Priorities
OSU Agriculture is committed to pioneering innovative solutions that enhance the sustainability, productivity, and profitability of agriculture, natural resources and rural communities while providing affordable, nutritious food for consumers worldwide. The mission is to empower farmers and ranchers and ensure a resilient food system through cutting-edge research, teaching and Extension. OSU Agriculture strives to cultivate a future driven by science, technology, and a deep respect for the land and its stewards where agriculture thrives. The organization aims to empower youth to help them reach their full potential and create future leaders in the food and agricultural sectors. At the heart of OSU Agriculture’s mission is the impetus to create new knowledge about food, agriculture and natural resources, and disseminate knowledge to students and the public.
OSU Agriculture will focus resources on those areas where the state and university have comparative strengths and emerging needs. The priority areas define the scope of OSU Agriculture’s focus.
- Increase Agricultural Productivity and Farm Profitability
Agricultural productivity refers to the effectiveness with which farmers and ranchers convert inputs (e.g., land, labor, water, fertilizer) into outputs (e.g., bushels of wheat or pounds of beef). Agricultural productivity grows when fewer inputs are used, more output is produced or some combination of the two. American agriculture has achieved unparalleled productivity growth over the past century. Today, farmers and ranchers produce 190% more food and fiber than they did in the late 1940s with 75% fewer inputs.10 The gains in productivity were made possible by creating modern technologies and management practices widely shared and communicated across the country. Productivity growth has made farmers more profitable, improved food affordability and security for consumers, and made U.S. agriculture more sustainable. If the same production level can be obtained with fewer resources, agriculture is more sustainable because water, energy and fertilizer are preserved for future generations. Agricultural productivity also rises when rangelands effectively produce more ecosystem services. By fostering improvements in agricultural innovation, OSU Agriculture fulfills the university’s land-grant priority to innovate to nourish the world.
Oklahoma agriculture has lagged behind other states in agricultural productivity growth over the past half-century. The state ranked last among the continental United States in terms of productivity growth from 1960 to 2004.11 Even though Oklahoma ranks sixth in terms of number of farms, Oklahoma only ranks 30th in terms of net farm income (a broad measure of farm profitability) per farm.12 Recognizing that lagging profitability and productivity growth are partially a result of unique soil, water and climatic conditions, the role of OSU Agriculture is to contribute knowledge and technologies to help increase agricultural productivity. Innovative technologies and knowledge that increase productivity in the state can also have spillover effects, affecting agricultural productivity and food security globally. Investments in future facilities and faculty must be viewed through the lens of their impact on productivity growth and contributions to profitability.
- Expand Opportunities for Farmers, Ranchers, Families, Rural Communities, Agribusinesses
and Food Consumers
Decisions to adopt new crops, try new production practices, or make alternative uses of land are often fraught with risk and uncertainty. Furthermore, advocates of novel technologies and practices have vested interests in adoption decisions, elevating the need for third-party, unbiased sources of information. OSU Agriculture will direct resources to expand opportunity sets by creating new technologies and will analyze and test new alternatives that arise in the marketplace. Through the application of scientific insights, novel technologies and practices become available. Producers face the challenge of making payroll and earning a living, which can leave little room for trial and error and experimentation. OSU Agriculture can and should be a testing ground for innovation and discovery, learning alternative ways to advance food, agriculture and natural resources, and reducing downside risks for farmers and ranchers seeking additional revenue sources. New alternatives might include horticultural production options, turfgrass or row crops and new direct-to-consumer marketing options. In addition to creating new technologies or practices, it is also the role of OSU Agriculture to craft alternative policy options and to help create markets. By providing knowledge about technologies, practices and policies, OSU Agriculture can lower the barriers to entry, create economic opportunities, foster economic growth and help people make informed decisions.
