Mauricio Espinoza

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  1. PEDV causes intestinal disease in swine of all ages and high mortality in young pigs. (Photo by Ken Chamberlain)

    Swine Virus Will Impact Production, Prices in 2014; Strict Bio-security Essential

    COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Even though it was found for the first time in the U.S. just a year ago in April, porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) has caused important losses in swineherds across the country and is expected to impact the availability of pork products and prices in 2014, according to swine experts with Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). Despite efforts to combat the disease, PEDv has spread rapidly to 27 states, including Ohio, as of April 2, 2014, according to the American Association of Swine Veterinarians. “New herds are being infected on a daily basis throughout the country, so it is very likely that we will see infections in...
  2. Proper nutrition is crucial during the calving and lactation periods. (USDA.gov image)

    Beef Cow Producers: Beware of Cold Winter’s Impact on Calving, Lactation Periods

    COLUMBUS, Ohio - The harsh winter's effects on cow-calf operations may linger unless producers take the right measures to ensure their animals' nutritional needs are being properly met, according to an expert from Ohio State University's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. Beef cows' nutritional requirements to stay warm and perform well have been higher this winter, putting pressure on their hay inventories and leading to increased costs for producers, said John Grimes, beef coordinator for Ohio State University Extension. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of the college. Even though it has been a challenging season, now it's not the time to be frugal when it comes to proper nutrition for pregnant...
  3. Doctoral student J. Lauren Slutzky (left) and Katrina Cornish make latex gloves for testing at Ohio State's rubber products pilot plant in Wooster. (Photo by Ken Chamberlain)

    Goodbye to Allergies? New Latex Materials Are Safe for Type I, Type IV Allergies

    WOOSTER, Ohio -- New materials developed by Ohio State University will allow medical professionals to have the natural latex gloves whose performance they prefer and avoid the risk of allergic reactions, too. Scientists in the university's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) have filed patents (pending) for a latex film made from guayule that is safe for both Type I and Type IV latex allergy sufferers, and for a traditional Hevea rubber tree latex film that is Type IV-hypoallergenic. "Medical professionals prefer natural rubber latex gloves because they are stronger, have more tactile sensitivity, provide superior protection to blood-borne pathogens and cause less hand fatigue,...
  4. The videos feature researchers from various land-grant universities.

    Videos Highlight National Soybean Rust Program, Encourage Growers to Remain Vigilant

    WOOSTER, Ohio -- Growers will find key information to keep in mind about the ongoing threat of soybean rust and actions they can take to minimize potential losses from this disease in two videos now available online. The videos include highlights from numerous research and Extension projects carried out by land-grant university researchers from around the country involved in soybean rust research and monitoring efforts. They were produced with support from the American Public Land Grant Universities Association, Cooperative Extension, the Experiment Station Committee on Organization and Policy (ESCOP), the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and the United Soybean Board. The first video (http://youtu.be/m07iu6HaQpc) provides an...
  5. Fred Michel at his solar-powered house, next to his solar-charged hybrid vehicle. (Photo by Ken Chamberlain)

    For Ohio State Scientist Fred Michel, Sustainability Is a Way of Life

    WOOSTER, Ohio -- Not too many people drive around with a solar panel on top of their cars. For Ohio State University scientist Fred Michel, that's just another way he is trying to make sustainability an important part of everything he does -- at work, in his community and at home. A biosystems engineer in Ohio State's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, Michel believes using more bioproducts and bioenergy can make a difference for the environment and also the economy. It's a belief he acts on both professionally and personally.  On the Wooster campus of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), where his office and laboratory are located, Michel...
  6. View of BioHio Research Park's main site, on OARDC's Wooster campus.

    BioHio Research Park Receives Grant for Master Plan, Selects Consultants for Development

    WOOSTER, Ohio -- BioHio Research Park, an affiliate of The Ohio State University, has received a $71,321 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to develop a master plan for the expansion of this innovation and economic growth initiative in northeast Ohio. Located on the Wooster campus of Ohio State's Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), BioHio Research Park is a first-in-the-state business and technology center aimed at linking Ohio State scientists with business and industry partners interested in the growing and promising field of agricultural biosciences -- which includes high-impact areas such as renewable energy and materials, food safety and security, genetic crop...
  7. The use of biogas as vehicle fuel is one of the topics that will be discussed at the workshop. (Photo by Ken Chamberlain)

