Tracy Turner

Technical Editor
Focus Areas: 
Chow Line, consumer news, food safety, nutrition.
  1. Photo: Adobe Stock Images

    March 12-13 Conservation Tillage and Technology Conference focuses on farm issues including soil health, water quality, and how to increase net income

    COLUMBUS, Ohio—Wondering how to build resilience with conservation agriculture? Want to learn about soil carbon marketing opportunities for farmers? What about how climate change affects soil carbon and soil health or whether phosphorus starter fertilizer is needed for corn? The answers to these questions and more will be discussed during the annual Conservation Tillage and Technology Conference (CTC), held March 12-13 at the McIntosh Center of Ohio Northern University (ONU), 525 S. Main St., in Ada. CTC is presented by The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) and other supporters. The event focuses on providing information to farmers on promoting and maintaining soil health, said Randall Reeder, a retired Ohio State...
  2. March 1 webinar offers update on Ohio farmland leasing

    COLUMBUS, Ohio—Farmers, producers, and landowners looking to update their farmland leases can learn the latest about the 2024 rental market outlook and the current economic outlook for Ohio row crops during a March 1 webinar offered from 10 a.m. to noon by farm management specialists from The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). “The webinar is designed for farm families, producers, and landowners to help them navigate the costs associated with running a farm operation that best fits their family and financial needs,” said Barry Ward, director of the Ohio State University Extension Income Tax School and leader of the Production Business Management program. “For example, during the farmland leasing webinar,...
  3. Photo: CFAES

    Ohio State Maple Syrup available

    MANSFIELD, Ohio—Still pondering which gift to give to that hard-to-shop-for friend? Are you a Buckeyes fan looking for a unique item to add to your collection? Or, maybe you’re someone who wants pure, fresh maple syrup to go with your breakfast tomorrow morning? If so, The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) may just have the perfect thing for you—Ohio State Maple Syrup. It comes from The Ohio State University at Mansfield, where students and faculty with CFAES’ School of Environment and Natural Resources (SENR) run a nearly 20-acre sugarbush. A sugarbush is a maple tree forest used to produce maple syrup. Now in its fifth year of production, the official Ohio State-branded syrup sales proceeds support...
  4. Photo: Getty Images

    Budgeting tips for winter holiday spending

    COLUMBUS, Ohio—While increased expenses that can occur during the winter holiday season can make it hard for some consumers to avoid overspending, higher costs this year have more consumers looking for ways to stretch their budgets while still enjoying the festive season. In fact, 61% of shoppers said sales and promotions are more important when buying gifts and other holiday items this year compared with last, according to the 2023 Holiday Shopping Outlook released by the National Retail Federation. And many consumers said they plan to begin holiday spending earlier than previous years, with 39% reporting they began holiday shopping before November, the NRF found. “A large part of why shopping starts so early is because consumers are spreading out their shopping to...
  5. More than 50 people gathered at a meeting in Cleveland last week to network and discuss urban agriculture. Attendees represented CFAES, FSA, and the Cuyahoga County urban agriculture community. Photo: CFAES

    USDA selects Ohio State to support new urban agriculture effort

    COLUMBUS, Ohio—The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (USDA FSA) recently selected The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) to support the creation of a new USDA Urban Service Center designed to further urban agriculture and innovative production in Ohio.  The USDA is opening 17 new Urban Service Centers in 15 states nationwide, including in Ohio. The Cleveland USDA Urban Service Center is a first for Ohio and is supported by Ohio State University Extension, the outreach arm of CFAES. The five-year collaborative partnership will later expand to metropolitan sites across northeast, central, northwest, southwest, and urban Appalachian areas in Ohio. FSA awarded cooperative agreements to organizations...
  6. Similar to the 2023 Organic Grains Conference pictured above, the 2024 event will also feature speakers from universities, organic farms, and organizations that support organic agriculture. Photo: OSU Extension.

    CFAES conference offers resources on production and management for growing organic grains

    OREGON, Ohio—Farmers, producers, and those interested in learning about organic grain production can attend a two-day conference from Jan. 4–5, 2024, offered by The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) that is designed to support the growth and expansion of producing organic grains statewide and to provide the economic outlook for the organic grain market next year. The annual Ohio State Organic Grains Conference will be held at the Maumee Bay Lodge and Conference Center, 1750 State Park Road #2, Oregon, Ohio, 11 miles east of Toledo, Ohio. Now in its second year, the conference offers programming for experienced organic growers, growers transitioning to or considering organic, and consultants or educators who support these...
  7. Farm Science Review. Photo: CFAES

    Ask the Experts pressing farm questions at Farm Science Review

    LONDON, Ohio–Whether it’s learning how to deal with the effects of the weather extremes farmers have faced this year, understanding the complexities of the U.S. Farm Bill and its impact on agriculture, or dealing with questions on farm insurance or getting your farm ready for your death, Ohio farmers likely have a lot of questions as this year amidst the challenging 2023 growing season. Faculty and staff from The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), will answer those questions and address some of the top farm management and veterinary medicine challenges facing Ohio farmers in 2023 and in the upcoming year, during this year’s Farm Science Review. Sponsored by CFAES, the 61st annual farm trade show takes place...
  8. Photo: CFAES

