State House District 6

Garden challenge helps Oregon families grow food, skills and health

Oregon ranks high in fruit and vegetable consumption, but many households, classrooms and community sites still struggle to grow and use produce year-round. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted a clear need for simple, bilingual, ...

Nov 2025 | Impact Story

Master Gardener volunteers grow food, knowledge and community across Oregon

In 2024, Oregon State University Extension Service Master Gardener volunteers met Oregonians where they were. Across the state, people were looking for affordable, healthy food, practical and culturally meaningful gardening education, ...

Nov 2025 | Impact Story

Master Woodland Managers strengthen Oregon forests

Oregon has about 44,000 private woodland owners managing 3.5 million acres of forestland. These lands make up 12% of the state’s forests and contribute to economic vitality and environmental health. The program equips landowners ...

Sep 2025 | Impact Story

OSU Extension enhances mental health support for rural Oregonians

Farmers and ranchers face intense stress from crop failures, market changes, unpredictable weather, injuries and more. These pressures contribute to rising rates of depression — and, too often, suicide. According to the Centers for...

Jul 2025 | Impact Story

OSU helps develop high-tech solutions for Pacific Northwest fruit orchards

Pear, cherry and apple production is vital to Oregon’s rural economy, valued at a combined $200 million in 2022. But the industry faces serious challenges: climate change, rising costs, labor shortages and stricter regulations. ...

Jun 2025 | Impact Story

Oregon’s wine industry benefits from OSU research and outreach

Oregon’s wine industry is known for producing high-quality wines and a wide variety of grape cultivars. Since commercial production began in the 1960s, the state has earned a strong reputation, ranking fourth in the United ...

Jun 2025 | Impact Story

OSU collaboration leads to investment in resilient food systems in Oregon

Oregon’s farmers continue to suffer losses from drought, heat waves, wildfire and other climate-related challenges. Traditional crop insurance and relief programs often don’t meet the needs of small-scale farmers who grow a wide ...

May 2025 | Impact Story

OSU Honey Bee Lab supports pollinator health, saving beekeepers millions

Honey bees are essential pollinators for crops like apples, blueberries, cherries, melons, almonds and broccoli. In the United States, they contribute an estimated $20 billion in crop pollination each year. But over the past 50 ...

May 2025 | Impact Story

Oregon IPM Center leads the way to better pest management

Pesticides are commonly used in agriculture to manage serious pest problems. But not all pesticides carry the same level of risk. Broad-spectrum pesticides can affect earthworms, birds and other beneficial species. Some can also ...

May 2025 | Impact Story

Student teams support watershed monitoring in Jackson County

Across Jackson County and much of Oregon, restoration and conservation projects often outpace the available funding and staff capacity to monitor them effectively. At the same time, high school students might lack awareness of ...

Apr 2025 | Impact Story