Central

Virtual babysitter training provided by OSU Extension helps address Oregon's child care gap

Quality child care remains in short supply in Oregon. A 2019 report from Oregon State University found that child care “deserts” existed in all 36 of the state’s counties. During the COVID-19 pandemic many youths were ...

Apr 2023 | Impact Story

OSU Extension Fire Program steps up for landowners after wildfires

Westside Oregon landscapes that typically don’t see frequent wildfire events were hit hard by the 2020 Labor Day fires. Fueled by dry conditions and fierce east winds, the westside fires burned over one million acres and ...

Dec 2020 | Impact Story

Food Hero Bingo fosters healthy behavior changes outside of school

Many Oregon families struggle to get their kids to build healthy habits outside of school. In Oregon, nearly 12% youth ages 10 to 17 are obese, ranking 43rd in the United States and District of Columbia, according to the ...

Oct 2020 | Impact Story

Producing a weed-mapping tool that helps growers with their bottom line

Battling weed infestations on farms is an ongoing fight that is often reactive instead of proactive. Weeds begin to grow as irregular patches and then can expand to the entire field, where they become more difficult to ...

Sep 2020 | Impact Story

OSU plant pathologists monitor new wheat virus

Wheat in Oregon is a $300 million industry, and a $2 billion industry in the Pacific Northwest, so growers keep an eye out for diseases that can affect their yield and quality. Soilborne wheat mosaic virus is responsible ...

Sep 2020 | Impact Story

Rangeland faculty help mitigate spread of invasive grasses

Invasive annual grasses are a threat to the Great Basin desert ecosystem that includes much of eastern Oregon. They compromise habitat diversity for important wildlife species such as the greater sage-grouse. They shorten the ...

Aug 2020 | Impact Story

Oregon Tech Trek results in increased interest among girls in STEM careers

STEM careers are among the fastest-growing and highest-paying in the United States, yet they are still dominated by men, particularly computer science (26% female) and engineering (12% female). Research has shown that females and ...

Jun 2020 | Impact Story

OSU Extension leads effort to bring Blue Zones Project to The Dalles

Like many communities across the United States, The Dalles has struggled with the health and well-being of its residents. By many measurements, access to nutritious food, good health care and fitness opportunities fell short in ...

May 2020 | Impact Story

OSU wheat and barley field trial helps growers make annual variety choices

In 2020, wheat was Oregon's sixth-largest commodity, with a value at the farm gate of $273.7 million. While barley production is substantially lower than wheat production, the grain is an important rotation crop in many parts ...

Feb 2021 | Impact Story

High Desert Garden Tour educates gardeners on growing conditions

Gardeners in the fast-growing high desert of Central Oregon encounter a short growing season, limited precipitation, frost any day of the year, and lackluster soil. Both ornamentals and food are a challenge to raise successfully. ...

Apr 2024 | Impact Story