COLUMBUS, Ohio — Gabriel E. Lade has been appointed to a five-year term as the holder of the C. William Swank Chair in Rural-Urban Policy at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), pending final approval by The Ohio State University Board of Trustees.
This prestigious appointment recognizes Lade’s outstanding research and leadership in agricultural, environmental, and rural-urban economics. As the newest faculty member in the CFAES Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics (AEDE), Lade brings to the role a national reputation for impactful research, a strong commitment to student mentorship, and a collaborative spirit.
“Dr. Lade is a leading voice in understanding the...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Michelle Anderson, program manager in the Office of Faculty and Staff Affairs at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), and Jesse Buxton, fiscal officer for Ohio State University Extension, have been named recipients of Ohio State’s 2025 Distinguished Staff Award — the university’s highest staff recognition.
Presented annually to only 12 individuals across Ohio State, the Distinguished Staff Award honors exceptional staff whose outstanding service, leadership, and dedication embody the university’s shared values.
Michelle Anderson: A transformative leader in faculty and staff support
Since joining CFAES in 2019, Anderson has played a vital role in strengthening faculty and staff...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — It wasn’t your average day of leadership training.
There were no lectures, no slideshows — just 23 high school students, nine agricultural professionals, and a high-stakes simulation designed to challenge how the next generation of agricultural leaders think, collaborate, and lead.
The result?
A bold new approach to learning, where Ohio 4-H youth joined forces with industry mentors to tackle real-world issues in agriculture during the first youth-focused “Wargame” event at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).
The March 7 event was led by Campbell Reese, a 17-year-old Geauga County 4-H member and National 4-H Council Roth Scholar, as part of her capstone project with the...
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Brian E. Roe, the Fred N. VanBuren Professor of Farm Management and associate chair in The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics (AEDE), has earned one of The Ohio State University’s highest faculty honors: the 2025 Distinguished Scholar Award.
Senior leadership from the Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge (ERIK) surprised Roe with the award, which recognizes faculty who demonstrate exceptional scholarly activity, research impact, and creative work that brings distinction to the university.
Roe is widely regarded as a global leader in food waste research. His pioneering use of behavioral economics in agricultural,...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — What do the clothes we wear have to do with saving the planet?
For Earth Day 2025, The Ohio State University’s Environmental Professionals Network (EPN) invites the public to explore the answer — by tracing the journey of natural fibers from farm to fashion.
Hosted at the Fawcett Center on April 21, the evening before Earth Day, the EPN Signature Earth Day Event will highlight the sustainability stories of four key natural fibers: wool, cotton, hemp, and flax. The event, “Farm to fashion: Natural Fiber Footprints and Futures,” is free and open to the public, with both in-person and livestream attendance options.
“I’m thrilled to host the 2025 EPN Signature Earth Day Event — my first as EPN director,” said...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio’s agricultural producers could soon be feeling the sting of escalating global trade tensions, as U.S. tariff policies evolve and foreign retaliation ramps up.
Ian Sheldon, a professor in The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) and holder of The Andersons Endowed Chair in Agricultural Marketing, Trade, and Policy in the CFAES Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics, is closely monitoring the unfolding situation.
He’ll present his insights on April 18 during the Ohio Food Policy Network’s virtual convening in a talk titled, “Current U.S. Trade Policy: What Impact?” Sheldon, an internationally recognized expert in agricultural economics, will offer...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering (FABE) within both the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) and College of Engineering at The Ohio State University has been ranked ninth in the nation among graduate programs by U.S. News & World Report in its 2025-2026 Best Biological /Agricultural Engineering Graduate Programs rankings, released this week.
This prestigious recognition reflects FABE’s continued excellence in advancing the science and application of engineering in systems involving food, agriculture, and the environment.
“The ranking is not only a sign of our dedicated faculty, but also a testament to the work that our students are doing,” said Scott Shearer, professor and chair...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — With the Neopestalotiopsis fungal disease — commonly called “Neo-P”—affecting strawberry supply chains and crop yields, Ohioans may notice a shortage of locally grown strawberries this year, said Melanie L. Lewis Ivey, associate professor of fruit pathology in the Department of Plant Pathology at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).
“Consumers can expect that there will be a limited supply of Ohio-grown strawberries this year,” Lewis Ivey said. “Based on reduced supply, the price of strawberries may be higher than in previous years.”
With limited fungicide options and no resistant strawberry varieties available, growers are turning to CFAES for critical...
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Mosquitoes have been transmitting the West Nile virus to humans in the United States for over 25 years, but we still don’t know precisely how the virus cycles through these pests and the other animals they bite.
A federally funded project aims to help pin down the process by using mathematical models to analyze how factors like temperature, light pollution, and bird and mosquito abundance affect West Nile virus transmission. The ultimate goal is to advise health departments of the best time of year to kill the bugs.
“I’m hopeful that what we will uncover in this grant will help us to better understand what’s driving West Nile virus transmission, and seasonal cycles of transmission, so we can determine when and where to...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Backyard poultry keeping is gaining popularity across Ohio as more residents discover the benefits of raising chickens.
Whether for a fresh supply of eggs, the fun of caring for animals, or the satisfaction of growing their own food, many are finding chickens to be a rewarding addition to their homes. As more communities consider or implement regulations allowing urban and suburban homeowners to raise chickens, the trend is only expected to grow.
To address this growing interest, The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) is supporting new poultry keepers through an online educational resource.
Ohio State University Extension, CFAES’ outreach arm, has developed the Backyard Poultry Certificate Course...