    Is Green Energy in Your Future? Attend Nov. 19 Ohio State Workshop to Find Out

    WOOSTER, Ohio -- A growing number of businesses and organizations are turning to green energy solutions to meet their power needs, manage waste and boost sustainability. Learn more about this trend and the opportunities it offers at Ohio State University's 2013 Renewable Energy Workshop, to be held Nov. 19 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Wooster. The event will feature presentations by university and industry experts as well as tours highlighting a variety of alternative energy sources, including biogas, wind, solar and biomass, said Yebo Li, workshop organizer and a biosystems engineer with the university's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. The morning portion of the workshop will take place...
  8. Bruce McPheron, vice president for agricultural administration and dean, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, discusses STEM education at the Farm Science Review with Jamison Truebenbach from the Global Impact S.T.E.M. Academy. (Photo by Ken Chamberlain)

    College Putting Emphasis on Water Quality, Implications for Farming, Society

    LONDON, Ohio -- Bruce McPheron, vice president for agricultural administration and dean of Ohio State University's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, sees the glass as half full. But he's also concerned about the quality of the water in that glass. Speaking at Ohio State's annual Farm Science Review agricultural show yesterday (9/17) in London, Ohio, McPheron said water quality research will be one of the priorities of the college he began leading just last year. "Water is really a global issue," said McPheron, who hosted the first Vice President's Luncheon of his tenure at this year's Review. "It's part of the conversation everywhere in the world." In the United States, he...
  9. Researchers fuse a rootstock with a scion as part of ongoing tomato grafting experiments at OARDC.

    Ohio State to Commercial Tomato Growers: Nominate Favorite Varieties for Grafting Project

    WOOSTER, Ohio -- Ohio State University vegetable researchers are calling on commercial fresh-market tomato growers to nominate their favorite varieties for a project that explores grafting as a viable technique to reduce pest and disease pressures while preserving the productivity of currently used tomato varieties. Grafting combines the superior root system of a non-fruiting rootstock tomato variety with the shoot of a good fruiting variety, called the scion, said Matt Kleinhenz, a professor of horticulture and crop science based on the Wooster campus of the university's Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC). OARDC is the research arm of Ohio State's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. "Most farmers have a favorite tomato variety...
  10. Katrina Cornish shows Chancellor John Carey (left), Ohio State President Joseph Alutto and Ohio Rep. Ron Amstutz Ohio-grown rubber-producing plants and products made from them. (Photo by Ken Chamberlain)

    Research, Business Partnerships, Training Highlight Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor John Carey’s Visit to Ohio State's Wooster Campuses

    WOOSTER, Ohio -- John Carey, chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents, learned about the many ways in which outdoor labs, innovative technologies, public-private partnerships and technical education are shaping Ohio's economic and environmental future during a Sept. 4 visit to Ohio State University's Wooster campuses. Carey, who was appointed last April, toured the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) and the Agricultural Technical Institute (ATI). Both are part of the university's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. The Board of Regents oversees the state's public higher-education system. Accompanying Carey were Ohio State Interim President Joseph Alutto and Ohio Rep. Ron Amstutz, whose 1st House District includes...
  11. This image shows the PRRS vaccine, enclosed in biodegradable polymer nanoparticles.

    Ohio State Researcher Develops Innovative Vaccine for Profit-draining Swine Virus

    WOOSTER, Ohio -- An Ohio State University researcher has created a unique vaccine to protect swine from porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), a viral disease that causes direct losses to U.S. swine producers to the tune of $664 million a year. Unlike the current live vaccines used to prevent PRRS, the new vaccine uses an inactivated virus to eliminate adverse reactions in pigs such as abortion, sick piglets and further spread of the disease, said Renukaradhya (Aradhya) Gourapura, an associate professor in the university's Food Animal Health Research Program (FAHRP), part of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC). The largest agbioscience university research center...
  12. Chancellor Carey will visit Ohio State's Wooster campus on Sept. 4.

    Media Advisory: Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor John Carey to Tour Ohio State's Wooster Campuses

    WOOSTER, Ohio -- John Carey, chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents, will visit Ohio State University's Wooster campuses on Wednesday, Sept. 4, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Reporters are invited to cover the tour, which will include stops at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) and at the Agricultural Technical Institute (ATI). Both are part of the university's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). Chancellor Carey will learn about key research and educational programs taking place on the campuses that impact Ohio's economy and job preparedness, as well as OARDC's and ATI's unique roles within the state's educational system. Joining Carey will be Ohio State Interim President Joe Alutto and CFAES...
  13. Urban entomologist Susan Jones said bedbugs continue to be a problem in Ohio, and they can affect anybody. (Photo by Ken Chamberlain)

    Bedbugs Still Major Problem: TV Campaign Teaches Ohioans Do's and Don'ts

    COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio continues to be one of the states most affected by bedbug infestations in the U.S. To remind Ohioans that they shouldn't let their guard down when it comes to preventing and dealing with this troublesome pest, Ohio State University has put together three public service announcements (PSAs) that will air Aug. 5-10 on 18 TV stations across the state. The PSAs try to bust some common myths about bedbugs, including who can be affected by infestations and whether over-the-counter insecticides work against these bloodsucking insects, said Susan Jones, Ohio State University Extension's household insect state specialist with the university's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences...
  14. The PED virus can cause high mortality, especially among young pigs. (Photo by Ken Chamberlain)

    Ohio State Lab Working with PED Swine Virus to Develop Unique Test, Trace Disease in U.S.

