Agricultural Experiment Station

OSU study helps hemp growers save water without sacrificing CBD yield

Floral hemp production expanded rapidly after the 2018 federal farm bill, but practical production guidelines have lagged, especially in semi-arid regions where water is limited and irrigation costs are rising. Many growers assumed ...

Mar 2026 | Impact Story

OSU Extension helps Josephine County growers use soil tests

When Oregon State University Extension Service resumed in Josephine County in 2025 after a brief gap in local support, many growers and landowners had limited recent experience working with Extension. By offering accessible, locally...

Mar 2026 | Impact Story

OSU studies reveal hemp byproduct shows promise as cattle feed

Oregon’s hemp industry generates a large volume of spent hemp biomass — the leftover plant material after cannabidiol is extracted. The material has a strong nutrient profile and could serve as a cost-competitive alternative to...

Feb 2026 | Impact Story

OSU research shows seasonal farm practices influence raw milk quality

Raw milk naturally contains microorganisms. Most are harmless, but higher microbial levels can shorten shelf life, complicate processing and signal hygiene problems that raise costs for farms and processors. For Oregon’s dairy ...

Feb 2026 | Impact Story

OSU research shows smarter ways to manage a costly berry pest

Spotted-wing drosophila is a small fruit fly that can ruin berries right before harvest. Unlike the fruit flies many people know from kitchens, it can lay eggs in firm, ripening fruit still on the plant. The eggs hatch into...

Feb 2026 | Impact Story

OSU tests vineyard spray to help protect wine grapes from wildfire smoke

Wildfire smoke is a growing risk for wine grapes in Oregon and across the West. When smoke reaches vineyards near harvest, grapes can take in smoke compounds that later affect wine flavor and aroma. In bad years, growers ...

Feb 2026 | Impact Story

OSU research could help prevent Listeria growth in queso fresco

Fresh Hispanic-style cheeses are a growing part of the U.S. dairy market, but they have also been tied to repeated Listeria monocytogenes outbreaks and recalls. The risk is straightforward. Listeria can survive in the cold and, ...

Feb 2026 | Impact Story

OSU studies reveal when and how carrot disease spreads

In the high desert of Central Oregon, farmers produce some of the world’s most valuable hybrid carrot seed. But their fields face a persistent and costly threat: a plant disease called bacterial blight, caused by the ...

Feb 2026 | Impact Story

OSU Extension aids vegetable farmers exploring Asian crops

Vegetable farmers in Oregon’s Willamette Valley face growing pressure to stay profitable. Labor shortages, high costs and new regulations have added challenges for producers already competing with low-priced imports. At the same ...

Dec 2025 | Impact Story

OSU survey highlights weed challenges in Oregon agriculture

Weeds pose a serious threat to Oregon agriculture. They reduce yields, lower seed and grain quality, and can keep shipments from meeting market standards. This challenge is statewide although its impacts vary by region. The ...

Oct 2025 | Impact Story