KXplores Emerging Research

The last episode in our series with agricultural communicator, Dr. Cara Lawson, talks about how people navigate risk. Where do they go for information when faced with a crisis? And how do they know those resources are reliable? Cara, an assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership, studies the science behind the process of assessing information and how much time it takes to find vital answers. Knowing where people typically find and process important information helps communicators craft messages for sharing widely.

Demographic data – like age, gender, and location – are easy to quantify in a survey. But feelings, thoughts, attitudes? Social scientists use measurements to assess values, perceptions, and other non-tangible factors in surveys. Dr. Cara Lawson with the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership at Ohio State developed a new measurement for her national survey to test public perception of the farmer’s role in climate risk.

How do perceive climate risk? It may depend on where you live and what values you hold dear. Agricultural communicator Dr. Cara Lawson launched a national survey to learn more about how Americans feel about climate risks. She hopes to learn how personal values, type of community, and region where we live may impact those perceptions. Lawson, an assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership, was awarded funding for her research project from the new AgTech Innovation Hub, a collaboration between CFAES and Nationwide.

Research isn’t always planned. But when a community needs quick answers in a crisis, research and data can help inform decision making. Using Haley Shoemaker’s Ohio State University Extension connection to the community and research facilities at the Food, Science, and Technology Department in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, Haley and researcher Jeff Hattey developed a protocol to sample plant tissue after a train derailment in East Palestine. To get the complete results from the Ohio Emergency Management Agency, visit https://ema.ohio.gov/media-publications/east-palestine-derailment-info/testing-results.

Long standing Integrated Pest Management strategies are getting a makeover. Specialty crop entomologist Dr. Ashley Leach is validating those practices to find out what’s still working and what might need a tweak to protect pollinators. In the project with Dr. Reed Johnson, from the Department of Entomology, they’ve discovered some off target outcomes from reduced pesticide use. And Ashley dreams big that ugly produce from the grocery store finds a place in your fridge.

Invasive pest, the spotted lanternfly (SLF), has been reported in four Ohio counties and 14 U.S. states. The brightly colored red and grey leafhopper poses an economic threat to Ohio’s specialty crop producers. Entomologist Dr. Ashley Leach’s new research project detects SLF in the environment using biomonitoring, a process that tests for DNA left behind by the destructive pest. Early detection of the SLF could help producers better prepare and possibly reduce the damaging effects of SLF. Visit stopslf.org to learn how to stop the SLF.

Testing turfgrass cultivars for shade tolerance traditionally involves screens. But grass grows in a wide range of shade conditions in home lawns, golf courses, and stadiums. Dr. Dom Petrella from the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science and Ohio State ATI explains how he’d like to optimize testing methods with gels to create cultivars more suited to their actual growing environment. And colleague Dr. Ed Nangle chimes in for our Dream Big segment.

Golf course turf management is a delicate balance between environmental factors, turfgrass varieties, nutrients, and pest management. Dr. Ed Nangle shares his latest research project focusing on recommended nitrogen rates for new turfgrass cultivars popping up at newly renovated golf courses. And Dr. Dom Petrella explains how undergrads get hands-on experience in turfgrass research at Ohio State. Both specialize in turfgrass science with the Department of Crop Science and Ohio State ATI.

Every spring, lawn mowing season begins. But what if you could do LESS work and still have a great looking lawn? That’s what Drs. Dom Petrella and Ed Nangle want to find out. The pair, from Ohio State ATI and the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, teamed up with the Ohio Department of Agriculture to test fertilizer recommendations for home lawns. They hope to save homeowners time and money. Establishing a new lawn? Visit ohioline.osu.edu for fact sheet HYG-4027 from Ed Nangle and co-authors.

We all have our favorites foods, but what makes us like some foods more than others? It’s all about taste and liking. Professor of flavor chemistry in the Department of Food Science and Technology, Dr. Devin Peterson, explains what goes into making healthy foods taste better. It's more than you think! We talk about his latest research project to change the flavor profile of typically bitter American hazelnuts to help producers compete in the market.

People use probiotics to improve gut health and boost their ability to fight off disease. It's the same with poultry. Producers add probiotics to feed. But how exactly does it work? That's what Dr. Lisa Bielke, associate professor in the Department of Animal Sciences, hopes to find out. Her current project focuses on the processes in the microbiome that lead to healthier birds and could help reduced antibiotic usage in the poultry industry.

Assistant Professor Brady Campbell is new to the Department of Animal Sciences in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences but he's not new to small ruminants. A fourth-generation sheep producer, Campbell serves as the department's small ruminant specialist. In this episode, Campbell talks about some of his current and upcoming research on using nutrition to skew the sex of offspring, utility scale solar grazing operations, and improving meat quality in Ohio.

A challenging start for newborn male dairy calves, including transportation and mixing with unfamiliar animals, can drive higher antibiotic use. Could better communication with livestock buyers help inform farmers’ calf care practices? That’s one idea. A new project with Dr. Jessica Pempek, associate professor in the Department of Animal Science, and PI Dr. Greg Habing, with The Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine, hopes to show producers the benefits of improved newborn calf care before they're sold.

Biopesticides sound like a fantastic idea—made from natural materials, target specific pests and biological processes, better for the environment. So why aren’t more producers using them on farms? New research from Dr. Guil Signorini, an assistant professor in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, aims to survey professional agricultural producers, consultants, crop advisors, and Extension educators to find out why biopesticides aren’t more widely implemented.

Stands overflowing with fresh seasonal produce, food and flower vendors, fresh baked goods, and opportunities to see neighbors and friends. It takes a lot of effort and planning to keep this community staple successful. Can data collection improve the market, attract new farmers, and educate customers about their food? We learn how from Darlene Wolnik, support director with the national Farmers Market Coalition, and Christie Welch, program specialist with direct marketing at The Ohio State University South Centers.

Community leaders have to make difficult decisions about how to spend scarce resources. How do we place a value on community investments that don't necessarily generate income but benefit local citizens? To find out, we spoke with Dr. Zoë Plakias, an agricultural food systems economist and associate professor in the Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics. She’s applying cost-benefit analysis in a new way for a food system resiliency project headed by Shoshanah Inwood with the School of Environment and Natural Resources and Mary Hendricks at the University of Missouri.

Flooded fields take pastures out of production, affecting a livestock farmer's bottom line. Can producers guard their land against weather extremes? That's the big question behind a new research project from Dr. Marília Chiavegato, an agroecosystems management expert with a dual appointment in the Departments of Horticulture and Crop Science and Animal Science at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. Dr. Chiavegato looks at the whole system for answers. Simple tweaks could bring that land back into production.

Can farmers protect their fields against changes in Ohio's climate? That's the big question behind a new research project. We talk with Dr. Christine Sprunger, assistant professor in School of Environment and Natural Resources in The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. Her work examines how quickly soil bounces back from stressors like drought or flooding. The hope? That farmers can more effectively measure soil health and pick best management practices to fit their unique situation.