COLUMBUS, Ohio — With egg prices soaring due to supply chain disruptions and avian flu impacts, many consumers are looking for ways to stretch their egg supply while ensuring food safety. Experts at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) offer key insights into safe egg storage, viable substitutes, and the economic factors behind the price hikes.
Maximizing egg shelf life
Proper storage is essential to keeping eggs fresh for as long as possible. According to Ahmed E. Yousef, the Virginia Hutchison Bazler and Frank E. Bazler Chair in Food Science, refrigeration is critical.
“In grocery stores, eggs are kept refrigerated, and they should remain refrigerated at home,” Yousef said. “Eggs can be stored beyond...
COLUMBUS, Ohio – In a year marked by extreme weather events — including Ohio’s historic drought and the chilling cold of a polar vortex that brought temperatures feeling as low as -20 degrees across much of the state — Ohio State’s Improving Weather and Climate Understanding in Ohio program is expanding its reach with a new online course.
What started as a statewide effort to bring weather and climate education to Ohio is now broadening accessibility to even more educators, environmental professionals, and students.
After taking the state by storm with in-person workshops, the program is launching a self-paced online course starting Feb. 18, 2025. The course, Weather, Climate, and Climate Change for Ohio’s Environmental and Natural Resources...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — High school students passionate about solving global challenges are invited to participate in the 2025 Ohio Youth Institute (OYI) on April 14 at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).
Hosted in partnership with the World Food Prize Foundation, this program offers students the opportunity to explore critical issues like hunger, poverty, and sustainability while presenting their research alongside experts and peers from around the world, said Margo Overholt-Seckel, program manager for Ohio 4-H Workforce Development and Pathways, and coordinator for the OYI.
During the event, students present their research on global food security issues and propose innovative solutions. In addition to developing valuable...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Registration is now open for the Ohio 4-H Spark EXPO, offering high school students a unique opportunity to explore a variety of career pathways on June 11–14 at The Ohio State University Columbus campus.
“Spark EXPO offers students an invaluable chance to discover and explore career opportunities through engaging, hands-on experiences that inspire growth and confidence,” said Margo Overholt-Seckel, program manager for Ohio 4-H Workforce Development and Pathways. “It’s exciting to see participants uncover new interests, build essential skills, and form connections that set them on the path to a successful future.”
Hosted by Ohio 4-H youth development, part of Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recent decision to ban Red No. 3 — a synthetic dye linked to cancer in animal studies — may leave some food manufacturers searching for safer alternatives. Groundbreaking research from The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) offers a promising solution.
Monica Giusti, a distinguished professor and associate department chair in the CFAES Department of Food Science and Technology, has pioneered research on anthocyanins — natural pigments responsible for the vibrant hues in fruits like blackberries, red cabbage, and grapes. These compounds present an exciting opportunity to replace synthetic dyes while potentially offering health benefits....
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Virgil Strickler, who retired in February 2024 as the longest-serving general manager in the history of the Ohio Expo Center and Ohio State Fair, was honored with The Ohio State University’s 2024 Distinguished Service Award during autumn commencement exercises Sunday, December 15, 2024, at the Jerome Schottenstein Center.
Strickler’s career has been defined by his unwavering commitment to Ohio’s agricultural youth. He is best known for his leadership of the Ohio State Fair and for creating the nationally recognized Youth Reserve Program, which has awarded more than $4.6 million in scholarships to over 44,500 youth exhibitors since 1995. In 2023, the program was renamed the “Virgil L. Strickler Youth Reserve Program” to honor...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Jan. 14 Environmental Professionals Network (EPN) breakfast program will offer strategies to limit the release of methane into the atmosphere.
The EPN — a service of The School of Environment and Natural Resources at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences — is kicking off its 2025 breakfast program series with “Moo-ving Methane: Converting Ohio’s dairy farm manure into an energy source.” The event will address the need for innovative solutions that can mitigate the impact of methane dairy farming on our climate.
“The breakfast panel will feature speakers from all sides of Ohio’s climate-smart agricultural network, including farmers, energy providers, and researchers,...
WOOSTER, Ohio — What’s in a Christmas tree?
For researchers at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), it’s decades of exploration and study, tree breeding, and a deep commitment to growing the perfect conifer. This holiday season, their hard work is taking root in a new initiative: the Ohio State CFAES Demonstration Christmas Tree Farm on the CFAES Wooster campus.
While the farm is still in the works, excitement is already growing.
Spanning 6.5 acres at Secrest Arboretum, this new farm will serve as an educational hub for Ohio’s Christmas tree growers. The project will focus on helping new and experienced growers alike learn best practices for tree farming, from planting to pruning. It’s a place...
Columbus, OH — Travis West, Ohio State University Extension educator for Ohio 4-H youth development in Vinton County, was the recipient of the Charles W. Lifer Excellence in 4-H Award at the 2024 OSU Extension conference. Named in honor of and sponsored by the former state 4-H leader, the Charles W. Lifer Excellence in 4-H Award is presented annually to an Ohio 4-H educator who has demonstrated exceptional achievements in their career and has made a major contribution to 4-H programs.
West has done just that, impacting the lives of thousands of youths through community clubs, SPIN clubs, school programs, and camps.
A Vinton County 4-H volunteer commented, “Over my years of involvement with the 4-H program, one thing has remained the same: Travis’ determination to...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — As Ohio’s agricultural community prepares for 2025, many farmers, growers, producers, and agribusinesses face continued economic pressures, including declining commodity prices, rising production costs, and ongoing uncertainty in trade and labor markets, according to agricultural economists from The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).
Adapting to these challenges will require strategic planning and proactive steps, said Ian Sheldon, CFAES professor and holder of The Andersons Endowed Chair in Agricultural Marketing, Trade, and Policy in the CFAES Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics (AEDE).
“Farmers will face a tough year as commodity prices remain low and...
