COLUMBUS, Ohio — For 75 years, Ohio State’s Poultry Science Club has made Thanksgiving a little more meaningful for the Buckeye community — and for the next generation of poultry industry leaders — with its annual Turkey Sale.
Whether you’re picking up a turkey, volunteering with friends or just soaking up the holiday spirit, students in The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) say the Turkey Sale is a true highlight of autumn.
As club members prepare for the sale, the event’s impact stretches far beyond selling birds: It fuels hands-on learning, builds lifelong friendships and funds future career opportunities for students.
Elizabeth Lott, a senior animal sciences major in the CFAES Department...
COLUMBUS — With more than 1.4 million Ohioans relying on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to put food on the table, a recent delay in benefits has cast a shadow of uncertainty across the state, impacting families statewide.
As many households face tough new realities, The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), through its outreach arm, Ohio State University Extension, is stepping up to offer practical solutions, guidance and connections to food assistance.
Throughout Ohio, OSU Extension is working tirelessly to link families to food resources; share education on healthy and affordable eating; and provide support through partnerships with local pantries, food banks and community organizations.
“...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — When the weather turns, farmers aren’t the only ones who need to know what’s happening on the ground.
In some of Ohio’s most rural counties — especially across the northwest, northeast and southeast — radar and satellite tools often scan too high or too far to detect what matters most: soil moisture at the root zone, wind gusts at field level or storms forming just above the tree line.
These regions also tend to have the weakest radar coverage, leaving dangerous gaps in the state’s ability to monitor flash flooding, damaging winds and fast-developing severe storms. Without localized data, farmers and emergency managers are forced to make critical decisions with limited information — putting crop yields and public...
Just how many species of bees live in Ohio? Based on other states, estimates land between 400 and 450. Until recently, there hasn’t been a way to be sure.
Thanks to the Ohio Biodiversity Conservation Partnership (OBCP), the Ohio Bee Survey is entering its fifth year of data collection. More than 330 species of bees have been collected either in water bowls or nets, including almost 50 “specialist” species.
“Specialist bees have narrow diets, restricting their pollen collection to a few plant species, and often exhibit specific habitat associations, too,” said Karen Goodell, a professor at The Ohio State University Newark and a member of OBCP. “We’ve collected a ton of ecological data over the last few years about these rare...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A high-stakes Supreme Court case about presidential tariff authority could dramatically influence U.S. trade policy, with immediate repercussions for Ohio farmers — especially soybean producers already facing tight margins during harvest.
In a recent legal and economic analysis, Is There a Legal Basis for ‘Liberation Day’ Tariffs?, Ian Sheldon, professor and holder of The Andersons Endowed Chair in Agricultural Marketing, Trade and Policy at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), examines the constitutional challenges surrounding the tariffs and their broader implications for trade and domestic agriculture.
“The Court of International Trade ruled that imposition of the tariffs...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — After a growing season marked by delayed planting and dry conditions, Ohioans heading to pumpkin patches this fall may notice slightly smaller pumpkins — and possibly slightly higher prices.
Despite weather-related challenges, pumpkin quality remains strong, according to experts from The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). But variability in yield and shifting market forces could impact availability and price as the season reaches its peak.
“Ohio’s pumpkin yield should be average to slightly below average this year due to hot, dry conditions during key growth stages,” said Jim Jasinski, a professor and integrated pest management program coordinator, agriculture and natural resources,...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Lyme disease is on the rise, invasive ticks are spreading and Ohio leads the nation in La Crosse virus cases caused by infected mosquitos. To help protect people and livestock, researchers at The Ohio State University have helped launch a new digital resource that delivers prevention strategies and science-based solutions directly to those who need them most.
Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) and Ohio State University Extension helped lead development of the new national VECTOR Library — short for “Vector Education, Communication and Training Online Resources.” OSU Extension is CFAES’ outreach arm.
The VECTOR Library is a centralized, publicly accessible digital platform offering more...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — What do soil health, food safety and honeybee survival have in common?
They’re just a few of the critical areas where faculty in The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) are driving global progress — and now, 23 of those researchers have been named among the most influential scientists in the world.
The 2025 World’s Top 2% Scientists list, compiled by Stanford University and Elsevier, ranks researchers whose work is among the most cited by peers worldwide. The recognition places CFAES faculty in an elite tier of global scholarship, where their discoveries are shaping the future of food, agriculture and environmental sustainability.
“This recognition is a prestigious feather in...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Cutting boards, countertops and conveyor belts in food plants can become hidden sources of bacteria, even after cleaning. These high-touch surfaces face constant rubbing, cleaning and abrasion, making it hard to keep bacteria at bay.
A new study from The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) shows that a specially designed antimicrobial coating can continue working on these high-touch surfaces even after repeated wear, offering a potential new tool to help stop foodborne illnesses before they start.
The study, led by Melvin Pascall, professor in the CFAES Department of Food Science and Technology, was published in the Journal of Food Safety in August. The research evaluated how long an antimicrobial coating...
COLUMBUS, Ohio — As consumers stock up on Halloween candy this fall, they may notice a little less chocolate in their trick-or-treat bags — and a little more strain on their wallets.
A complex global story of crop failures, climate change, international tariffs and price volatility lies behind this year’s Halloween treats — driving up costs and reshaping the economics of America’s favorite holiday indulgence.
In a recent market analysis, Trick-or-Treat Trends: U.S. Chocolate Market Panorama for Halloween 2025, Alexis Villacis, an assistant professor of agricultural economics in The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES), outlines the pressures facing chocolate manufacturers this season and the broader...
