WOOSTER, Ohio — Peter Piermarini believes there’s a new, biological way to combat the mosquitoes that transmit Zika, dengue, malaria and other dreaded diseases: make them unable to pee.
An entomologist with the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University, Piermarini and collaborators at Vanderbilt and Cornell universities are looking for ways to disrupt the mosquitoes’ Malpighian tubules, which are the equivalent of human kidneys.
“Female mosquitoes rely on their ‘kidneys’ when consuming a human blood meal,” Piermarini said. “They may ingest the equivalent of their own body mass in blood, so they need to immediately get rid of the excess fluid they consume. They achieve...
WOOSTER, Ohio — Honeybees are negatively impacted by the insecticide-coated seeds of some field crops, yet they also seem to benefit from the presence of other field crops in the vicinity of their hives, according to research conducted by entomologists with the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University.
“Most corn seeds planted today are coated with insecticides. During the planting process, some of that coating is chipped off and the dust is released into the air and also lands on nearby flowers and trees,” said Reed Johnson, an assistant professor in the Department of Entomology.
Honeybees and other pollinators are crucial to agriculture and food security. They pollinate about one-third of the crops we eat, valued at more...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Researchers with the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University are conducting studies to determine the best weed control strategies for spring barley, a crop that is now getting more attention from farmers due to growth of the craft beer industry in Ohio and neighboring states.
“We are currently in our first year of research to determine the safest and most effective herbicide programs for spring barley in Ohio,” said Mark Loux, an Ohio State University Extension weed specialist. OSU Extension is the statewide outreach arm of the college.
“Summer annual weeds such as ragweeds, lambsquarters, pigweeds and foxtails are the primary weed problem in spring-planted crops, and the competitiveness of the crop...
Fundraiser underway to help boost educational effort; ends May 31.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A fundraiser is underway at buckefinder.osu.edu to support a creative educational effort that links elementary school students in Ohio and the East African nation of Uganda as they learn more about issues impacting water resources in their communities.
“Water Across the World” is a project led by Suzanne Gray, assistant professor of aquatic physiological ecology in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University. It involves students from Muskingum County, Ohio, and Lake Nabugabo, Uganda.
“For the past few years, we have been trying to foster communication between the two groups of students about the similarities and differences in...
WOOSTER, Ohio — The Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, the research arm of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University, recognized faculty and graduates April 21 at its 2016 annual research conference in Wooster, through the following awards:
Distinguished Senior Faculty Research Award
Dan Herms is a professor in the Department of Entomology, based on the Wooster campus. He was recognized for his influential work in understanding the ecology and evolution of tree resistance to insects, studying the impact of invasive insects on forest ecosystems, and developing integrated programs for managing pests in ornamental landscapes and nurseries.
Herms has been a leading researcher of the ash tree-killing emerald ash borer...
WOOSTER, Ohio — Thom Janini has been appointed interim director of The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute, beginning Aug. 1.
The two-year degree-granting institution of the university’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, Ohio State ATI is ranked No. 1 in the nation in the awarding of associate degrees in agriculture and related sciences.
Janini is associate professor of chemistry and chair of the Arts, Science, and Business Technologies Division at Ohio State ATI. He will take over for current interim director Jim Kinder and will lead the institution until a new director is appointed.
“I’m grateful for Thom’s willingness to provide leadership during this critical transitional period,” said Ron Hendrick,...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — In a little over a year, Ohio State University Extension has trained more than 10,000 Ohio farmers on best practices to apply fertilizer for optimum crop yield, reduce the risk of nutrient runoff and improve water quality throughout the state. And more training opportunities are scheduled to reach even more farmers.
Known as Fertilizer Applicator Certification Training (FACT), this program allows farmers and commercial fertilizer applicators to meet the educational requirements of Ohio’s new agricultural fertilization law. Passed in 2014, the legislation requires individuals who apply fertilizer to more than 50 acres to become certified by Sept. 30, 2017.
FACT was developed by researchers and educators with the College of Food, Agricultural, and...
WOOSTER, Ohio — Three recently filled positions in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University are geared to support grape-growing and winemaking research and further boost Ohio’s rapidly expanding wine industry.
Andrew Kirk has been hired as research specialist and manager of the Ashtabula Agricultural Research Station, a 25-acre location near the Lake Erie shoreline dedicated to comprehensive wine-grape research and education. The station, located in Kingsville, is one of eight research farms throughout the state managed by the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, which is the research arm of the college.
