COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) is intensifying its efforts to support farmers after the U.S. Department of Agriculture declared 23 Ohio counties as natural disaster areas this week due to severe drought. This federal designation enables farmers to access emergency loans and other federal aid programs.
Drought conditions that began in Ohio in mid-June have worsened throughout the summer. The majority of Ohio is now grappling with drought conditions that are wreaking havoc on local agriculture.
The recent stretch of hot temperatures combined with scant rainfall has resulted in at least 95% of the state affected by abnormal dryness or worse, with 31% in severe drought, 22% in extreme drought, and 7% in...
LONDON, Ohio — Ohio farmers facing a challenging 2024 growing season will have the opportunity to get their pressing questions answered at this year’s Farm Science Review, presented by The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). Whether it’s dealing with weather extremes, understanding the impact of artificial intelligence on agriculture, or creating strategies for lean times ahead, the event looks to address the top concerns of the farming and agricultural community.
Faculty and staff from CFAES will tackle these issues and more during the 62nd annual farm show, which takes place Sept. 17-19 at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center in London, Ohio.
“The 2024 growing season has been particularly stressful...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — From brittle, brown lawns and cracked soils to dry ponds and crops, the signs are clear: A large portion of Ohio is again officially in a drought.
Parts of central, southeast, and southern Ohio are grappling with drought conditions that are wreaking havoc on local agriculture. The recent stretch of hot temperatures combined with scant rainfall has resulted in at least 63% of the state considered abnormally dry or worse, including 24% considered severe drought and 12% in extreme drought, according to the Aug. 22 update from the U.S. Drought Monitor.
This prolonged dry spell has left pastures parched and forage availability critically low, forcing some farmers to confront a dire shortage of hay, said Garth Ruff, an Ohio State University Extension field...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Amid the tantalizing aroma of corn dogs, the refreshing swirl of lemon shake-ups, and the dizzying whirl of fairground rides, there exists a lesser-known but vital aspect of the Ohio State Fair: It’s a place where youth develop career skills. Each day of the fair, Ohio 4-H members share their projects, embodying the spirit of exploration, learning, and growth.
Ohio 4-H, the youth development arm of The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), plays a pivotal role in empowering youth statewide. Annually, more than 9,000 4-H youth from all of Ohio’s 88 counties compete at the Ohio State Fair, carefully selected by their county program. In 2023, 9,301 4-H youth participated in Ohio State Fair events....
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Groundbreaking research conducted by a multi-state team, including Shoshanah Inwood, associate professor at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), has unveiled the caregiving experiences of households in the North Central and Northeast regions of the U.S.
The preliminary findings, released as two regionally focused “Research Snapshots,” offer insights into caregiver demographics, the financial and personal impacts of caregiving, and the types of support that caregivers seek.
“Our caregiving survey was designed to understand caregiving across the life course, including children, adults, and elderly,” said Inwood, who researches community, food, and economic development in the CFAES...
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State Fair is a summer tradition for many Ohioans, filled with fun, games, and, of course, food. But amidst the elephant ears and deep-fried ice cream, how can fairgoers make healthier food choices?
Jenny Lobb, a family and consumer sciences educator for Ohio State University Extension, the outreach arm of The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), offers some advice.
“It’s not likely you’ll gain 12 pounds in a day of overindulgence, but that doesn’t mean it’s a great idea to have an elephant ear for breakfast, stromboli for lunch, bacon-on-a-stick for dinner, and deep-fried ice cream for dessert,” she said. “Your gastrointestinal system would probably have a...
CINCINNATI, OHIO — Professionals working to pass on farm businesses to future generations successfully might find valuable resources at the annual Cultivating Connections Conference August 5-6. The conference is hosted by the Agricultural and Resource Law program at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).
This year’s conference will take place at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Law in Cincinnati. It will convene attorneys, accountants, appraisers, educators, and other farm transition planners from across the nation, said Peggy Hall, director of the Ohio State University Extension Agricultural and Resource Law program. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of CFAES.
The upcoming gathering...
Lal’s work focuses on carbon sequestration in agriculture, removing atmospheric carbon
A globally renowned soil scientist at The Ohio State University, Rattan Lal, has been awarded the 2024 Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity for his significant contributions to global food security, climate resilience and ecosystem protection.
