acids. tissue to give us some clue as to how it got there and
The discovery that proteins alone can transmit an whether the lymphoid system, which is part of the immur
infectious disease came as a considerable surprise to the system,actually is participating in the evolution of the
scientific community. disease,because it is thought that there's no immune
One of the darkest puzzles of prion diseases is the response in prion infections.
possibility of their crossing from one species to another. "We've also tried a new approach of inoculating deer
Several mammalian species develop prion diseases with prions—an approach that is being pioneered in the
including sheep, which develop scrapie,and cows, which study of Alzheimer's disease in humans,"he says.
develop bovine spongiform encephalopathy or mad cow Earlier this year, the National Institutes of Health
disease. There is also a human form,Creutzfeldt-Jakob awarded a seven year, $8.1 million grant to a research tean
disease. led by Hoover to study CWD in deer.
In England during the mid-1990s, an outbreak of mad The goals of the project are to:
cow disease was caused by the feeding of sheep parts to • determine through bioassay in deer whether the
cattle. The sheep were infected with scrapie. The cattle infectious agent is contained in blood and other body
developed mad cow by eating the infected sheep. Then fluids;
people developed a form of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease by • determine whether CWD is transmissible to other
eating the infected beef. species;
While the possibility of human infection from CWD is • develop transgenic mice susceptible to CWD,which
of great concern, it is important to note there have been no would make the study of the disease infinitely easier and
verified cases linking CWD to human Creutzfeldt-Jakob less costly than studying it in deer(this work is being done
disease, Hoover says. by Dr. Glen Telling at the University of Kentucky);and
Nonetheless,after the mad cow disease outbreak, the • develop and test vaccine approaches for CWD.
Colorado cattle industry took notice of prion diseases like To house these studies, Hoover wants to raise
CWD. And when Hoover overcame his initial reluctance additional support to build a biosecure deer housing
to study CWD, he found a ready ally in the Agricultural facility in which to safely study the disease under
Experiment Station. controlled conditions.
The Agricultural Experiment Station provided Hoover For all the mysteries surrounding CWD,one thing is
seed money through Colorado State's College of Veterinary clear: The threat is real and immediate. Consider that deer
Medicine and Biomedical Sciences to begin studies on the and elk hunting pumped $599 million into Colorado's
oral transmission of CWD. At the time, there was no study economy last year according to the Colorado Division of
of the potential route of transmission of CWD, Hoover Wildlife. There's no mystery about the impact to the state
says. if hunters quit hunting in Colorado for fear of contracting
"We began with a study to determine if CWD was CWD.
transmitted orally. We found that it was in the tonsils and "As far as the maximum impact of CWD, I don't think
anyone knows yet," says Hoover.
18
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"Value-Added Process" Produces Ethanol from Crop Waste F ,
� -
A
If you want to get more for your money,all you have reduced levels. And "I r
to do is waste less. Nazmul Karim Linda Henk, and other phosphoric acid
researchers at Colorado State University are applying this pretreatment produces
simple maxim to make agricultural crops more valuable, phosphates,which
i produce cleaner-burning alternative fuels,and reduce are a beneficial by-product because they are required by
agricultural waste,all at the same time, microorganisms used in fermentation."
"Our work for the Agricultural Experiment Station is to The pretreatment breaks down lignocellulosic material
devise processes that make use of the parts of agricultural into xylose (a sugar),cellulose,and lignin. The cellulose
crops that normally are thrown away," Karim says. is converted to glucose(also a sugar) through treatment
Karim,a professor; and Henk, a research scientist with enzymes. Henk is investigating the use of cellulase
and microbiologist; in the Department of Chemical enzymes for that purpose.
Engineering;James Linden,a professor in the Department "The pretreatment breaks apart the woody structure so
of Microbiology,Pathology,and Immunology;and others the cellulase enzymes can access the cellulose," Henk says.
are working on a process for producing ethanol from "The enzymes actually break apart the cellulose molecules,
lignocellulosic material in agricultural waste. which are chains of sugars hooked together."
