Initiatives to Serve Oklahoma and Impact the World
OSU Agriculture will embark on a few targeted initiatives to position itself to serve key constituents in Oklahoma while being recognized as a global leader in comparative advantage areas. These specific initiatives focus on areas of high importance to Oklahoma agricultural producers. The initiatives are manifestations of the OSU Agriculture priorities, and they represent areas in which all disciplines can contribute.
Agronomy Discovery Center
Wheat is the most widely grown crop in Oklahoma. Moreover, 70% of Oklahoma wheat acres are planted with varieties created by OSU’s Wheat Improvement Team, which boasts one of the few remaining public wheat-breeding programs in the nation. Although OSU Agriculture’s agronomy efforts have been highly impactful, positioning for the future is needed to ensure continued impacts. Many of the facilities at the agronomy farm date from the 1940s. There is an urgent need to upgrade the facilities at the Agronomy Research Station. Modern facilities can facilitate more rapid genetic gains and put solutions in farmers’ hands more quickly. The vision includes replacing greenhouses and a headhouse and adding a research and education center that can accommodate the many producer audiences who visit campus for education and training. An upgraded Soil, Water and Forage Analytical Laboratory and Plant Disease and Insect Diagnostic Laboratory are also included in the vision. These laboratories analyze more than 65,000 samples from farms, ranches and gardens statewide annually. They would be more easily accessed on the agronomy farm than in the current campus location. A new Agronomy Discovery Center complements OSU Student Farm activities and creates a first-rate gateway to campus as visitors enter Stillwater from the west.
Beef Center of Excellence
Oklahoma is home to more cows than people. The health of the Oklahoma agricultural economy is highly dependent on a prosperous beef cattle sector. To serve this vital industry, OSU Agriculture will embark on an initiative to positively impact beef cattle producers. The purpose of the prospective Beef Center of Excellence is to bring together people all along the beef supply chain to empower research and Extension programs that increase the profitability and sustainability of beef cattle production for present and future generations. OSU Agriculture aims to create a cross-disciplined, prestigious research and outreach program focused on beef cattle at OSU. A multi-faceted effort will generate resources to support faculty in range and forage management, beef cattle economics, and animal and food sciences. This endeavor will enable greater research and Extension efforts while positioning OSU as the leading source of knowledge generation and communication about industry issues and future directions of the beef supply chain.
Advance Value-Added Agriculture
The multidisciplinary Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center strives to keep the food and agricultural industries at the forefront of cutting-edge, value-added processing and technology. FAPC supports the food and agricultural business sectors of Oklahoma, increases food safety for consumers, assists in the development of students for food industry careers, and enhances the economic impact on the state, region and nation. Investments in facility upgrades will position FAPC as a national leader in new food business development and support. Added human capacity will facilitate food start-ups, create new food technologies, improve food safety and expand industry partnerships.