COLUMBUS, Ohio—Backyard lovers, campers, outdoors enthusiasts, and pet owners beware. If you thought last year’s tick season was bad, just wait. This year has the potential to be even worse.
Ticks—and the diseases they carry—are on the rise in Ohio and will likely continue to increase. There has been a steady increase in tick-vectored disease numbers in Ohio each year, and officials don’t expect to see a reverse of the trend, said Tim McDermott, an educator with Ohio State University Extension, the outreach arm of The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).
“While you can encounter a tick during any season, spring marks the beginning of heavy tick season, and this year, the tick population statewide...
COLUMBUS, Ohio—A new online farm management course offered by The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) will help Ohio’s beginning farmers qualify for the requirements of the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Beginning Farmer Tax Credit program.
Called Farm On, the self-paced, on-demand farm financial management course was created by Ohio State University Extension professionals and is offered through OSU Extension’s new Farm Financial Management and Policy Institute (FFMPI), said Eric Richer, assistant professor and OSU Extension field specialist in farm management.
OSU Extension is the outreach arm of CFAES.
“The Farm On financial management course was created to address the needs of Ohio...
COLUMBUS, Ohio—Public health, community outreach, and youth engagement at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) are getting a boost with the announcement of a $1.1 million investment from AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, to fund a new Public Health AmeriCorps program.
The five-year grant, which was awarded to Ohio State University Extension, will fund up to 74 AmeriCorps members to address the public health needs of communities across Ohio and help rebuild the state’s public health sector, said Pat Bebo, assistant director, family and consumer sciences, OSU Extension. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of CFAES.
“The grant will enhance OSU Extension’s presence...
COLUMBUS, Ohio—Amy Ando, a professor at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), has been named chair of the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics (AEDE) at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), pending final approval by The Ohio State University Board of Trustees.
Her four-year appointment begins July 16, 2023.
Ando earned her PhD in economics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and her BA in economics from Williams College. She began her post-doctoral career as a fellow in the Quality of the Environment Division at Resources for the Future in Washington, D.C.
She later moved to UIUC in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, where she worked as an...
COLUMBUS, Ohio—Ann Christy, interim associate dean and director for Academic Programs at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), has been named associate dean and director for CFAES Academic Programs, pending final approval by The Ohio State University Board of Trustees.
Her appointment began Jan. 1 and runs through June 30, 2026.
Christy, who is also a professor of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering (FABE) and a professor of engineering education, previously served as chair of the Academic Affairs Committee for FABE, and then served as interim associate dean for Undergraduate Education and Student Services at Ohio State’s College of Engineering. Other university roles Christy has served include:...
LCOLUMBUS, Ohio—Douglas Jackson-Smith, interim director of the Agroecosystem Management Program (AMP) at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), has been named the college’s W.K. Kellogg Foundation Endowed Chair in Agricultural Ecosystems Management, pending final approval by the Ohio State University Board of Trustees.
His appointment runs through May 15, 2027.
Jackson-Smith first joined CFAES as a professor and associate director in the School of Environment and Natural Resources in 2016. He was named interim director of the AMP in 2021. He has won numerous national awards and authored, co-authored, or reviewed more than 362 publications including books, book chapters, journal articles, research papers, and...
COLUMBUS, Ohio–A lifetime 4-H supporter, an Ohio State Fair general manager, and three Darke County judges are being honored for their work, commitment, and dedication to Ohio State University Extension.
Pat Brundige, the biggest individual benefactor in the history of The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), along with Virgil Strickler, the longest-running general manager in the history of the Ohio Expo Center & Ohio State Fair, and Darke County judges Jonathan Hein, Julie Monnin, and Jason Aslinger, are each being honored with a Friend of Extension award from the Ohio chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi (ESP) for their outstanding support and personal involvement in Extension efforts.
The award is the highest state-level...
COLUMBUS, Ohio—Increased expenses that can occur during the winter holiday season can make it hard for some consumers to avoid overspending. While this has become an annual issue for many people, increased inflation this year has more consumers looking for ways to stretch their budgets while still enjoying the festive season.
According to the 2022 Holiday Outlook by PwC, formerly Price Waterhouse Coopers, total holiday spending this year will be similar to last year, with the average consumer planning to spend $1,430 this year. The international accounting firm surveyed more than 4,000 consumers.
“Despite citing fears of inflation and the rising costs of transportation and utilities as deterrents to holiday spending, most consumers—74%—told us they plan to...
I’m buying a frozen turkey this week to serve for Thanksgiving this year. What’s the best way to thaw it?
With the traditional holiday just days away, if you’ve purchased a frozen turkey, the time to think about how to defrost it is now. Depending on how large your frozen bird is, it could take up to six days to safely defrost it in a refrigerator.
