Research in the College of Agricultural Sciences

Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station (OAES)

The Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station 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. We have 11 stations in 13 locations and more than 400 scientists in 28 academic disciplines working across the state. Last year, AES brought in more than $55 million in federal research funding.

 

Branch Experiment Stations 

Station directors 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.

Station Directors & Info

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Sharing Knowledge

The knowledge generated by Station research is taught to students and shared with 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, and then input from the community and other stakeholders are fed back to our researchers. The Statewide Public Service programs (OAES and Extension, along with the Forestry Research Laboratory) are the engines helping to rebuild Oregon’s economy.

Reaching Out

Our scientists work with agriculture and food industries, natural resource entities, and others at the state and local level  to ensure they are addressing the most pressing and important needs of today and for 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.

Serving Oregon

As the state's Land Grant University, Oregon State University was created to serve the needs of the people. State support for higher education was first offered in Oregon in 1868, and permanent adoption of Corvallis College as Oregon’s agricultural college came in 1870.  Agricultural and natural resource programs were offered at that time and have been a vital component of faculty research ever since, focusing on one overarching goal -- to improve life for present and future generations of Oregonians. 

History of OAES

Funding & Support

Money for OAES 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 Station Directors & Focus Areas

Central Oregon Agricultural Research and Extension Center (COAREC)
Carol Tollefson, Director
Madras & Powell Butte
Focus: Irrigated Crops, alternative crop production, diseases and pests

Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station (COMES)
Christina DeWitt, Interim Director
Newport
Focus: Production and use of food products from the ocean and estuaries

OSU Seafood Laboratory
Christina DeWitt, Director
Astoria
Focus: Production and use of food products from the ocean and estuaries

Columbia Basin Agricultural Research Center  (CBARC)
Mary Corp, Director
Pendleton & Moro
Focus: Dryland cereal cropping systems, tillage and soil management, alternative crops

Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center (EOARC)
David Bohnert, Director
Burns
Focus: Rangelend ecology, livestock management, wildlife

Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center (EOARC)
David Bohnert, Director
Union
Focus: Rangelend ecology, livestock management, wildlife

Food Innovation Center (FIC)
Dave Stone, Director
Portland
Focus: Food procession and packaging technology, food product development and marketing, consumer analysis

Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center (HAREC)
Clive Kaiser, Interim Director
Hermiston
Focus: Irrigated crops, cereals and forage production

Klamath Basin Research and Extension Center (KBREC)
Brian Charlton, Director
Klamath Falls
Focus: Potatoes, forage and cereal production

Malheur Experiment Station (MES)
Stuart Reitz, Director
Ontario
Focus: Irrigated field crops, vegetable production, weed control

Mid-Columbia Agricultural Research and Extension Center (MCAREC)
Steve Castagnoli, Director
Hood River
Focus: Pear, cherry and apple production, postharvest storage and handling, integrated production practices

North Willamette Research and Extension Center (NWREC)
Michael Bondi, Director
Aurora
Focus: Ornamental and nursery crops, small fruits and vegetable production

Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center (SOREC)
Richard Roseberg, Director
Central Point (Medford area)
Focus: Tree fruits, vegetable and seed crop production, integrated production practices