- Innovate to Responsibly Increase Demand for Agricultural Products
Long-term viability and sustainability of farming, ranching, agribusiness and food processing require a forward-looking approach that satisfies consumer desires and anticipates changes in consumer demand. Farmer profitability and societal well-being are both enhanced when consumers’ willingness to pay for food products rises. OSU Agriculture will focus resources that increase food, fiber and fuel demand by adding value through enhanced product quality, healthiness, functionality, reliability and safety for agricultural and forestry products.
OSU Agriculture can be a catalyst in spurring value-added activity in the state. Although Oklahoma is a top-producing state in the country for beef and hogs, Oklahoma ranks 18th in the U.S. in terms of value-added by the animal packing and processing sector. This means many of the cattle and hogs raised in Oklahoma are shipped to other states for further processing before reaching the final consumer. The same is true for wheat. Oklahoma is a top wheat-producing state in the country but ranks 29th in value-added production by the baking and tortilla manufacturing sector and no better than 30th in value-added production in the grain and oilseed milling sector.13
In addition to increasing the state’s capacity for food, fuel and fiber processing and increasing food quality and functionality, resources will be directed to understanding evolving consumer demands and improving the nutritional and dietary implications of the crops produced. The opportunities are immense. For every dollar U.S. consumers spend on food, only about 16 cents is a result of farm-level costs.14 The remaining 84 cents represent business opportunities in food processing, transportation and retailing. Therefore, changes in food quality and characteristics can create additional economic value. For example, U.S. consumers face more than $50 billion per year in added healthcare costs because of dietary-related diseases resulting from food purchase and consumption decisions.15 Because Oklahoma agriculture serves customers worldwide and positively influences international food security, opportunities exist to increase demand globally for Oklahoma agricultural products. With plant and animal breeding programs, OSU Agriculture is positioned to explore traits and varieties that satisfy farmers’ agronomic needs and have the potential to improve human health and consumers’ expectations. These innovations will require partnership and collaboration with external entities and campus initiatives to focus on health and nutrition and align with the university’s priority to enhance human and animal health.
- Empower Stewardship of Natural Resources
OSU Agriculture is committed to empowering responsible stewardship of natural resources through a strategic focus on water, soil, rangelands, forests, fisheries, wildlife and fire management. By advancing research and education in sustainable water use, OSU Agriculture aims to ensure the availability and quality of this vital resource for future generations. Creating systems to monitor and measure weather and water enables producers to anticipate and manage drought and flood. Initiatives in rangeland management promote the biodiversity and health of these critical ecosystems. For example, in forests, conservation practices help balance ecological integrity with economic benefits. Additionally, fire management programs are designed to mitigate wildfire risks and enhance the resilience of natural landscapes. Through these efforts, OSU Agriculture strives to lead in the conscientious care and sustainable oversight of natural resources, ensuring their preservation and responsible use.
- Deliver Transformative and Experiential Educational Opportunities On and Off Campus
OSU Agriculture is dedicated to providing transformative and experiential educational opportunities on campus and beyond. Ferguson College of Agriculture students will be exposed to innovative curricula, high-quality facilities, focused experiential learning opportunities and purposeful mentorship relationships that build and strengthen the holistic competencies of the OSU Ideal Graduate (professional preparedness, engaged citizenship, ethical leadership and personal responsibility). Career-ready graduates will be prepared for real-world challenges through industry engagement, expanded internship experiences, study abroad programs and international exchange programs. Graduate and professional students will be equipped with the knowledge and experience necessary to compete in a global marketplace and become leaders in academia, government and industry.
OSU Agriculture’s educational mission begins before college and extends for a lifetime. Positive youth leadership and 4-H Youth Development programs play a crucial role in propelling the next generation of leaders by engaging young people in agricultural science, STEM education, leadership, civic engagement and community service. OSU Extension will continue to offer innovative and world-class educational programs that build practical knowledge and skills to enhance individuals’ professional and personal lives, supporting life-long learning. To serve these multiple types of learners, OSU Agriculture will continually adapt programs to meet evolving needs and the public’s preferred modes of learning, ensuring that all participants receive relevant and impactful education.
10 - https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/agricultural-productivity-in-the-u-s