By Jayme DeLoss
Drought is a persistent issue for agriculture in Colorado and the U.S. West – one that has been exacerbated this year by a record-low snowpack. It’s no surprise, then, that Colorado State University continually works to identify and develop drought tolerance in crops to ensure farmers can remain competitive and provide food for people and livestock.
CSU wheat varieties occupy 85% of the wheat acreage in the state, thanks to close collaboration with Colorado wheat farmers. With support from the Gates Foundation, CSU sorghum research is making a real difference in food security in a part of the world that needs it most. And by studying the genetic foundation of crop traits, CSU researchers are making discoveries that contribute to understanding all life on the planet.
SOURCE spoke with researchers about a few of the crops CSU is studying and developing to withstand drought: wheat, Colorado’s top crop by acreage; corn, Colorado’s top cash crop; and sorghum, a staple consumed by 500 million people globally – and a promising option for dryland farming on the High Plains.
Successful collaboration
CSU’s wheat breeding program works closely with farmers to develop unique varieties of wheat adapted to Colorado’s harsh growing conditions.
Source : colostate.edu