College of Agricultural Sciences

We’re solving real problems for real people where they live and work

Founded in 1888, the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station (OAES) is Oregon’s principal source of knowledge relating to agricultural and food systems, discovering new knowledge to improve quality of life, environmental quality, and economic development in rural and urban communities. Agriculture is a knowledge-based, global enterprise, sustained by the innovation of scientists and educators.

"People and partnerships are the heart of the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station research enterprise.  Oregon producers, processors, marketers and our OSU scientists, technicians, support staff and students are critically important to identifying and solving the agricultural research challenges that confront people today."

Thayne Dutson
Emeritus Dean, OSU College of Agrictulural Science
Emeritus Director, Oregon Agcitultural Experiment Station

“RESEARCH AREAS”

The Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station (OAES) targets research programs that address the five societal challenge areas defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) as well as themes critical to the West and Oregon. 

NIFA Challenge Areas

• Childhood Obesity Prevention
• Climate Change
• Food Safety
• Global Food Security
• Sustainable Bioenergy

Additional Oregon and Western U.S. Themes

• Water and Watersheds or Natural Resources Stewardship
• Basic Plant Biology

Here’s how OAES works: OAES is a statewide research network of Oregon State University scientists working on the Corvallis campus and at branch station facilities throughout the state, all focused on one overarching goal -- to improve life for present and future generations of Oregonians. Our scientists are attached to more than 20 departments within the Colleges of Agricultural Sciences, Science, Veterinary Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Forestry, and Engineering. Our scientists work with the agriculture/food industry, natural resource entities, and others at the local level and statewide to ensure they are addressing the most pressing and important needs today and far into the future. They also work in internationally recognized centers and institutes that address specific research needs, such as diseases in fish in the Pacific Northwest, and critical natural resource issues. In 2010, OAES brought into Oregon more than $55 million in external research funding.

The knowledge generated by Station research is taught to students both in the classroom and in the field and shared with research colleagues and stakeholders through a variety of channels, including publishing in print and on the Web. That knowledge is also brought to the community through OSU Extension Service’s outreach and engagement. The Statewide Public Service programs (OAES and Extension, along with the Forestry Research Laboratory) are the engines rebuilding Oregon’s economy. Knowledge grows from the ground up, from Extension to research and back again.

Money for Station research comes from several sources. The state general fund provides less than 30 percent of the Station’s annual funding. Over 55 percent comes from research grants and contracts from federal and state agencies, private sources and foundations. Other funds come from product sales and service fees.

Branch Experiment Stations

Station directors, headquartered on the OSU campus, coordinate the efforts of scientists based at branch stations and research and extension centers across the state. These far flung branch stations and centers are located in the different soil and climate regimes around the state in order to provide producers with information geared to different growing conditions. ”