State House District 18

OSU research cuts labor costs in blackberry production

Oregon is a leading production state for machine-harvested trailing blackberries, an industry that supports growers, processors and rural communities. ‘Columbia Star’ has quickly become one of the region’s most widely planted ...

Apr 2026 | Impact Story

4-H partnership leads to outdoor school experience for Marion County fifth graders

Many fifth grade students in Marion County have limited access to consistent, hands-on outdoor science learning that connects classroom concepts to local ecosystems. Schools often face constraints related to time, transportation, funding...

Apr 2026 | Impact Story

OSU study links stand spacing to Douglas-fir wood value

Douglas-fir is the backbone of Oregon’s timber industry and a major source of lumber, engineered wood products and manufacturing fiber in the Pacific Northwest. Better knowledge of how spacing affects wood development can help ...

Apr 2026 | Impact Story

OSU helps grow dairy workforce skills and industry investment

Oregon’s dairy industry is a major contributor to the state’s economy, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in annual sales and supporting jobs in production, processing and value-added products. By helping processors meet ...

Apr 2026 | Impact Story

OSU convenes food and beverage industry to reduce waste, drive innovation funding

Oregon’s food and beverage industry is a major economic driver, but it faces growing challenges tied to efficiency, sustainability and coordination across the supply chain. By aligning research with industry needs and building ...

Apr 2026 | Impact Story

OSU pruning research helps hazelnut growers cut losses

Oregon is the center of the U.S. hazelnut industry, and the crop is an important driver of farm income, processing activity and rural economic vitality in the Willamette Valley. Hazelnuts support growers, nurseries, processors, ...

Apr 2026 | Impact Story

OSU Extension develops producer-centered soil health program

Across Oregon, agricultural producers want to improve soil health to strengthen productivity, reduce risk and build resilience. But many still lack practical, trusted guidance to interpret soil health and fertility results and connect...

Apr 2026 | Impact Story

OSU Extension brings gardens and nutrition to classrooms

Many elementary students in Marion County — especially those in urban or dual-language classrooms — have limited opportunities for hands-on science, nutrition and garden-based learning. By responding to county priorities and ...

Apr 2026 | Impact Story

OSU Extension, partners develop strategy for gray-tailed vole control

Gray-tailed voles are a recurring pest in Oregon agriculture and can cause serious crop damage when populations surge. In the Willamette Valley, grass seed fields provide prime habitat. By identifying shared priorities and ...

Mar 2026 | Impact Story

School IPM Program protects health and safety of Oregon children

Asthma is the top cause of absenteeism in U.S. public K–12 schools. In Oregon, common school pests such as mice, cockroaches and flies can trigger asthma and spread diseases including E. coli, Lyme disease and salmonellosis. ...

Mar 2026 | Impact Story