Kirk has a master’s degree in horticulture from Lincoln University in New Zealand (2016) and a bachelor...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Liquid livestock manure can be a great option as a spring top-dress fertilizer for wheat fields if applied during the appropriate window of time and if it has the right amount of nitrogen, according to research conducted by the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University.
In a report published in the latest issue of the college’s Crop Observation and Recommendation Network (C.O.R.N) newsletter, experts said there is a window of time, usually around the last week of March or the first week of April, when wheat fields are firm enough to support manure-application equipment. Additionally, by that time wheat fields have broken dormancy and are actively pulling nutrients from the soil.
Glen Arnold, a field specialist in...
UPPER SANDUSKY, Ohio — A growing number of farms in Ohio and neighboring states are turning to solar energy to meet some of their electricity needs. Solar energy can save farms and other farm-related businesses money thanks to increasingly lower installation costs and the availability of government grants and other incentives.
To help farmers and other agribusiness people find out if solar energy is right for them, experts with the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University have put together a series of fact sheets that cover all key aspects of on-farm solar energy development — from an explanation of how solar energy works to financial considerations.
Eric Romich, an Ohio State University Extension field...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The 2016 Ohio Grape and Wine Conference will be held Feb. 15-16 in Dublin, Ohio, featuring a number of experts from around the country who will cover key topics for the industry — including fruit quality, winemaking and product branding practices, and spring frost protection.
The conference is being jointly organized by the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University, the Ohio Grape Industries Committee, and the Ohio Wine Producers Association.
It will be held at the Embassy Suites Columbus-Dublin, 5100 Upper Metro Place, Dublin. Full conference registration costs $225. There are additional options for partial registration. For complete registration information, visit go.osu.edu/BKps.
“This year’s...
WOOSTER, Ohio — Peter Piermarini, an entomologist with the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University, is available to speak with the media about the mosquitoes that transmit Zika virus, which is now present throughout Latin America and has also infected more than 30 people in the U.S. who contracted the disease while traveling abroad.
In Brazil, Zika virus has been linked to cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, pregnant women giving birth to babies with birth defects and poor pregnancy outcomes, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Zika virus is transmitted by species of Aedes mosquitoes, but Aedes aegypti appears to be the most efficient,” said Piermarini, an expert on disease-transmitting...
WOOSTER, Ohio — The College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University has announced the creation of a research lecture series in recognition of Steve Slack, who served as director of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center for 16 years until his retirement in December 2015.
The Steven A. Slack Lecture on Innovative Research in AgBiosciences will be given every year during the OARDC Annual Research Conference by a nationally and internationally respected scholar in agricultural biosciences who has made or is on a path to making significant, meaningful contributions to his or her field of expertise.
The largest university agbiosciences research center in the U.S., OARDC is the research arm of CFAES.
“Steve championed the role...
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Sometimes, the best way to get is to give.
Students in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University are engaged in a variety of service and volunteerism activities throughout the year as part of their comprehensive educational experience.
And while the time around the holidays is usually busy with final exams, end-of-semester projects and traveling back home, many students find the time to give back to the community even during this hectic time.
“Volunteering allows me to take my mind off school work and focus on creating a better community and place in the world that will benefit many people after me,” said April Boehnen, who is majoring in animal sciences and minoring in forest, fisheries and wildlife as...
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Eating pork and sauerkraut on New Year’s Day is a culinary tradition in Ohio and other parts of the U.S., with roots in Germany and Eastern Europe. The meal is believed to bring good luck and prosperity to those who eat it.
Pork and sauerkraut also represent prosperity in the Buckeye State’s agricultural and food-processing industries. And experts with the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University do their part by supporting swine and cabbage farmers with infectious disease research, education and variety trials.
According to the 2012 U.S. Census of Agriculture, Ohio swine production has a farm value of almost $789 million, ranking eighth in the nation. Meanwhile, Ohioans farm some 1,723 acres of cabbage,...
WOOSTER, Ohio — One of the main challenges posed by the avian flu outbreak that has impacted the U.S. poultry industry in the past year is how to safely and effectively dispose of potentially hundreds of thousands of birds killed as a result of infection and eradication efforts.
“The U.S. strategy is to quickly identify the infected premises, depopulate, properly dispose of carcasses and manure, clean and disinfect the premises, and have 21 days of down time after cleaning before re-population can take place,” said Mohamed El-Gazzar, Ohio State University Extension’s poultry veterinarian. “As you might imagine, the logistics of depopulation and disposal are very challenging, particularly with the large-scale layer...
WOOSTER, Ohio — Steve Slack, director of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), has been inducted into the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Hall of Fame.