"All plants, grass, trees,you name it—all the parts The sugars are destined for fermentation into
that aren't used for food and other products are of ethanol. The lignin can be used as a medium for growing
lignocellulosic material,which can be utilized for a higher mushrooms—another value added by the process. A
value other than burning or destroying or letting it rot," final obstacle is that xylose,a five-carbon sugar, is not as
says Karim. readily fermented into ethanol as glucose,a six carbon
Lignocellulosic material is a combination of cellulose, sugar.To clear this hurdle, the researchers turned to the
a complex carbohydrate that forms the main constituent National Renewable Energy Laboratory(a DOE facility) at
of the cell wall in most plants, hemicellulose, and lignin. Golden,Colo.,that has developed a genetically modified
Lignin is a polymer that strengthens plant tissue by binding microorganism,Zymomonas mobil's,which can break down
cellulose fibers. For most agricultural products, these both glucose and xylose.
materials are regarded as waste. "Right now,we are comparing the different
Current processes for producing ethanol use corn methodologies to find the most efficient process," says
kernels, which makes ethanol production more expensive Karim.
because corn kernels have value as a food product. Using Karim acknowledges there are obstacles to widespread
lignocellulosic material would reduce the manufacturing adoption of ethanol. In Colorado,oxygenated fuel with
cost of ethanol but only if the challenge of deriving sugars 10 percent ethanol is sold at gasoline stations, because it
from this material is first overcome, says Karim. produces less pollution,but ethanol production currently is
Ethanol production consists of acid hydrolysis subsidized by the federal government because of the cost.
pretreatment of plant matter to break the polymers and "Gasoline is kept at an artificially low price in this
lI derive sugars that can be fermented to make ethanol. country, which makes this technology seem expensive,"
Karim's team is investigating two acids—sulfuric and Karim says. "But if Americans were forced to pay the prices
phosphoric acids—for pretreatment on ligno-cellulosic consumers elsewhere in the world do, it becomes more
materials. feasible."
"Sulfuric acid does a good job deriving sugar that can Either way, Karim, Henk,and the others are
be fermented into ethanol,but there are other difficulties," determined to make the process work because it makes
Karim says. Sulfuric acid leaves residue and compounds sense on so many levels.
that are detrimental to the fermentation process, requiring "We've worked on this process since the late 1970s
additional purification steps. during the Carter administration," Henk says. "It will
The team also is investigating phosphoric acid reduce our dependency on foreign oil, it will reduce carbon
pretreatment. emissions from fossil fuels, and it will help the agricultural
"Phosphoric acid pretreatment produces a little less economy in rural America."
sugar than sulfuric acid, but it does not produce some of
the harmful by-products,or it produces them at greatly
21
Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station Contributors
Colorado State University Colleges 27901 Road 21
and Departments Rocky Ford,CO 81067
College of Agricultural Sciences Eastern Colorado Research Center
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics David Schutz,Manager
Department of Animal Sciences (970)345-6402
Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management 26204 County Road 57
Department of Horticulture and l andscape Architecture Akron,CO 80720
Department of Soil and Crop Sciences Mountain Meadow Research Center
College of Applied Human Sciences Joe Brummer,Superintendent
Department of Design and Merchandising (970)641-2515
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition Box 598
Department of Health and Exercise Science Gunnison,CO 81230
Department of Human Development and Family Studies Plainsman Research Center
College of Engineering Kevin I arson,Superintendent
Department of Atmospheric Science (719)3245643
Department of Chemical Engineering P.O. Box 477/42790 HWY 160
Department of Civil Engineering Walsh,CO 81090
College of Liberal Arts San Juan Basin Research Center
Department of Sociology Douglas Zalesky,Superintendent
(970)385-4574
College of Natural Resources 18683 State Highway 140
Department of Forest Sciences I lesperus,CO 81326
Department of Rangeland Ecosystem Science
Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory(NICE' ) San Luis Valley Research Center
Tom Sanderson,Manager
College of Natural Sciences (719)754-3594
Department of Statistics 0249 E. Road 9 North
Center,CO 81125