    Biosecurity is key to minimizing spread of disease; fairs advised to take precautions.   WOOSTER, Ohio -- Food animal health researchers with Ohio State University's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences are looking for a unique way to test and trace the spread of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), a disease of swine that was found for the first time in the U.S. in April and which has impacted hundreds of hog operations in 15 states, including Ohio. Funded by the National Pork Board, virologists Linda Saif and Qiuhong Wang are working on a six-month project that involves growing the virus in the lab and using this material to develop a serological test, which will...
  15. Research assistant Hannah Whitehead studies the plots of canola growing on the Mellinger Farm. (Photo by Ken Chamberlain)

    Ohio State Project Brings Back Oilseed Crops to Historical Farm, Looks at Future Uses

    WOOSTER, Ohio -- Oilseed crops such as flax and camelina are growing and blooming again at the Mellinger Farm in Wooster, thanks to an Ohio State University research project that seeks to evaluate their many uses, including as animal feed and biofuel, and their potential to help diversify Ohio farms and boost their sustainability.   The 324-acre farm, established almost two centuries ago by Wayne County pioneer Benedict Mellinger, was donated in 2002 to the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) by Patricia Miller Quinby and the estate of her late sister, Virginia Miller Reed, both descendants of Mellinger. It is located just six miles west of the Wooster campus of OARDC, which is the...
  16. Neighborhood pride is a crucial factor driving lawn management decisions, says an Ohio State study.

    Homeowners Use Lawn Chemicals Mostly Because Neighbors Do It: Ohio State Study

    Survey finds 62 percent of homeowners use chemicals to enhance landscapes. WOOSTER, Ohio -- A survey conducted by Ohio State University's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences shows that U.S. homeowners see lawns as important to their sense of social status and acceptance in their neighborhoods, leading to the use of lawn chemicals by 62 percent of respondents. Published in 2012 in the journal Environmental Management, the survey also revealed that efforts to educate homeowners about the environmental impacts of their landscape management choices are likely to be more successful if geared toward neighborhood groups rather than individuals, said Tom Blaine, co-author...
  17. Mary Gardiner has studied vacant lots and biodiversity in Cleveland since 2009. (Photo by Ken Chamberlain)

    Ohio State Researcher Nets $900,000 NSF Grant to Study Vacant Lot Biodiversity, Management in Cleveland

    WOOSTER, Ohio -- Ohio State University entomologist Mary Gardiner has received a coveted grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to implement an unprecedented study of vacant land in the city of Cleveland. The $909,200 Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) grant will fund a large-scale project examining the impact of various landscape treatments on the biodiversity and ecosystem function of 64 empty lots within eight Cleveland neighborhoods. The city of Cleveland currently has 32,000 acres of vacant land and witnesses the demolition of 1,000 homes every year. The five-year project's main goal is to gather data that will inform future green space design in Cleveland...
  18. Roof-installed solar energy systems are one of many options available to Ohio businesses and organizations for on-site green energy generation.

    OSU Extension Offers Businesses Training, Advice on Renewable Energy Production

    MARION, Ohio -- A growing number of Ohio companies, schools, farms and other organizations are turning to on-site renewable energy generation projects to meet some or all of their electricity needs. As the green energy movement gains popularity, Ohio State University'sCollege of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) is offering training and other educational resources to help businesses and other organizations make informed decisions on energy investments, including the feasibility of implementing on-site renewable energy projects. On-site renewable energy production is part of a larger trend called distributed energy, which involves the generation of power through small, modular, ...
  19. Peter Piermarini studies the renal function of mosquitoes in search of a new class of insecticides to control them.

