About Curtis Swift

While serving as an Area Horticulturalist for Colorado State University, Curtis was responsible for conducting applied research on the yield and quality of numerous crops to include broccoli, asparagus, lavender, onions, and other crops. His other responsibilities included working with commercial producers and backyard gardeners alike in identifying and solving insect, soil, and disease plant problems. During his tenure he wrote numerous publications for statewide and local dissemination a few of which are listed below.

Curtis’s research with lavender continued after leaving CSU working with lavender growers throughout the United States providing guidance on soil and fertility requirements and speaking at national and state conferences.

Curtis’s lavender experience led him to partner with Kate Keaney in forming Mesa Lavender Farms, dedicated to the development of lavender and CBD-based wellness and health products.

This blog site is devoted to reviewing peer-reviewed research on CBD and Lavender and their health benefits. The individual blogs provide links to research so those interested can follow up with their own investigation.

About Curtis Swift: Education

Ph.D. Plant Pathology, Colorado State University – 2001
MS, Horticulture, Colorado State University – 1984
MA, Psychology, University of Northern Colorado – 1975
BA, Plant Science, University of New Hampshire – 1968

About Curtis Swift: Experience Position:

Thirty two years as Colorado State University Area Extension Agent, Horticulture, Grand Junction – January 1980 – August 31, 2012

Five years as CSU Extension Agent in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

International Experience:

• 2012, March 17 – 26 – USDA/CSU Trilateral Watershed Rehabilitation and Irrigation Technology, Kabul, Afghanistan
• 2011, November 12 – 21 – USDA/CSU Trilateral Watershed Rehabilitation and Irrigation Technology, Kabul, Afghanistan
• 2009, October 9 – 31 – overseas assignment for NGO Citizen’s Network for Foreign Affairs (CNFA) – Mozambique
• 2003, September 16 – October 3 – overseas assignment for CNFA – Ukraine
• 2002, May 27 – June 15 – overseas assignment for CNFA – Republic of Belarus
• 2001, May 29 – June 21 – overseas assignment for CNFA – Ukraine;
• 1994 – March through September – USDA Project in the Republic of Armenia

Work Experience:

• January 1980 – August 31, 2012 – Colorado State University Area Extension Agent, Horticulture, based in Grand Junction
  • Conducted research on Asparagus, Broccoli, Onion, and Lavender production.
• 2008 – 2010 – served as board member of the Colorado Water Wise Council
• 2003 – appointed Faculty Affiliate to the Dept of BioAgricultural Sciences, Colorado State University
• 1978 – 1979 – Extension Coordinator of Colorado’s Dutch Elm Disease project; assistant to Dr. Lester Dickens, Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Colorado State University
• 1973 – 1978 – Horticulture Extension Agent – El Paso County, Colorado Springs, Colorado
• 1968 – 1973 – US Army, with assignments in Vietnam and Fort Carson CO

Publications:

• Colorado State University Cooperative Extension publications
  • Backyard Orchard Management: Apples and Pears – 2.800; focuses on insect and disease pests and their management
  • Backyard Orchard Management: Stone Fruits – 2.804: focuses on insect and disease pest and their management
  • Leaf Scorch – 2.911
  • Mistletoes in Colorado Conifers – 2.925
  • Sycamore Anthracnose – 2.930
  • Strawberry Diseases – 2.931
  • Environmental Disorders of Wood Plants, 2.932
  • Dollar Spot Disease of Turfgrass, 2.933
  • Backflow Prevention Devices – 4.714
  • Preparing your Sprinkler System for Winter, 4.719
  • Preventing Deer Damage – 6.520
  • Watering Established Turf – 7.199
  • Growing Turf on Salt-Affected Sites – 7.227
  • Growing Lavender in Colorado – 7.245
  • Selecting and Planting Roses – 7.404
  • Rose Culture – 7.416
  • Inspecting and Correcting Turf Irrigation system Problems – 7.422
  • Fertilizing the Vegetable Garden – 7.611
  • Vegetable Gardening – Nitrogen Recommendations – 7.247; provides specific nitrogen requirements for vegetables based on growth stage
  • Fertilizing Fruit Trees – 7.612
  • The preparation of Small Spray Quantities of Pesticides – 7.615

 About Curtis Swift: Miscellaneous Publications:

• Masters Report: A review of Chlorosis of Woody Ornamental with special emphasis on iron deficiency in arid and semi-arid regions. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. Summer 1983.
• Iron chlorosis and its cure. December 1987. American Nurseryman.
• Ph.D. Thesis: Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae, the causal agent of fusarium basal rot of onion; biology, epidemiology and management, CSU 2001
• Vegetative compatibility groups of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae from Onion in Colorado. 2002. C.E. Swift, E.R. Wickliffe, and H.F. Schwartz. Plant Disease 86:606-610.
• Drs. Curtis Swift and William Brown. Ask the Expert: Turfgrass Rust. March/April 2002, TurfNews magazine. Pages 39, 42, & 46.
• Developed a series of publications and handouts for Afghanistan on irrigation technology and crop residue management.