About Us

More than 110 years ago farmers and ranchers of the Rogue River Valley welcomed the people and expertise of Oregon’s land grant college, Oregon State University. The practical knowledge and applied scienti­fic research of OSU experts helped establish the Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center (SOREC) and placed Jackson County prominently on America’s agricultural map.

Southern Oregon Research & Extension Center was formed in 1994 when the "Southern Oregon Experiment Station" was combined with the "Jackson County Extension Service".

FUNDING: An important partner, Jackson County provides the land, buildings, building maintenance, office supplies and clerical support for the county extension agents, scientists and research assistants located at the facility. The federal government, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, supports state and local projects with grants and pays a portion of the statewide program and faculty costs. Other grants and research contracts also support the varied extension and research programs.

Our Mission: Contribute significantly to the sustainability and profitability of agriculture and the quality of life in southwest Oregon. We accomplish this through applied research and by delivering objective, research-based information to help local citizens solve problems, develop leadership skills, maintain economic vitality, promote community health and well-being, and manage resources wisely.

Historical Land Acknowledgement: The OSU-Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center (SOREC) near Medford, OR is located within the traditional homelands of the Takelma people. Takelma means “Those along the river” and they lived along the Rogue River and its tributaries, including evidence of seasonal communities along Jackson Creek on present-day SOREC.  The Takelma were displaced during rapid Euroamerican colonization and armed conflict during 1852-1856. Survivors were forcibly removed to the central Oregon coast and the Willamette Valley.  Today, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians identify their members as living descendants of the Takelma.

  Information Sheet