    Scientists Find Chemical that Causes 'Kidney' Failure in Mosquitoes, May Lead to New Insecticides for Malaria Control

    WOOSTER, Ohio -- An Ohio State University researcher and his collaborators have discovered a chemical that causes "kidney" failure in mosquitoes, which may pave the way to the development of new insecticides to fight deadly mosquito-transmitted diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. The discovery is reported in the article "Eliciting renal failure in mosquitoes with a small-molecule inhibitor of inward-rectifying potassium channels," which appeared May 29 in the online journal PLOS ONE.   "Our team has found a chemical that interferes with the function of a class of mosquito proteins, called potassium channels, and which compromises the ability of mosquitoes to excrete urine,"...
  20. The groundbreaking ceremony included (left to right) OARDC Director Steve Slack, CFAES Dean Bruce McPheron, FABE associate chair Harold Keener, Ohio Rep. Ron Amstutz, Wayne County Commissioner Anne Obrecht, and Ohio Sen. Frank LaRose. (Ken Chamberlain)

    Ground Broken for New Ag Engineering Building at Ohio State's OARDC Wooster Campus

    WOOSTER, Ohio -- A September 2010 tornado took it away. Now, support from elected officials and the state of Ohio will help bring back an even better version of the Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering's building on the Wooster campus of Ohio State University's Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC). A groundbreaking ceremony for the new building was held Friday, May 10. Attending were university officials, Ohio legislators who represent Wooster and Wayne County, staff from the offices of U.S. senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman and U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, and local city and county officials. OARDC is the research arm of Ohio State's College of Food,...
  21. Lyme disease is transmitted by the blacklegged deer tick, which is much smaller than the common American dog tick.

    Online Tick Course Now Available through OSU Extension

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – Tick populations are on the rise in Ohio and with them comes the risk of contracting illnesses such as Lyme disease. To help Ohioans learn more about ticks and how to keep people and pets safe, Ohio State University Extension has developed an online course that teaches about tick biology, tick identification and tick-borne diseases. "With the warmer weather, ticks will be active and looking to feed," said Glen Needham, an entomologist and tick expert with OSU Extension, the outreach arm of the university's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. Developed by Needham and Denise Ellsworth, director of the Department of Entomology's Honey Bee and Native Pollinator...
  22. The blacklegged deer tick is quite small compared to the ticks most people are familiar with.

    Out for Blood: Ticks, Lyme Disease Cases on the Rise in Ohio

    May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month. As ticks begin to emerge with warmer weather, learn how to protect yourself, family and pets. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Warmer weather is finally here and with the rising temperatures comes the emergence of ticks that may carry dangerous diseases, and are now looking to feed.   "Ticks will be out looking for a blood meal," said Glen Needham, an entomologist and tick expert withOhio State University Extension, the outreach arm of the university'sCollege of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. "We want people to understand there's a risk of getting sick from tick bites when they are outdoors, and that there are things they can do to keep themselves,...
  23. OARDC researcher Daral Jackwood is the founder and scientific adviser of LARAD Inc. (Photo by Ken Chamberlain)

    OARDC Researcher's Invention Leads to High-Tech Animal Disease Vaccine, Diagnostics Company

    Unique startup established at BioHio Research Park, seeks investors. WOOSTER, Ohio -- Patented technology developed at Ohio State University's Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) has led to the creation of a startup company for the production of diagnostic tools and vaccines to combat poultry and livestock diseases. LARAD Inc. is the result of Ohio State research conducted by Daral Jackwood, a professor in OARDC's Food Animal Health Research Program. OARDC is the research arm of Ohio State's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. "LARAD Inc. is also the first OARDC spinout into the BioHio Research Park," said Shauna R. Brummet,...
  24. Allison Whitaker enjoys her time on a farm in Australia, one of the most popular study abroad destinations among CFAES students.

    Study Abroad Numbers Double at Ohio State's College of Food, Ag, Env Sciences

    80 students get ready to travel to five destinations this May. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State University's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) is reaching a milestone at the end of this school year: doubling the number of students participating in study abroad programs compared to last year.   During the 2012-2013 academic cycle, the number of students participating in CFAES-sponsored study abroad programs together with CFAES students participating in other international study opportunities reached 316, up from the 156 students who participated in such programs during the 2011-2012 year.   The college is committed to promoting the importance of international travel as...
  25. MPHM courses are taught by Ohio State's internationally recognized experts in plant health management. (Photo by Ken Chamberlain)

    First at Ohio State: Master's in Plant Health Management Receives Professional Certification

    COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The professional Master in Plant Health Management (MPHM) degree, developed by Ohio State University's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), has become the first graduate program at the university to achieve affiliation in the National Professional Science Master's Association. The first of its kind at Ohio State, the degree is a joint effort of the departments of plant pathology and entomology whose aim is to provide hands-on training that includes both technical and professional aspects of plant health management, as the need for qualified individuals in the field increases. The demand is huge and growing for students and people trained in plant...

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