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

Klamath County families grow gardening skills at hands-on event

In recent years, global disruptions and rising grocery costs have motivated many families to seek more sustainable ways of living — starting with growing their own food. But gardening in Klamath County isn’t always easy. With...

Jun 2025 | Impact Story

OSU Extension helps lead septic and well repair efforts in Lincoln County

The Echo Mountain Complex wildfire ignited in Lincoln County on Labor Day weekend in 2020, destroying about 400 homes in and around the Otis community. Hundreds of families were left displaced. Most properties were in ...

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

Oregon Sea Grant-Travel Oregon collaboration promotes outdoor recreation guide certification

Tourism is one of Oregon’s largest economic sectors, with guided tours playing a crucial role in the tourism and outdoor recreation industry. Guides, such as fishing guides, along with visitors and residents, significantly impact ...

Jun 2025 | Impact Story

OSU efforts help growers spot and manage soilborne wheat mosaic virus

The direct value of the wheat harvest in Oregon in 2022 was approximately $431 million, ranking sixth in value among the state's agricultural commodities. That economic weight means growers stay vigilant against threats to yield ...

May 2025 | Impact Story

OSU rangeland researchers help mitigate spread of invasive grasses

Invasive annual grasses are a growing threat to the Great Basin desert ecosystem which includes much of Eastern Oregon. These grasses — such as medusahead, cheatgrass and ventenata — displace native plants, reduce habitat ...

May 2025 | Impact Story

OSU study reveals benefits of crop rotation and no-till wheat farming in northeast Oregon

In the drylands of Eastern Oregon, wheat farming is a way of life — and growers are looking for ways to replenish stored soil carbon and improve soil health in their fields. Oregon State University researchers at the ...

May 2025 | Impact Story

OSU builds partnerships to conserve the sagebrush ecosystem

Oregon’s sagebrush ecosystem has declined by about 50% over the past 150 years due to invasive annual grasses, increased wildfire activity and encroaching conifers. This large-scale habitat loss has contributed to declines in ...

May 2025 | Impact Story

Free OSU Extension webinars help rural land buyers avoid surprises

Many Oregonians dream of owning rural land — imagining peaceful landscapes, self-sufficiency or even starting a small farm. However, the reality of rural property ownership often comes with surprises. New landowners may not be ...

May 2025 | Impact Story

OSU helps sustain success of Oregon’s onion industry

Oregon ranks among the top three onion-producing states in the United States, cultivating over 1.5 billion pounds of onions in 2020 across approximately 20,000 acres, primarily in Malheur, Morrow and Umatilla counties. The Snake ...

May 2025 | Impact Story