Last month, AgNext's Industry Innovation Working Group (IIWG) came to Fort Collins for our Fall Meeting. Throughout the two-day meeting, IIWG members heard research updates from our professional research staff, connected with students during a research poster session, participated in discussions about AgNext's research priorities and opportunities for impact, and toured our research facilities.

Thank you to our IIWG members for their continued support, valuable industry perspectives, and commitment to advancing innovation in sustainable animal agriculture.

"Slip, Trip, and Fall Prevention on Livestock Operations"

Fallon Jimenéz, M.S.

Slips, trips, and falls are common hazards on livestock operations, where uneven terrain, wet floors, manure, ice, and equipment can create dangerous conditions. Training helps employees recognize potential hazards, practice safe work habits, and take steps to prevent injuries. By promoting proper housekeeping, appropriate footwear, and awareness of surroundings, operations can reduce accidents and create a safer working environment. Investing in this training helps protect employees, minimize lost work time, and support the overall safety and efficiency of the operation.

Upcoming Seminar:

The 2027 AgNext Research Summit will take place May 19-20, 2027 in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Join producers, researchers, students, and industry leaders to learn about the latest innovations in sustainable animal agriculture research.

More details and registration information coming soon.

New on the AgNext Podcast:

Engaged Grazing Research with Dr. Mitchell Stephenson

In this episode of the AgNext Podcast, Kim and John are joined by Dr. Mitchell Stephenson to expand on his Animals, Landscapes & Communities seminar. Dr. Stephenson discusses the importance of engaged research in rangeland management, highlighting collaborative adaptive management and stakeholder involvement. He shares real-world examples emphasizing the value of community, flexibility, and interdisciplinary approaches in sustainable land use.

Dr. Kim Stackhouse-Lawson Presents in the RancHER Webinar Series

AgNext Director Dr. Kim Stackhouse-Lawson recently presented as part of the RancHER webinar series. Her presentation, highlighted AgNext research and the role of science-based innovation in advancing sustainable animal agriculture.

RancHER is an educational webinar series from Oregon State University celebrating the contributions, experiences, and leadership of women in animal agriculture. The series provides valuable insights for livestock producers, students, and industry professionals while inspiring the next generation of women in agriculture.

AgNext Team Members Receive Public Speaking Training

Last month, the AgNext team had the opportunity to learn from public speaking expert and "Cookies to Contracts" author Stephanie Salasek during a two-day workshop.

Outreach plays an important role in sharing our research with stakeholders across the agricultural community. Stephanie helped our team strengthen our storytelling, presentation, and communication skills so we can share our findings more effectively with our audiences.

AgNext Graduate Students Present Research at the

Animal Sciences General Seminar

Recently, AgNext graduate students Catie Wharton and Sydney Bowman-Schnug presented their research at the Department of Animal Sciences General Seminar.

Catie shared findings from her master’s research, conducted under the guidance of Dr. Sara Place, exploring the impacts of oxygen-enriched water consumption on intake, ruminal fermentation, microbial communities, digestibility, and gas flux in beef cattle fed a forage-based diet. Sydney, a Ph.D. candidate, highlighted several chapters of her dissertation focused on nutrition and management strategies for beef-on-dairy steers in feedlot systems.

Congratulations to Catie and Sydney on these important milestones in their graduate studies!

New Team Publications

• De Menezes, T. C., Ravetta, E., Lahoff, R. E., Oviatt, K. J., Ritten, J., Lombard, J., & Garry, F. (2026). Stakeholder perspectives on biosecurity adoption in the Colorado cattle supply chain: lessons from foot-and-mouth disease preparedness. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 13, 1937939.
• Qin, Z., Guan, K., Li, Y., Zhou, W., Liu, X., Cai, H., Peng, B., Hu, T., Grant, R., Tang, J. and Jin, Z., Guest, J., Ye, L., Chang, K., Chen, Z., Lee, D., Margenot, A., Bernacchi, C., Ainsworth, E. A., Eddy, W. C., Yang, W. H., Thoma, G., Jiang, Z. (2026). Reducing Uncertainty in Cradle‐to‐Farmgate Carbon Intensity for Feedstock Using Model‐Data Fusion. GCB Bioenergy, 18(11), p.e70179.
• Delver, J. J., Podversich, F., Menezes, A. C., Rusche, W. C., Blasi, D. A., Thompson, L. R., Olson, K. C., Ritten, J. P. and Smith, Z. K. (2026). Influence of limit-feeding duration on growth performance and carcass traits of finishing steers. Translational Animal Science, 10, p.txag139.
• Bista, B., DeLay, N., Pinedo, P., & Manriquez, D. (2026). Integrating automated body condition scores and lactation data via optimization algorithms for maximized milk revenue and minimized cost of delayed conception in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science.

AgNext in the Media

"Education is a cornerstone at CattleCon 2027" - AgriNews

"Drought is reshaping Colorado's ranches, one herd at a time" - CPR News

AgNext Graduate Student Investment

The AgNext Graduate Student Investment Program helps develop future leaders in sustainable animal agriculture.

AgNext

Peer-Reviewed Publications

145

Individuals Reached Through Outreach

46,942

Tours at the Climate-Smart Research Facility

216