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Greetings from Stillwater, where we recently welcomed a record number of students to the Ferguson College of Agriculture. Their enthusiasm reminds us why investments in our teaching, research and Extension infrastructure matter so much.
The location of our new Agronomy Discovery Center has now been officially announced. The collection of facilities will be situated just north of the existing agronomy farm, off Western and Virginia roads in Stillwater. The center will include new greenhouses to support our wheat, turfgrass and horticultural breeding programs, along with field research infrastructure for soil fertility, weed science and crop production across Oklahoma’s major commodities. You can read more about this announcement below in this newsletter.
We are excited about this once-in-a-generation opportunity. Of course, bringing this vision to life requires significant investment. We are extraordinarily grateful to the Oklahoma State Legislature, which voted to provide us with $40 million to invest in this project. The legislation requires OSU Agriculture to secure $10 million in private support, creating a remarkable four-to-one matching opportunity in which every private dollar unlocks four additional dollars of state investment.
We are grateful to many friends and donors who recognize the importance of the work happening at our agronomy farm and have stepped up to help us meet this four-to-one matching opportunity. I am deeply grateful to the organizations and individuals who have already provided leadership support for this effort, including Oklahoma Genetics Inc., Oklahoma Wheat Commission, Triangle Insurance, ADM, Shirley Farm, Ben Rempel, Carol and J.B. Stewart, Pam and Dennis Schoenhals, Terri and Brett Carver, and Nancy and Bill Ford. Collectively, these individuals and organizations have committed almost $7 million towards our $10 million goal. To access the state’s matching funds, we are working to raise an additional $3 million by the state’s June 2027 deadline. Our architectural planning is well underway, and we should have space naming opportunities available very soon. With $3 million remaining to reach our goal, I would welcome the opportunity to visit with you about how you might help shape this project through a philanthropic commitment or naming opportunity.
I also want to express my appreciation to Reps. Lucas and Cole and to Sens. Mullin and Lankford for helping secure an additional $5 million in federal support for the Agronomy Discovery Center.
Some readers may wonder what will become of the Sheep and Goat Center currently located on the site. In the near term, the two facilities will coexist as we continue working to identify relocation resources. Maintaining our farms and ranches near campus remains a high priority because of their importance to student learning and engagement.
We have an ambitious vision for the future of OSU Agriculture, and I am grateful to everyone helping make it possible.
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Jayson Lusk
Vice President and Dean
OSU Agriculture
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Turf and Landscape Field Day
The recent Turf and Landscape Field Day, held at the Lionel K. Bentley Turfgrass Center, covered topics including breeding, turf diseases, the Native Grass and Frogfruit projects, pecan insect management, urban soils, ornamental breeding and new plant materials for the landscape.
| | OSU Agriculture is comprised of the Ferguson College of Agriculture and two state agencies: OSU Ag Research and OSU Extension. Learn the latest from our three mission areas. | |
Teaching
Hunter Morton, Olivia Klug and Pete Littlefield share something in common, beyond serving as the mascots for OSU this year. The three are students in the Ferguson College of Agriculture.
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Research
Researchers are evaluating bluemuda turfgrass, a system that combines bermudagrass and Kentucky bluegrass to improve year-round turf quality while reducing irrigation needs.
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Extension
Meet Aaron Long, OSU Extension’s new Mesonet agricultural program specialist. Long describes himself as one of the biggest fans of the Mesonet, and it’s not just because he works there.
| | Agronomy Discovery Center | |
The Future of Vet Medicine and Agronomy Research
OSU has announced the location of its new veterinary teaching hospital and the site of its new Agronomy Discovery Center, marking a significant investment in the future of agricultural research, veterinary education and animal healthcare.
The new 275,000-square-foot veterinary teaching hospital will be built on a portion of the current OSU Agronomy Research Station property located north of State Highway 51 and approximately a half mile west of Western Road in Stillwater. As part of the transition, the northern portion of the site will remain dedicated to farmland, including the historic Magruder Plots, one of the longest-running wheat research experiments in the United States.
Remaining agronomy research facilities and operations currently on the property will be relocated to the new Agronomy Discovery Center site, which will be northwest of the intersection of Virginia Avenue and Western Road in Stillwater. The relocation is made possible by a recent $40 million investment from the Oklahoma Legislature to modernize the agronomy farm and create the new OSU Agronomy Discovery Center.