College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Department of Biomedical Sciences Southwestern Colorado Research Center
Department of Clinical Sciences Mark Stack,Manager
Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences (970)562-4255
Department ot Microbiology,Immunology,and Pathology 16910 County Road Z
P.O. Box 233
Research Centers Yellow Jacket,CO 81335
ARDEC (Agricultural Research,Development,and Education Western Colorado Research Center(WCRC)
Center) Frank Kelsey,Manager
(970)434-3264
ARDEC Plant Science Programs 3168 B.5 Road
Reg Kell,Manager Grand Junction,CO 81503-9621
(970)491-2405
4616 NE Frontage Road WCRC at Fruita:
Fort Collins,CO 80524 (970)858-3629
1910"L" Road
ARDEC Animal Science Programs Fruita,CO 81521
Mike Hays, Manager WCRC at Orchard Mesa:
(970)491.7928
4482 E.County Road 56 3168 B.5 Road
Fort Collins,CD 80524 Grand Junction,CO 81503-9621
Arkansas Valley Research Center WCRC at Rogers Mesa:
Frank Schweissing,Superintendent (970)872-3387
(719)254-6312 3060 Highway 92
Hotchkiss,CO 81419
22
Colorado Agricultural Research System
F a
MOFFAT ROUTT JACKSON LARIMER WELD LOGAN SEDGWICK
it ARDEC
ti
*' Agricultural Research,
Fort Collins Development,and PHILLIPS
r Main 6tatlon Education Center
%7/\ - MORGAN
il IN \ \ WASHINGTON SUMS
GRAND / .\ \\
RIO BIANCO �'� �O EH� \ *
�� / \ \\ Akron
/ ADAM Eastern h olorado
Center
/ \ Research Center
��AaLE m� orF°Eh
/ (REAR- g d DEN
CREEKI
GARFIELD �� / ! LL ARAPAHO\
/ PARK/ FIHERT LINCOLN KIT CARSON
/
MESA
PITKIN LA /
/
Grand Junction // DOUGLAS
* WCRC at
Frulta*Orchard /
WCRC Mesa DELTA EL PASO
at Fruits .UNNISON / . / CHEYENNE
Hotchkiss / / w
WCRC at* _
Rogers Mesa �/ CHAFER
/
MONTROSE "/ /FHEMONT \
/ ntai n KIOWA
Mountain
/ Mountain / / PUEBLO �CROWLEY T
Meadow
Research/ SAGUACHE
RAY
Cents
/ CUSTER BENT PROWERS
SAN MIGUEL HI NSD/LE T
orERO N.
/
*
Rocky Ford \
DOLORES SAN / MINERAL Arkansas Valley
UERFANo
J� N Research Center
Center* ALAMOSA
Mo"T 2 A L PL " San Luis Valley LAS ANIMA ¢ CA T
* Research Center
Yellow Jacket RIO GRANDE
Southwestern /* ARCHULETA COS IL AWalsh
Colorado CONEJOS Plainsman
Agricultural Hesperus l Research
Research Center San Juan Basin Center
Research Center
•
ir
23
Ph ,.. _.. .._._----- --------------- ---- ___-___.
Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station
Funding for Fiscal Year 2002-2003
The Agricultural Experiment Station at Colorado State • Multi-State Research—A portion of the Hatch funds are
University is funded by appropriations from the Colorado mandated by Congress to be applied to research problems
legislature through the Colorado Commission on Higher that are regional in nature and involve the efforts of several
Education,appropriations from the federal government states. Funds are administered the same as Hatch funds.
through the United States Department of Agriculture,and • McIntire-Stennis—Funds appropriated by the fed-
from self-generated income through the sale of commodities. eral government to support research in forestry and forest
The relative amount of each funding source is shown in the resources. Funds are administered the same as Hatch funds.
chart. • Cash—Funds originating from the sale of goods and
• State—Funds appropriated by the Colorado legislature services associated with Agricultural Experiment Station pro-
and allocated to Colorado State University by the Commis- grams. Commodities sold include crops and livestock,which
sion on Higher Education. are by-products of applied research programs conducted at
• Hatch—Funds appropriated by the federal govern- research centers.
ment to each land-grant university for support of a base In addition to the above direct funding sources,scien-
research program in agriculture and natural resources.These tists supported by the Agricultural Experiment Station are
funds were authorized by the Hatch Act of 1887,as amended active in securing contract and grant funding from numerous
by the Agricultural Research, Education,and Extension private sources,as well as state and federal agencies. In the
Reform Act of 1998 and administered by the Cooperative 2001-2002 fiscal year,contract and grant funding from these
States Research, Education,and Extension Service of the external sources contributed in excess of$20 million of sup-
United States Department of Agriculture.The funds are pro- port to our research programs.
rated to each state based on a formula that includes several
factors such as rural population and number of farms.
McIntire-
Multi- Stennis Cash
State 2.5% 6%
7.5%
Hatch State
12% E� ter, . 72%
Total Budget: $12,724,642
24
COMdO
Unhersity
Agricultural Experiment Station
16 Administration Building
3001 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-3001
www.colostate.edu/Depts/AES
Phone (970) 491-5371
Fax (970)491-7396
Hello