Western

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 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 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

Olea project supports development of Oregon’s olive industry

Interest in growing olives — a high-value specialty crop — is increasing in Oregon. However, research-based information on cultivar selection and production practices for the state is limited. Primary challenges include damage from...

Mar 2026 | Impact Story

OSU symposium strengthens Oregon pasture resilience

Pasture, hay and forage crops cover a large share of Oregon’s agricultural landscape. In 2024, growers harvested more than 1 million acres of hay and grazed more than 250,000 acres of irrigated pastureland. Even so, forage ...

Mar 2026 | Impact Story

OSU Extension partners to launch Oakridge school garden

School gardens can strengthen food security in rural, food-insecure communities by increasing access to fresh produce while helping students learn practical skills tied to agriculture, nutrition and environmental stewardship. In addition ...

Mar 2026 | Impact Story

OSU survey guides weed strategy for vegetable seed production

Vegetable specialty seed production is a cornerstone of agriculture in the Pacific Northwest. More than 170 seed crops — including brassicas, spinach, radish, carrot, onion and many others — are grown on relatively small ...

Mar 2026 | Impact Story

OSU Extension meets growing demand for safe home food preservation

Nearly all U.S. households use some form of food preservation to extend the shelf life of perishable foods, stretch food budgets and prevent waste. A 2024 nationwide survey found that 49% of households preserved food through ...

Mar 2026 | Impact Story