CSU Soil Project Turns Data Into Farm Decisions

Artificial intelligence platform aims to help Colorado producers improve soil health and resilience

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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A new $1 million research project at Colorado State University is using artificial intelligence to help farmers turn complex soil data into practical, decision-ready insights that can strengthen agricultural resilience across Northern Colorado and beyond. The TerraScope project, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, brings together computer scientists, soil experts, and outreach specialists at CSU to build a unified platform that combines on-the-ground measurements with satellite remote sensing data.

Why it matters

Healthy soil plays a critical role in crop success, supporting water retention, root growth, and nutrient cycling. But for farmers facing drought, increasing weather variability, and pressure to maximize yields, understanding how management decisions affect soil health over time can be challenging. The TerraScope project aims to address this by making it easier for producers to understand soil conditions, track changes over time, and make informed management decisions.

The details

The goal of the TerraScope project is to organize and align diverse data sources — from farmer-provided field records to high-resolution satellite imagery — into formats that AI models can analyze effectively. By combining traditional on-the-ground observations with remotely collected data, the researchers hope to address gaps in understanding and reveal patterns that aren't visible when data is viewed in isolation. A key component of the project is ongoing collaboration with Colorado agricultural producers to ensure the platform is practical and responsive to real-world needs.

  • The TerraScope project is a new $1 million research project that started in 2026.

The players

Colorado State University

A public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado, that is leading the TerraScope project.

Shrideep Pallickara

A professor at Colorado State University who is involved in the TerraScope project.

Megan Machmuller

A research scientist at Colorado State University and co-director of the university's Integrated Rocky Mountain-region Innovation Center for Healthy Soils, who is involved in the TerraScope project.

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What they’re saying

“The data we will be using to train these AI-informed models is both diverse and voluminous. By combining traditional on-the-ground observations with remotely collected data, we hope to address gaps in understanding and reveal patterns that aren't visible when data is viewed in isolation.”

— Shrideep Pallickara, Professor (North Forty News)

“Too often, tools like this are created without considering what producers actually need. TerraScope will be crafted in collaboration with the agricultural community to ensure it's reliable and relevant to the challenges faced by farmers in Colorado.”

— Megan Machmuller, Research Scientist (North Forty News)

What’s next

The TerraScope project is still in development, but the researchers plan to continue working closely with Colorado agricultural producers to ensure the platform is practical and responsive to their needs.

The takeaway

The TerraScope project at Colorado State University is using artificial intelligence and a collaborative approach with farmers to turn complex soil data into practical, decision-ready insights that can help strengthen agricultural resilience in Colorado and beyond.