It’s very important that you thaw and cook your turkey safely to help avoid developing foodborne illnesses. Thawing a frozen turkey correctly helps minimize the growth of bacteria, which can cause foodborne illnesses. While frozen, a turkey is safe indefinitely. However, as soon as it begins to thaw, any bacteria that might have been present before freezing can begin to grow again, according to the USDA...
COLUMBUS, Ohio–An expert in community leadership, a food scientist, a retired associate dean and a retired associate vice president of Agricultural Administration were honored this month for their research, teaching and service to The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU).
Mary Rodriguez, assistant professor of agricultural communication, education and leadership; Mary Kay Pohlschneider, senior lecturer in the CFAES Department of Food Science and Technology; Steve Neal, retired associate dean, and director of CFAES academic programs; and David Benfield, retired associate vice president of Agricultural Administration, director of the CFAES Wooster Campus, and associate...
COLUMBUS, Ohio—Knowing is half the battle—especially when it comes to homebuying.
That’s where Ohio State University Extension comes in.
OSU Extension educators specializing in healthy finances offer homeownership education and homebuyer counseling to assist Ohioans throughout the homebuying and homeownership process. Extension is the outreach arm of The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).
Already, some 2,200 people in Franklin County have attended classes offered by OSU Extension and have received a HUD-approved completion certificate, said Courtney Warman, an Extension program specialist that works with the homebuyer education program.
And an additional 497 homebuyers were served across Ohio through...
My kids brought home a large haul of Halloween candy that I’m trying to avoid snacking on. With the remaining fall and upcoming winter holidays coming, I’m wondering if you can offer any tips to help me avoid gaining weight but still enjoy the holidays?
Take heart – you aren’t the only parent tempted to eat their kiddos’ Halloween goodies. In fact, two-thirds of parents report that they do eat some of their children’s Halloween candy haul, according to the National Confectioners Association,
With the remaining fall and winter holidays approaching, many people are concerned about trying to stay healthy while also enjoying all the rich, delicious foods and traditions associated with the many celebrations that are or will be soon...
Can eating too much black licorice really cause heart problems?
In some cases, for some people, yes.
With Halloween this week and candy sales expected to top $3.1 billion this year, according to the National Retail Federation, it’s a good time to revisit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s warning regarding black licorice.
The FDA warns that people over 40 who eat 2 ounces of black licorice a day for at least two weeks could experience an irregular heart rhythm or arrhythmia that could land them in the hospital. Black licorice can also interact with some medications, herbs, and dietary supplements, FDA says.
This is significant, considering that two-thirds of parents report that they do eat some of their children’s Halloween candy haul, according to...
COLUMBUS, Ohio–Thanks to a grant from Google, at least 1,500 more Ohio youth will have increased access to computer science education offered by Ohio 4-H.
The funds are part of a $5 million grant to National 4-H Council to help expand access to computer science. In Ohio, the funds will go towards offering computer science programming to an additional 1,500 youth across the state by Ohio 4-H professionals, said Kirk Bloir, state 4-H leader and assistant director, Ohio State University Extension.
Ohio 4-H, the youth development arm of OSU Extension, offers 4-H programs to youth in all 88 of Ohio’s counties. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).
As America’s largest youth...
COLUMBUS, Ohio–Ohio State’s Farm Science Review, which turns 60 this year, plans to highlight its decades of providing valuable information to farmers and producers, while focusing on continuing to educate for the future.
The premier agricultural education and industry exposition is set for Sept. 20–22 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center, 135 State Route 38, near London. Hosted by CFAES, the 60th FSR will focus on “Embracing Time and Change.”
More than 100,000 people are expected to attend the event, which will feature more than 100 educational sessions including “Ask the Expert” talks, the most comprehensive field crop demonstrations in the United States, 600 exhibits, a career exploration fair, and immersive virtual reality videos of...
COLUMBUS, Ohio—Farmers and producers who may now—or will soon—face questions regarding long-term care costs can learn how to fund such care by finding the best ways to mitigate long-term care risks during a July 20 webinar offered by an agricultural law specialist from The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).
The hourlong webinar will be presented from noon to 1 p.m. by Robert Moore, CFAES agricultural and resource law specialist with Ohio State University Extension’s Agricultural and Resource Law program. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of CFAES.
The issue of planning for long-term care costs for farmers and producers is significant, considering that nursing homes can cost some $100,000 per year, a cost...
I’ve got a fridge full of food and our power went out for several hours due to severe storms. Is there any food that can be saved, or do I have to throw everything out of our fridge due to spoilage?
It’s that time of year when severe weather can leave consumers without power for a few minutes to multiple days, in some instances. Rounds of severe weather and extreme heat have already impacted many consumers nationwide this spring, with thousands experiencing widespread power outages issues in Ohio and throughout the country.
