AgNext Research Summit 2026: Advancing Animal Agriculture Through Innovation and Insight


Registration is Open!

Join AgNext scientists and partners as we share cutting-edge research on methane, grazing systems, feedlot and dairy production, modeling, and agricultural economics. Guided by our theme—Advancing Sustainable Animal Agriculture Through Innovation and Insight—this summit highlights how integrated research, technology, management, and communication support productive, resilient livestock systems.

Space is limited, register today!

Register for the 2026 AgNext Research Summit

Event Details

  • Dates:
    • June 3-4, 2026
  • Location:
    • Iris & Michael Smith Alumni Center (701 W Pitkin St, Fort Collins, CO 80521)
  • Pricing:
    • Professionals: $200 
    • Students: $100 (Students may be eligible for free registration through the Student Poster Competition. See below for more details)
  • Lodging:
    • Participants will need to arrange their own lodging while in Fort Collins. A limited block of rooms is being held at the Hilton Fort Collins at a special discounted rate. To reserve a room in this block, please call the Hilton Fort Collins at 970-482-2626 and give the code 911, or click here to reserve online. The booking cutoff is Monday, May 4, 2026.
       

Sponsor the 2026 AgNext Research Summit

We are seeking sponsors for the 2026 AgNext Research Summit. This is an opportunity for your organization to gain visibility with a highly engaged audience of industry leaders, researchers, and students working to advance science-based solutions for sustainable animal agriculture.

This year, we are offering three sponsorship levels. To learn more about sponsoring the 2026 AgNext Research Summit and to register as a sponsor, visit the sponsor registration website.

 

Sponsor the 2026 AgNext Research Summit

Student Poster Competition

We are excited to host a Student Poster Competition at the 2026 AgNext Research Summit.

Students are invited to apply for the opportunity to present research related to sustainability in agriculture. Applications will be evaluated based on project area, alignment with AgNext’s mission, and abstract quality.

Selected students will receive complimentary registration to the 2026 AgNext Research Summit taking place June 3–4, 2026. Please note: travel expenses will not be covered.

For questions about the Student Poster Competition, contact Sydney Bowman-Schnug at [email protected]

Apply for the Student Poster Competition

Agenda

Please note: this agenda is not finalized and subject to change

Wednesday, June 3rd
  • 10:00 a.m. | Registration Opens
  • 11:00 a.m. | Welcome & Opening Remarks
    • Dean Sue VandeWoude, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
    • Dean Carolyn Lawrence-Dill, College of Agricultural Sciences
  • 11:15 a.m. | What’s Next: Innovations Shaping Profitable, Resilient Livestock Systems
    • Panel Led by: Kim Stackhouse-Lawson
    • Panelists:
      • Janie VanWinkle, Owner and Manager – VanWinkle Ranch
      • Nancy Labbe, Program Director – North America Grazing Lands Strategy, The Nature Conservancy
      • Britt Dinis, Owner and Operator, Empire Dairy
      • Julian Garcia, Chief Executive Officer – Beef Northwest Feeders
  • 12:15 p.m. | Lunch
  • 1:15 p.m. | General Session Research Updates
    • Leticia Marra Campos: Assessing the impact of production technologies on sustainability of beef
    • Bianca Goncalves da Costa: Linking early-life gut microbiome development to dairy calf health and performance
    • Cesar Velasquez: Advancing early-life management strategies in beef × dairy calf production systems
    • Sydney Schnug: Feedlot implications of early-life immune status and extended IgG supplementation for beef × dairy steers
    • Diego Manriquez: Proteomics as a tool for improving dairy calf health and thermal stress resiliency
  • 2:30 p.m. | Breakout Session Pitches
    • John Ritten, Jason Lombard, Greg Thoma
  • 2:45 p.m. | Break
  • 3:00 p.m. | Breakout Sessions:
    • Unraveling Impacts of Adaptive Multi-paddock Grazing Management
      • Led by: John Ritten, Director of Grazing Land Research and Engagement – AgNext
    • Livestock Health, Production, and Biosecurity
      • Led by: Jason Lombard, Associate Professor Clinical Sciences – AgNext
    • Introduction to HERDS® Beef GHG Reporting Platform
      • Led by: Greg Thoma, Director of Agricultural Modeling and Lifecycle Assessment – AgNext
  • 4:30 p.m. | Introduction of Posters and Students
  • 4:45 p.m. | Happy Hour & Student Poster Session
  • 6:00 p.m. | Day One Concludes
Thursday, June 4th
  • 8:00 a.m. | Registration, Breakfast & Coffee
  • 9:00 a.m. | Welcome & General Session Research Updates
    • Morgan Adkins: Exploration of cattle immune function and bovine viral diarrhea virus
    • Afrin Jannat: Characterization of air quality components and environmental monitoring in dairy production systems
    • Ashley Hazlett: Prediction model accuracy and aggregation for methane estimation in beef cattle
  • 9:45 a.m. | Breakout Session Pitches
    • Sara Place, Diego Manriquez, Nathan DeLay
  • 10:00 a.m. | Breakout Sessions
    • Update on latest methane emissions research in beef cattle at Colorado State University
      • Led by: Sara Place Associate Professor of Feedlot Systems – AgNext
    • Livestock workforce training, safety, and development
      • Led by: Diego Manriquez, Dairy Systems Specialist – AgNext
    • Cattle markets, sustainability, and policy
      • Led by: Nathan DeLay, Assistant Professor of Livestock Economics – AgNext
  • 11:30 a.m. | Break
  • 11:45 a.m. | Concluding Remarks
  • 12:00 p.m. | Summit Concludes