Lal, a Distinguished University Professor at Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) and the founding director of the CFAES Rattan Lal Center for Carbon Management and Sequestration, was also recently named the No. 1 scientist in the world and the United States in the field of plant sciences and agronomy by Research.com.
Lal was chosen for his pioneering work in promoting a soil-centric approach...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ann D. Christy, associate dean and director for Academic Programs at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), has been named a Fellow with the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE).
ASABE has also awarded Patrick Sours, CFAES assistant professor of professional practice, the 2024 Robert E. Stewart Engineering Humanities Award, and Jaden Tatum, CFAES graduate research Fellow, the 2024 Pharos of Alexandria Global Learning Award. ASABE is an international scientific and educational organization that works to advance engineering applied to agricultural, food, and biological systems.
Christy, who is also a professor in the CFAES Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — As you gear up for your July Fourth celebration in the park, the temptation to partially cook meats at home and finish them on the grill during the picnic might cross your mind. However, this seemingly time-saving approach could expose you to foodborne illnesses.
Kate Shumaker, an Ohio State University Extension educator and registered dietitian, explains that partial cooking doesn’t destroy bacteria that can cause illnesses. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).
“The added heat during partial cooking can allow these bacteria to grow to unsafe levels,” she warns. “Instead, opt for fully cooking your meats to a safe internal temperature on...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Shannon Washburn has been reappointed as chair of the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership (ACEL) at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). The reappointment is effective July 1 through June 30, 2028.
Washburn, who is also the college’s Sanford G. Price and Isabelle P. Barbee Chair in Teaching, Advising, and Learning, joined ACEL as professor and chair in 2020. He previously served as an assistant dean of Academic Programs for the College of Agriculture at Kansas State University, from 2015 to 2020. In that role, he led the college’s student retention efforts, facilitated professional development opportunities for faculty and instructional staff on teaching and...
COLUMBUS, Ohio—The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) has received a $4.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce and NOAA to fund a project that will train new workers to fulfill the specialized workforce needs of the water industry in the Ohio Great Lakes region.
The grant will fund the project “Training a climate-ready workforce to manage the impacts of climate change on water resources in Ohio coastal communities,” which will be led by Lorrayne Miralha, a CFAES assistant professor of watershed modeling and data analytics. The four-year project will focus on four Ohio counties on the Lake Erie shoreline — Erie, Lorain, Lucas, and Cuyahoga — to train new workers in the areas of stormwater...
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Heavy rains and wet fields across the region that have delayed planting have some farmers questioning whether they should swap out their full-season varieties with early-maturing ones that will produce crops in a shorter period of time.
That depends, says Laura Lindsey, a field crops expert with The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). Lindsey, a soybean and small grains specialist with Ohio State University Extension, CFAES’ outreach arm, said for both corn and soybean, timely planting is important to maximize yield.
In CFAES soybean trials, yields have decreased as much as a 0.5 bushels per acre for each day planted after the end of April, she said.
Similarly, for corn, yield can...
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Whether you call them bugs or even “shrimps of the land,” cicadas are among those insects that are safe to eat.
And if you are among those adventurous enough to give them a taste, this is the time to do it.
Trillions of periodical cicadas have begun emerging across multiple states as part of a rare, two-brood event. Known as Broods XIII and XIX, the periodical cicadas will continue to emerge from their underground habitats as the temperatures continue to warm over the next few weeks in 17 states across the Midwest and Southeast.
Broods XIII and XIX are part of 12 broods of periodical cicadas that emerge every 17 years, from mid-May to late June. What makes this year’s event even more significant is that these broods haven’t emerged...
COLUMBUS, Ohio–Are you a home baker ready to sell your baked goods? Maybe you’re a farmer looking for value-added opportunities for crops you’ve grown or livestock you’ve raised? Or maybe you’re an entrepreneur aiming to use local agricultural products to make value-added foods to sell?
If so, then the new Food Business Central online course offered by The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) can help equip you with the knowledge and strategies to launch a successful farm-raised or home-based food business in Ohio.
Created by Ohio State University Extension educators and specialists in family and consumer sciences (FCS), the online course is designed to serve as a centralized hub to connect...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