It’s incredibly frustrating to think you must discard groceries that you’ve just purchased due to a power outage. Understanding the basics of food safety and how perishable foods are impacted when the temperature is 40 degrees...
COLUMBUS, Ohio—While most Ohioans have access to broadband internet, nearly 1 million still lack access to the fast, reliable broadband services in their homes, says analysts with the C. William Swank Program in Rural-Urban Policy at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).
“This unserved population largely lives in less populated rural regions of the state where it is prohibitively expensive for internet service providers to extend service,” according to Mark Partridge, chair and professor in the CFAES Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics. The Swank program, housed in the department, conducts research, teaching, and outreach within the college.
An April report released by...
COLUMBUS, Ohio—Ticks—and the diseases they carry—are on the rise in Ohio this season and will likely continue to increase.
While you can encounter a tick during any season, spring marks the beginning of heavy tick season, and this year, the tick population statewide is expected to continue to rise, said Tim McDermott, an educator with Ohio State University Extension, the outreach arm of The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).
Global climate change and tick-host range expansion are some reasons for the increase, McDermott said.
“Ticks are extraordinarily adaptable and can travel on host animals,” he said. “Ticks expand when their habitat range expands due to global climate change. They take...
Can some ticks cause you to be allergic to meat?
In some cases, yes.
Spring marks the beginning of tick season and this year, the tick population is expected to surge.
With it comes the potential for tick bites, which could result in several complications, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and in some cases, cause some people to develop an allergy to red meat after being bitten.
As mentioned in a previous Chow Line, lone star ticks in certain cases, can cause an allergy to red meat after being bitten by the tick.
This species of tick entered Ohio over the last decade or so. It has since spread throughout the state, although it is more common in southern Ohio, said Tim McDermott, an educator with Ohio State University Extension, the...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ninety-five percent of recent graduates of The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences report either having a job or being enrolled in an advanced degree program within six months of graduation.
That’s according to a recent survey by school officials that found that of those graduates, 79% reported accepting positions in Ohio, which contributes to the state’s overall economic strength, said Adam Cahill, career development manager for the college.
The remaining graduates reported accepting positions in 35 other states, Washington D.C., and two other countries, Cahill said.
“The fact that our students have secured positions in multiple states and internationally shows that our programs are well known...
My grocery bill has risen by nearly $100 a month recently and it’s becoming harder to keep spending so much more than we used to. Do you have any tips on how we can cut our food costs?
You are right–the cost of food is up by more than 8% over last year according to government statistics, with prices for foods including meat, chicken fish and eggs have risen at an even higher increase in costs.
And prices are expected to continue to rise throughout the year. That’s according to a new report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Price Outlook for 2022, which says food prices are predicted to increase between 4.5 and 5.5% this year. For example, beef prices are forecast to rise 16.2%, pork 14%, poultry 12.5%, fish 10.4%, eggs 11.4%, fresh fruits...
COLUMBUS, Ohio—Barbara Kowalcyk, who directs the Center for Foodborne Illness Research and Prevention (CFI) at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), has been appointed chair of the Science Board to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Kowalcyk, who was first appointed to the FDA Science Board in 2013, is faculty with the CFAES Department of Food Science and Technology (FST) and Ohio State’s Translational Data Analytics Institute.
Established in 1992, the FDA Science Board advises the federal agency on complex scientific and technical issues and provides input on the agency’s research agenda and on upgrading scientific and research facilities and training opportunities. The board is composed of 21 voting...
I’ve got a lot of fresh spinach from my parents’ garden, and I’m looking for more creative ways to eat it. Do you have any tips?
Spinach is in harvest right now, making this a great time to add this vitamin- and mineral-packed plant into your diet. Spinach is a healthy, dark, leafy, green vegetable that is full of protein, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, folate, fiber, phosphorus, thiamine, and vitamins A, C, and K.
Also considered a superfood, spinach, as part of a healthy, balanced diet, is important for skin, hair, and bone health. Additionally, spinach can help improve blood glucose control in people with diabetes, and it lowers the risk of cancer, improves bone health, and can promote digestive regularity.
There are three types of spinach, including...
With Earth Day occurring next week, I’m wanting to do more to benefit the environment. Do you have any tips on how I can pack more sustainable lunches with less waste?
There are several ways that you can pack waste-free lunches and save money in the process.
For example, one way to spend less on lunch is to grab food to pack that you may already have in your refrigerator or cabinets so that you can stretch your food budget and reduce wasted food in your home, said Laura Stanton, educator, family and consumer sciences, Ohio State University Extension. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).
“For example, instead of buying single-use dips and condiments, pack your own from home,...
