Department of Soil and Crop SciencesDepartment of Soil and Crop Sciences

Faculty

Catherine Keske

Catherine Keske

Agricultural Economics
Assistant Professor
C111 Plant Science Building
catherine.keske@colostate.edu

970-491-7346 office
970-491-0564 fax

Research Interests

My research uses economic theory and modeling to solve resource and environmental management issues.  I often collaborate with physical scientists and engineers on projects involving land use, energy, recreation, and ecosystem services.   Some of my energy projects involve work with anaerobic digesters, harvesting algae for energy, biofuel production from oilseeds, and hybrid vehicles.

One USDA AFRI (formerly NRI) project examines the sustainable economic benefits that alpine environments can provide to mountain communities in the Intermountain West.  We hope that results from this study will yield sustainable job growth to rural Colorado during the next five years.  This study is an extension of a recent non-market valuation project on Colorado Fourteeners, mountains whose summits rise above 14,000 feet. 
This study was featured on National Public Radio in 2007:

My interest in decision analysis and small business development stems from ten years of experience in the corporate world. One USDA Risk Management Agency project involved multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional collaboration to develop risk management tools for agricultural producers.  These tools are available to the public and can be found on the website:  www.risknavigatorsrm.com.

Extension & Outreach

Many of my research projects tie closely to CSU’s Institute for Livestock and the Environment: http://www.livestockandenvironment.info.  The mission of this interdisciplinary organization is to “solve problems at the interface of livestock production and science-based environmental management.

I believe that outreach is a logical extension of solid academic research.  As an example, a recent USDA AFRI (formerly NRI) project on conservation easements has produced several academic and outreach publications. (pdf)  

Courses:

My current teaching load focuses on applied economics.

I teach LAWS 4452 at Denver University Sturm College of Law.  This is a natural resource and environmental economics course appropriate for JD students and attorneys returning for an LLM.  (Keske LAWS 4452 syllabus)

I am also the Co-Director for the Colorado for Economic Education (CSU Campus).  We develop and present economics courses to educators in grades K-12.  My focus areas are energy, agriculture, and the environment.  Link:  http://www.ccee.net/.

 

Department Main Office:     Plant Sciences C127    Colorado State University     Fort Collins, CO 80523     Voice: 970-491-6517     Fax: 970-491-0564     CAS_SCS@mail.colostate.edu