College of Agricultural Sciences

About the OSU College of Agricultural Sciences: Through its world-class research on agriculture and food systems, natural resource management, rural economic development and human health, the College provides solutions to Oregon’s most pressing challenges and contributes to a sustainable environment and a prosperous future for Oregonians.

Pacific coast gray whales have gotten 13% shorter in the past 20-30 years, Oregon State study finds

NEWPORT, Oregon — Gray whales that spend their summers feeding in the shallow waters off the Pacific Northwest coast have undergone a significant decline in body length since around the year 2000, a new Oregon State University study found.

The smaller size could have major consequences for the health and reproductive success of the affected whales, and also raises alarm bells about the state of the food web in which they coexist, researchers say.

New OSU study values annual economic impact of Willamette Valley agritourism at nearly $1 billion

CORVALLIS, Ore. – A new, first-of-its-kind economic analysis finds that the annual economic impact of agritourism in Oregon’s Willamette Valley is nearly $1 billion.

The Oregon State University Extension Service and the OSU College of Agricultural Sciences produced “An Initial Economic Impact Estimate of Agritourism in Oregon's Willamette Valley,” which quantifies the economic effects of agritourism on the region’s farms and communities.

Oregon State receives $10 million grant to work with 13 Native American Tribes on hemp economic development

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University’s Global Hemp Innovation Center has received a $10 million grant to work with 13 Native American Tribes to spur economic development in the western United States by developing manufacturing capabilities for materials and products made from hemp.

Even very low levels of pesticide exposure can affect fish for generations, study finds

NEWPORT, Ore. — Fish exposed to some pesticides at extremely low concentrations for a brief period of time can demonstrate lasting behavioral changes, with the impact extending to offspring that were never exposed firsthand, a recent study found.

The findings raise concerns not just for fish, but for all vertebrates that are exposed to commonly used pesticides — including humans, said study co-author Susanne Brander, an associate professor and ecotoxicologist in Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center.  

Oregon State receives $3.5 million grant to develop barley varieties for chefs, brewers, farmers

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University will use a $3.5 million grant to lead a multi-state effort focused on developing new varieties of naked or hulless barley that appeal to chefs, brewers, distillers and farmers.

Most barley has a tough, unpalatable outer hull around the barley kernel that must be removed before the barley can be eaten. This process strips away most of the micronutrients and means it can no longer be called a whole grain.

Spray coating for grapes shows promise in battle between wildfire smoke and wine

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Spray on coatings for grapes in the vineyard have promise in preventing off flavors in wines that result from contact with wildfire smoke, according to new Oregon State University research.

Oregon State researchers are developing a product that vineyard managers could spray onto their grapes to protect from wildfire smoke before it reaches their vines. The researchers expect to have a spray coating to prevent smoke damage available in the next several years.

Scientists collect aardvark poop to understand how the species is impacted by climate in Africa

CORVALLIS, Ore. – In a first-of-its-kind study of aardvarks, Oregon State University researchers spent months in sub-Saharan Africa collecting poop from the animal and concluded that aridification of the landscape is isolating them, which they say could have implications for their long-term survival.

“Everyone had heard of aardvarks and they are considered very ecologically important but there has been little study of them,” said Clint Epps, a wildlife biologist at Oregon State. “We wanted to see if we could collect enough data to begin to understand them.”

Wildfire, drought cause $11.2 billion in damage to private timberland in three Pacific states, study finds

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Wildfires and drought have led to $11.2 billion in damages to privately held timberland in California, Oregon and Washington over the past two decades, a new Oregon State University study found.

That represents about a 10% reduction in the value of private timberland in the three states. Based on recent climate change attribution studies by other scientists, the authors of the study attribute about half of the economic damages to climate change.