Extension Service

The Oregon State University Extension Service provides practical, research-based information and engages learners, partners, and volunteers in communities across Oregon to meet local challenges and help every Oregonian thrive.

Our programs, partnerships and volunteer opportunities are focused on:

  • Healthy communities and economies
  • Resilient and productive forestry and natural ecosystems
  • Sustainable agriculture, food systems, and gardening
  • Thriving youth, individuals and families

Willamette River Basin symposium renews planning and collaboration

The Willamette River Basin is Oregon’s most populated watershed and supports much of the state’s agriculture, industry, transportation and fish and wildlife habitat. In the coming decades, the basin is expected to face increasing...

May 2026 | Impact Story

Partnerships improve wildfire preparedness in Washington County

Washington County faces increasing wildfire risk as development expands into fire-prone areas, fuels accumulate and climate conditions change. These efforts reduce the likelihood and severity of future wildfire impacts, helping communities...

May 2026 | Impact Story

4-H partnership creates belonging for Oregon's military-connected youths

Oregon hosts U.S. Army and Air National Guard, Army Reserve and U.S. Coast Guard operations. More than 2,000 children with active-duty military parents and more than 7,200 children with parents in the National Guard or military ...

May 2026 | Impact Story

OSU research shows biochar benefits persist over time

Dryland wheat production is a cornerstone of agriculture in Eastern Oregon, where growers operate in a semiarid climate with limited rainfall and narrow margins for managing soil moisture, fertility and crop risk. By showing that ...

May 2026 | Impact Story

OSU study shows smoke stresses calves

Oregon’s cattle industry is a major part of the state’s agricultural economy. The Oregon Department of Agriculture ranks cattle and calves as Oregon’s No. 2 agricultural commodity, with a production value of about $791.5 ...

May 2026 | Impact Story

Wider spacing helps Oregon nurseries slow boxwood blight

Boxwood blight causes serious losses in nursery production by making plants unsalable and increasing management costs. Oregon is the nation’s leading producer of boxwood, supplying about one-fifth of the U.S. market, so disease ...

May 2026 | Impact Story

OSU builds high-tech tools for orchard growers

Pear, cherry and apple production are vital to Oregon’s rural economy, with cherry production valued at $68 million and pear production at $90.8 million. But the tree fruit industry faces growing pressure from climate change, ...

May 2026 | Impact Story

Clatsop students explore forestry careers outdoors

Clatsop County is 87% forestland, with a mix of public and private ownership. Though the area is rich in natural resources, many local students and families may not be aware of the career opportunities nearby. The program ...

May 2026 | Impact Story

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

Landowners expand prescribed fire use in Eastern Oregon

More than a century of fire exclusion has reshaped forests and rangelands across Eastern Oregon. Without regular low-intensity fire, fuels have built up, increasing the risk of larger, more severe wildfires. Community-led burning ...

Apr 2026 | Impact Story