Oregon’s cattle industry is a major part of the state’s agricultural economy. The Oregon Department of Agriculture ranks cattle and calves as Oregon’s No. 2 agricultural commodity, with a production value of about $791.5 million in 2024. That economic importance makes it critical to reduce health and productivity losses tied to growing threats such as wildfire smoke.
The sagebrush biome is the largest native ecosystem in North America and one of the most at risk. Altered fire regimes, expanding juniper and invasive annual grasses have made management more difficult across Oregon and the West.
Oregon’s hemp industry generates a large volume of spent hemp biomass — the leftover plant material after cannabidiol is extracted. The material has a strong nutrient profile and could serve as a cost-competitive alternative to other forages and protein sources in cattle diets.
Growing up we always had a variety of animals in our home. I was bonded to all of them, including temporary animal residents we sometimes cared for as they recovered from illness or injury. I knew I wanted to work with animals from a very young age, and there is no doubt that these early experiences contributed to that desire. Each of these animals taught me something important about the capacity we have to cherish our animal companions and motivated me to ask what they need from us in return.
There has been limited Oregon-based research that tracks how seasonal conditions and day-to-day farm decisions influence the mix of bacteria in raw milk over time, especially across both organic and conventional dairies. In response, researchers in Oregon State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences, Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station and OSU Extension Service partnered with seven Oregon dairy farms to examine how raw milk bacteria shift across seasons and management systems.
The sheep and horse centers, two of several Oregon State University agricultural centers, are located a few miles off campus. They employ student workers and engage in research and education activities.
“Our research shows that even subtle environmental cues can shape how people interpret cat emotions,” said Monique Udell, a professor at Oregon State University and lead author of the study. “Understanding these perceptions is important to human-cat interactions and the welfare of cats.”
Oregon State University researcher Dustin Johnson said virtual fencing is being incorporated into the Farm Bill, which could provide federal assistance. “I think we’re at a time where we could see a lot of adoption of this technology,” Johnson added.
The sagebrush ecosystem — a vast, dry landscape that supports hundreds of wildlife species and livelihoods in the West — is shrinking and changing. Livestock grazing is the dominant land-use across much of this ecosystem.
Today’s grazing practices are more precisely managed than in the past, and land and livestock managers need to understand how the timing and presence of cattle affect wildlife communities to more effectively manage for resilient sagebrush ecosystems that support both wildlife and rural economies.