Colorado Reader

The Colorado Reader is a student activity newspaper designed especially for elementary and middle grade students. Each issue of the Colorado Reader focuses on a different aspect of agriculture and natural resource topics. The Colorado Reader provides a means for integrating information about our food, fiber and natural resources into the classroom while reinforcing Colorado Content Standards. This program is FREE. Each classroom packet contains 25 readers and accompanying teacher’s guide which contains lesson plan ideas and additional resources to expand classroom activities. Your class can also take advantage of our on-going collaboration with the Denver Post. This program is called CO-AG (Colorado Agriculture) and is also FREE. In addition to delivery of the Colorado Reader, this program includes 15 Sunday papers and a classroom set of Tuesday Denver Posts. Sign up at growingyourfuture.com.

U.S. Food Supply at Risk?

Around the turn of the 19th century, virtually every veterinarian was a food supply veterinarian. Today, only about 17 percent of veterinarians work in food supply, which includes private and public practice veterinarians involved in the entire food chain from farm to fork.

In Colorado, 14 counties do not have a food animal veterinarian.

Research forecasts a shortfall of four percent to five percent per year in the ranks of food supply veterinarians.Find out more from the American Veterinary Medical Association…

Far Out! Ag in Space

Inspiring students to stay close to the earth, and reach for the stars, the Space Agriculture in the Classroom is a joint project of USDA, NASA, and the University of Florida that is designed to boost student awareness of the space program and the role of agriculture in our economy and society. Our project will help students see the connection between agricultural practices on Earth that relate to space-based research, particularly in the plant sciences. Find out more…

Burgers on your phone?

McDonald's and SK Telecom are using a new ordering system in Korea that uses mobile phones and infra-red sensors to let customers make orders from their table and sends them a phone message when the meal is ready.

The ``Touch Order'' menu is the first in the world to utilize the radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology in a self-ordering system at a restaurant, SK Telecom said.

Read more…

Prepare Your Students to Feed a Growing World

Over the next 30 years, the United Nations projects there will be an increase of about 2.2 billion people on the planet. That's a lot of mouths to feed. No wonder there is so much interest in soil science these days — especially among educators like you.

Find curriculum and games at Nutrients for Life…

GMO—How Do They Do That?

Have you ever wondered exactly how genetically modified crops are developed? This University of Nebraska at Lincoln Web site provides animations of the process of genetically modifying a plant, lessons, and other resources. The site was created with high schoolers in mind.

PlantingScience Classroom Projects

PlantingScience is a learning and research resource, bringing together students, plant scientists, and teachers from across the nation. Students engage in hands-on plant investigations, working with peers and scientist mentors. Find out more…

Insidious Consumption: Surprising Factors That Influence What We Eat and How Much

A 2005 survey by the International Food Information Council found that at least 89 percent of American adults sampled indicated that they believe diet, exercise, and physical activity influence health. So why are obesity and diet-related illnesses on the rise? Find out more…

Farmboy— A Documentary

The 2007 NY Emmy Award-winning documentary of Sunnygables and the Babcock family is important for a full understanding of American cultural development in the 20th century. Every American dinner table experienced the changes effected by this farm. Find out more…