People

Established in 1998, the OFFER program team consists of Ohio State University researchers, Ohio farmers, and other stakeholders who share a goal of enhancing the vitality of organic agriculture in Ohio. This interdisciplinary team works together to develop research initiatives to develop and deliver science-based information to Ohio’s existing organic farmers and to newcomers to organic production and marketing.

Our Mission is to provide research and educational support for producers, processors, and marketers of organic foods with the goal of expanding the abundance, quality, and variety of certified organic foods available to consumers.

Research & Extension Personnel

Over two dozen Ohio State University researchers and Extension personnel actively collaborate to examine each aspect of the organic farming system, from soil and crop quality to marketing opportunities.

* Email addresses all end with @osu.edu. 

Name Department Phone Email* Area of Expertise
Brown, Cassandra Horticulture & Crop Science 330.263.3634 brown.1844 OFFER website, programming, and outreach
Cardina, John Horticulture & Crop Science 330.263.3644 cardina.2 Weed ecology; invasive plants (retired)
Da Costa, Luciana College of Veterinary Medicine 614.247.8145 da-costa.2 Cultural control for mastitis, dairy records, and milk quality management
Doohan, Doug Horticulture & Crop Science 330.202.3593 doohan.1 Weed ecology, invasive plants, IPM, minor use pesticides (retired)
Essman, Alyssa Horticulture & Crop Science 614.247.5810 essman.42 Weed science, cover crops for weed control, seedbank management
Francis, David Horticulture & Crop Science 330.263.3893 francis.77 Plant breeding and genetics
Gardiner, Mary Entomology 614.274.8341 gardiner.29 Biocontrol and pollination services in vegetable crops
Haden, Ryan ATI - Ag and Engineering Technologies 330.287.1311 haden.9 Sustainable Agriculture program at OSU's Agricultural Technical Institute, soil health, cover crop use
Hogan, Mike OSU Extension 614.866.6900
(ext 206)
hogan.1 Agriculture and natural resources; SARE
Islam, K. Rafiq OSU South Centers 614.292.4900 Ext 147 islam.27 Soil quality and best managemet practices, Cover crops and nutrient management, Global warming and carbon sequestration
Jackson-Smith, Douglas School of Natural Resources 330.202.3540 jackson-smith.1

Social and economic aspects of farming systems

Klompen, Hans Entomology 614.292.7180 klompen.1 Systematics and evolution of mites
Kleinhenz, Matt Horticulture & Crop Science 330.263.3810 kleinhenz.1 Vegetable physiology, production, quality, cultural and cropping system management and extension
Krupek, Fernanda Horticulture & Crop Science 330.263.8039 krupek.1 Urban foods system, Sustaining soil health
Lilburn, Michael Animal Sciences 330.263.3992 lilburn.1 Poultry nutrition, Nutritional physiology
Michel, Fred Food, Agricultural & Biological Engineering 330.263.3859 michel.36 Composting, Microbial ecology, Biological process engineering, fermentation
Miller, Sally Plant Pathology 330.263.3678 miller.769 Vegetable diseases, Vegetable diagnostic tech
Mills-Wasniak, Suzanne OSU Extension 937.224.9654 mills-wasniak.1 Agriculture and natural resources; commercial agriculture; SARE
Ortez, Osler Horticulture & Crop Science 330.263.9725 ortez.5 Corn and emerging crops
Phelan, Larry Entomology 330.263.3728 phelan.2 Chemical ecology, metabolomics, insect-plant interactions, biological farming
Rajala-Schultz, Paivi Veterinary Preventive Medicine 614.688.0457 rajala-schultz.1 Dairy production medicine and epidemiology of dairy cattle diseases; bovine mastitis
Regnier, Emilie Horticulture & Crop Science 614.292.8497 regnier.1 Weed Ecology
Richer, Eric State Extension field specialist 419.337.9210 richer.5 Farm management field specialist, with a focus on value-added options including organic
Roe, Brian Agric Environmental & Devlp Econ 614.688.5777 roe.30 Livestock Economics & Experimental Economics
Sharp, Jeff School of Environmental & Natural Resources 614.292.9410 sharp.123 Rural Sociology, Sociology of Agriculture, Exurban Community Change, Agricultural Change at the Rural-Urban Interface, Energy and Society
Shedekar, Vinayak Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering 614.292.9356 shedekar.1 Water quality, irrigation, and soil health
Sneller, Clay Horticulture & Crop Science 330.263.3944 sneller.5 Wheat breeding and genetics
Vodovotz, Yael Food Science and Technology 614.247.7696 vodovotz.1 Physico-chemical and molecular properties of foods during formulation, processing and storage
Wang, Hua Food Science & Technology 614.292.6281 wang.707 Food safety; rapid detection, biofilms, commensal bacteria, antibiotic resistance, gut microbiota

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Stakeholders

Although not listed here by name, Ohio farmer stakeholders are an essential part of our research. We welcome feedback and suggestions to make our activities timely, relevant, and accessible. As a public land grant institution, our mission is to provide research and education that serves our communities.