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Beef Center of Excellence
The Beef Center of Excellence was launched to advance beef cattle production in Oklahoma and beyond. This virtual, multidisciplinary center will unite experts in animal science, agricultural economics, range management and related fields to drive innovation, research and Extension efforts that directly benefit producers and the broader beef industry. The Beef Center of Excellence is guided by an advisory board of industry leaders, including Jacque and Scott Anderson, Tracie and Eric Chapman, Vanessa and Ford Drummond, Jamae and Mike Frey, Aimee and Ben Hale, Kari and Robert Hodgen, Gaye and John Pfeiffer, Roxanne and Barry Pollard, Martha and Mark Shaw, Mary and Rob Shuey, CORTEVA Agriscience, Merck Animal Health, Oklahoma Beef Council and Oklahoma Cattleman’s Associataion.
The Beef Center of Excellence is part of a broader Animal Excellence initiative to build on OSU’s long-standing tradition of leadership in animal agriculture. The Animal Excellence initiative includes facility and technology upgrades to modernize OSU’s animal teaching and research units, including much-needed renovations to the Swine Research and Education Center and the Sheep and Goat Center.
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How OSU Transforms Research into Impact
You don’t have to set foot on OSU’s campus to experience its impact. It can be found in wheat fields outside of Enid, in veterinary clinics serving ranchers in the Panhandle, in food processing plants creating new products for local businesses and in rural hospitals where OSU-trained physicians are making a difference every day. OSU supports all these aspects of life (and many more) as part of its land-grant mission to serve the state, with the ability to connect directly with people in all 77 counties in Oklahoma to improve lives and uplift communities.
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Ferguson College of Agriculture Family Tailgate
OSU celebrated the momentum behind transformational projects across OSU Agriculture during the Ferguson College of Agriculture Family Tailgate. More than 400 faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends gathered on the Monroe Courtyard of Agricultural Hall on Sept. 19, before the Cowboy football game against Murray State.
| | Adventures of OSU Agriculture | |
Land-Grant Week
OSU identified Sept. 21-25 as Land-Grant Week with events highlighting how teaching, research and Extension carry out OSU’s mission. OSU Extension’s Insect Adventure held a live insect petting zoo outside the Classroom Building, and faculty, staff and students helped color a large poster in the lobby of Agricultural Hall featuring artwork inspired by the land-grant mission during OSU Agriculture’s Coloring Adventure.
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Career Fair
Ferguson College of Agriculture students connected with employers and explored career opportunities during the Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Career Fair on Sept. 17.
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Ferguson College Homecoming Celebration
Ferguson College of Agriculture alumni, faculty, staff and students are invited to the Homecoming Celebration on Oct. 23 from 3-5 p.m. in Agricultural Hall. There will be refreshments and activities for the whole family to enjoy. 50-, 25- and 10-year graduates who received their first degrees from the Ferguson College of Agriculture in 1976, 2001 and 2016 will be recognized. Please RSVP to receive your recognition item.
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SUNUP - Farm Families: Don’t Wait to Start Farm Transition Planning
Farm transition planning is an important step for agricultural producers and farm families preparing for the future. Shannon Ferrell, OSU Extension agricultural law specialist, shares guidance on getting started with farm transition planning and the one thing families can do first.
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Oklahoma Gardening - How to Conduct Your Own Irrigation Audit at Home
Learn how to perform your own DIY irrigation audit at home to ensure your lawn and garden get deep, even watering all season long.
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Shining Through
Sunlight filters through the sign at the Mingo Valley Research Station in Bixby.
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OK-FIRE
OK-FIRE is hosting workshops to help fire departments, public safety officials, emergency managers, landowners and others learn more about fire weather, fire danger and smoke dispersion products.
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Application Engineering
For almost three decades, OSU's Application Engineering program has been helping small and mid-sized manufacturers in the state reach the next level.
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Watercolor Course
Budding artists new to watercolor can learn from a professional through an online course that explores watercolor painting and develops foundational skills, all from the comfort of their own home.
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Food Safety
Food safety is the first rule in the playbook to ensure the tailgate party doesn’t leave fans with a foodborne illness. OSU Extension provides food safety tips for the tailgate.
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The Code Calls
How will you answer? Supporting OSU Agriculture helps further initiatives to positively impact the lives of Oklahomans and the state’s economy.
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Oklahoma State University Agriculture
202 Agricultural Hall
Stillwater, OK 74078
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