Created in 2009, NIFA is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and provides leadership and funding for programs that advance agriculture-related sciences. The institute works in collaboration with scientists, educators and policymakers to find innovate solutions to some of the most pressing local and global problems concerning food and the environment.
The country’s largest university agbiosciences research center, OARDC is the research arm of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University.
Established in 2014, the NIFA Hall of Fame...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio farmers harvested fewer pumpkins this year compared to the 2014 crop, and the fruits are smaller than usual, according to experts with the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University.
“Growers faced significant challenges during both ends of the growing season in 2015,” said Jim Jasinski, Ohio State University Extension educator and coordinator of the Integrated Pest Management program. OSU Extension is the statewide outreach arm of the college.
“A wet spring and early summer delayed seeding past the optimal planting window, which is early June to late June or early July,” he said. “Sporadic heavy rains flooded fields and drowned out many pumpkin seedlings around the state, and then most...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Since November 2014, an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 has gripped the U.S. poultry industry, killing close to 50 million birds from commercial and backyard flocks in 19 states, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Originally spread by wild waterfowl, the virus has impacted turkey and chicken producers in the West and Midwest. Heavy losses to egg farms in Iowa — the nation’s No. 1 producer of eggs until the current outbreak decimated production there — have sent egg prices soaring across the United States, more than doubling in some parts of the country.
While the virus has not reached Ohio, experts with the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University have been helping...
WOOSTER, Ohio – The Ohio State University’s Secrest Arboretum has many gardens, but its newest addition stands out for its therapeutic and research value.
Dedicated in mid-September, the Lemmon and Rice Health and Wellness Garden was designed to boost visitors’ sense of well-being and to provide opportunities for research into the impact gardens and nature have on human health.
Located on the Wooster campus of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, the 115-acre arboretum encompasses a variety of demonstration and research plantings that support the state’s horticulture industry and also provide spaces for community engagement and enjoyment.
OARDC is the research arm of the university’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental...
LONDON, Ohio — The College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University will commit an additional $1 million in financial support to its undergraduate students for the 2016-17 academic year.
The announcement was made today by Bruce McPheron, vice president for agricultural administration and dean of CFAES, during the inaugural day of the Farm Science Review agricultural show, which runs Sept. 22-24 in London, Ohio, and is sponsored by the college.
“The need to support our students has never been greater,” McPheron said. “We are going to take a very hard look at what we can do as a college to create a sustainable model that takes into consideration all the complexities of financial support for our students.
“Our goal over...
WOOSTER, Ohio — The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute (ATI) is adding online teaching to its educational repertoire, beginning this autumn semester with a unique partnership with a northwest Ohio community college.
The two-year degree-granting institution of the university’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, Ohio State ATI is ranked No. 1 in the nation in the awarding of associate degrees in agriculture and related sciences.
Now, the institute is developing an online education program that seeks to expand Ohio State’s land-grant mission by engaging students where they are, beyond the traditional classroom and breaking down barriers between institutions.
“This is a way to expand the reach and mission of Ohio State ATI...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Today, the world is more globalized and interconnected than ever before. For students, college administrators say, this means that no education is complete without a healthy dose of international experiences to help them explore and understand the culture, history, nature and business practices of other countries.
That’s what Dana Sorter experienced when she traveled to South Africa last summer as part of the Exotic Animal Behavior and Welfare Study abroad program sponsored by the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University.
“I chose this program to round out my animal science education. CFAES does a great job of providing opportunities to learn about food and companion animals, but I still wanted to...
WOOSTER, Ohio — The new Williams Hall greenhouse complex on the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center’s Wooster campus is much more than a replacement for the greenhouse lost to a tornado almost five years ago: It’s a state-of-the-art facility that will help advance plant research and strengthen Ohio agriculture.
The original Williams Hall greenhouse complex was leveled by a September 2010 tornado that destroyed or damaged many other buildings and more than 1,000 trees at OARDC, the research arm of The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. The new greenhouses became operational in November 2014.
“It has been a long time coming, but our new facility will enhance the research and educational...
WOOSTER, Ohio — Steve Slack, director of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), has announced he will retire at the end of 2015 after 16 years at the helm of the nation’s largest university agbiosciences research institution.
“After more than 40 years of faculty and administrative service, the time is right to transition to the next phase of my life,” said Slack, who is also associate vice president for agricultural administration at The Ohio State University. OARDC is the research arm of the university’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).
Slack joined OARDC after serving as chair of the Department of Plant Pathology at Cornell University (1995-1999), where he was also the Henry and Mildred Uihlein...