    Ohio State receives $2.5 million to improve nutrition and physical activity

    COLUMBUS, Ohio—The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) has received a $2.5 million award from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to fund a project that will focus on improving nutrition and physical activity, and will address health disparities related to poor nutrition, physical activity, and obesity. The grant will fund the High Obesity Program (HOP), which, in Ohio, will be led by Ohio State University Extension, the outreach arm of CFAES. The five-year program will focus on rural communities, where 40% or more of adults have obesity, said Carol Smathers, a CFAES associate professor and field specialist in youth nutrition and wellness for OSU Extension. “The issue is significant considering that...
  9. Members of the CFAES Crisis Rapid Response Team for East Palestine, from left to right, Tracy Kitchel, CFAES senior associate dean and director of faculty and staff affairs; Ellen Essman; Karen Chou, Michigan State; Jeff Hattey; Haley Shoemaker; Eric Barrett; Michael Bisesi, College of Public Health; Matt Teegarden; Sam Custer; and Cathann A. Kress, Ohio State vice president for agricultural administration and CFAES dean. Photo: Ken Chamberlain.

    CFAES Crisis Rapid Response Team receives Spirit of the Land-Grant Award for work in East Palestine

    COLUMBUS, Ohio–From the moment the train derailed Friday night Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio, resulting in a toxic chemical release and massive fire that forced hundreds of people to evacuate their homes, the calls from local farmers and producers for help began flooding into the Ohio State University Extension office in Columbiana County. Impacted families were told to evacuate due to the release of some of the train’s transported chemicals including vinyl chloride, and the combusting chemical products from the initial burning tank cars followed by a controlled burn, into the air, on to the soil and into surface water.  “We’ve been told to evacuate, but where can we take our livestock?” was among the first questions posed by farmers and...
  10. Photo: Getty Images

    Hot summer temps increase risk of heat illness

    COLUMBUS, Ohio–Farmers, producers, and anyone who works outdoors should beware: When the weather is warmer, you’re at a higher risk for heat illness, which can come on suddenly with many people unaware they’re in danger. Even experienced workers are vulnerable to heat-related illness, said Dee Jepsen, state leader, Ohio State University Extension Agricultural Safety and Health Program. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). One reason is that, often, some are unwilling to admit that heat affects them. Or they don’t recognize the symptoms. In fact, almost half of heat-related deaths occur on a worker’s first day on the job. According to the Occupational...
  11. Ohio State creates Drought Rapid Response team to provide resources for farmers, growers

    COLUMBUS, Ohio—From brittle, brown lawns and cracked soils to dry garden beds and crops, the signs are clear statewide: Ohio is officially in a drought. The recent stretch of warmer temperatures combined with scant rainfall in recent weeks has resulted in moderate drought conditions over 62% of the state, with nearly 98% of Ohio considered abnormally dry, according to the June 8 update from the U.S. Drought Monitor. “Moderate drought” is the initial level of drought, while “abnormally dry” means an area is moving in the direction of drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. And while it isn’t time to panic, these are rapidly changing conditions that need to be monitored, said Aaron Wilson, Ohio State University Extension’s field...
  12. Photo: Adobe Stock Images

    AgTech Innovation Hub awards inaugural research projects

    COLUMBUS, Ohio–Five innovative research projects have been awarded funding from the new AgTech Innovation Hub, a multimillion-dollar collaboration between The Ohio State University and Nationwide. Nine researchers in The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) were chosen to pitch their innovative research project ideas to be completed through the AgTech Innovation Hub, said Gary Pierzynski, CFAES associate dean of Research and Graduate Education. Using a kind of “Shark Tank”-like format, each researcher pitched their ideas before a judging panel, and five were selected for funding. The goal of the research projects, each of which will last for one year, is to find a practical solution to a real-world problem in the...
  13. Photo of nymph and adult female Asian longhorned ticks, top view. Photo: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

    Ohio State expert: expect to see more ticks statewide this season

    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...
  14. Photo:Adobe Stock

    Farm On financial management course offers farmers, ranchers training to meet new program requirements

    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...
  15. Emilee Drerup, Program Director, OSU Extension Public Health AmeriCorps

    New $1.1 million project to fund Public Health AmeriCorps program at Ohio State University Extension

    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...
  16. Amy Ando

    Ando named new chair of CFAES Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics

    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...
  17. Christy named CFAES associate dean and director for Academic Programs

    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:...
  18. Douglas Jackson-Smith

    Jackson-Smith appointed to the Kellogg Endowed Chair in Agricultural Ecosystems Management at Ohio State

    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...
  19. Photo: OSU Extension

    Five Ohioans awarded Friend of Extension honors

    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...
  20. Photo: Adobe

    Tips to better manage holiday spending

    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...
  21. Photo: Getty Images

    Chow Line: Safe ways to thaw and cook a frozen turkey

    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...
  22. From left to right: David Benfield, Mary Rodriguez, Steve Neal, and Mary Kay Pohlschneider.

    Four CFAES professionals honored by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities

    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...
  23. Susan Colbert and Amber Broadus stand outside Broadus' new home. Photo: Amber Broadus.

    OSU Extension increases keys to homeownership

    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...
  24. Photo: Thinkstock

    Chow Line: How to enjoy holiday meals without packing on the pounds

    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...
  25. Photo: Getty Images

    Chow Line: Black licorice warnings and tips for safe Halloween celebrations

    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...

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