Technology and agriculture are becoming more intertwined, and that is a good thing according to Colorado State University President Amy Parsons, who says it is one reason why more students are engaging with agriculture.
As career in technical education budgets begin to grow at the secondary level, Colorado State University continues to look at ways to modernize the agricultural field.
Parsons visited Durango on Tuesday for an alumni event at EsoTerra Ciderworks – part of her community outreach trip to the Western Slope. The land-grant university, with almost 33,000 students, has many alumni living in the Durango area, she said.
The college’s goal is to be as accessible as possible to rural students.
“We do a lot with 4-H as part of CSU,” Parsons said. “And so we think a lot about how to really connect with 4-H students and let them know that there are scholarships there for students.”
Parsons has noticed an increase in interest in agricultural studies, with many students pursuing degrees from urban areas rather than rural ones.
“I think this generation of students, especially students who have gone through the COVID years and whatnot, have a very global perspective and want to work on issues that really matter,” Parsons said.
“They see how important agriculture is not just to their communities but globally, and safe food supply,” she said. “It's really part of the sustainability and climate issues we're all trying to solve.”
Knowing about the food people consume and how agriculture is linked to climate issues are at the top of younger generations' minds, she said. They want to have an impact and do it in agriculture fields. But agricultural fields are not the same as they were 20 years ago.
Technology is becoming more prevalent in the field and innovation continues to provide ways to make production more efficient.
Parsons had the opportunity to visit the university’s agricultural experiment stations in Grand Junction on Monday where she witnessed the college’s artificial intelligence-powered irrigation system.
The irrigation system uses AI to complete data analysis on soil and ambient temperature to understand how much water a particular crop should receive. It then uses the precise amount of water needed for the crop to grow based on those conditions.
Parsons said the technology will prevent producers from overwatering their crops and allow them to conserve water.
Drones are also becoming a frequent tool for farmers and ranchers. The unmanned aerial vehicles are used to hover over fields and view areas that need fertilizer and water.
Drones have become a heavily used piece of technology across all fields of education. Last year, Pueblo Community College Southwest started offering drone certification classes for that reason.
“There's career opportunities that this license will get them, and having the additional certificates that we can provide give them something much bigger to add to their résumé,” said PCC Agriculture Program Coordinator Heather Houk in an interview in September.
Colorado State is also moving forward on the construction of its $150 million laser facility in Fort Collins for its engineering program. The school is touting it as one of the most powerful laser labs in the world.
CSU is a member of LaserNetUS, a program funded by the Department of Energy’s Office of Fusion Energy Sciences. LaserNetUS works to ensure North America has a strong network of capable laser research facilities.
The project is set to be completed in 2026. It’s planned to feature at least three laser systems.
Parsons also planned to visit the Ute Mountain Ute reservation this week to meet with tribal leaders about the school’s Indigenous Science, Arts, Technology, and Resilience Camp.
The program offers a summer camp for kindergarten through eighth grade students, as well as community nights and cultural activities. Their work builds strong, positive relationships that foster belonging and help participants be a source of strength and support for each other, according to the university’s website.
Throughout the program, campers participate in hands-on activities led by guest experts. The activities and instructional time are designed to help students connect Indigenous knowledge and cultural practices to their own lives and establish their relevance to contemporary issues.
She says the camp is growing in popularity and so is enrollment at Colorado State in general.
“(This year’s freshman class) is one of the largest classes we've ever had and it really reflects, I think, the diversity of Colorado,” Parsons said. “It's our most diverse class we've ever had.”
Colorado State has a strong Western Slope pipeline and nearly 60% of CSU’s student population receives in-state tuition, she said.
tbrown@durangoherald.com
