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.
| Name | Department | Phone | Area of Expertise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agunga, Robert | Human & Community Resource Development | 614.292.6321 | Communication and social impact assessment of knowledge, attitude and behavior studies related to food and health and lifestyle choices |
| Cardina, John | Horticulture & Crop Science | 330.263.3644 | Weed ecology; invasive plants |
| Culman, Steve | Environment & Natural Resources | 330.263.3787 | Soils |
| Doohan, Doug | Horticulture & Crop Science | 330.202.3593 | Weed ecology, invasive plants, IPM, minor use pesticides |
| Francis, David | Horticulture & Crop Science | 330.263.3893 | Plant breeding and genetics |
| Gardiner, Mary | Entomology | 614.274.8341 | Biocontrol and pollination services in vegetable crops |
| Hall, Denny | Ohio BioProducts Innovation Center (OBIC) | 614.292.4188 | Commercial linkages |
| Hogan, Mike | OSU Extension | 740.264-2212 | Agriculture and natural resources |
| Hoy, Casey | Agroecosystems Management Program /Entomology | 330.263.3611 | Systems analysis and quantitative ecology, agroecosystems management |
| Islam, K. Rafiq | OSU South Centers | 614.292.4900 Ext 147 | Soil quality and best managemet practices, Cover crops and nutrient management, Global warming and carbon sequestration |
| Klompen, Hans | Entomology | 614.292.7180 | Systematics and evolution of mites |
| Kleinhenz, Matt | Horticulture & Crop Science | 330.263.3810 | Vegetable physiology, production, quality, cultural and cropping system management and extension |
| LeJeune, DVM PhD, Jeffrey | Food Animal Health Research Program | 330.263.3739 | Veterinary epidemiology and bacteriology; pre-harvest control of foodborne diseases; antibiotic resistance related to agriculture; molecular mechanisms of E. coli O157 |
| Lewandowski, Rory | OSU Extension | 330.264.8722 | Agriculture and natural resources |
| Lilburn, Michael | Animal Sciences | 330.263.3992 | Poultry nutrition, Nutritional physiology |
| McCutcheon, Jeff | OSU Extension | 419.947.1070 | Agriculture and natural resources |
| Michel, Fred | Food, Agricultural & Biological Engineering | 330.263.3859 | Composting, Microbial ecology, Biological process engineering, Cellulosic ethanol pretreatment, Corn ethanol process, fermentation |
| Miller, Sally | Plant Pathology | 330.263.3678 | Vegetable diseases, Vegetable diagnostic tech |
| Mills-Wasniak, Suzanne | OSU Extension | 937.224.9654 | Agriculture and natural resources; commercial agriculture |
| Phelan, Larry | Entomology | 330.263.3728 | Chemical ecology, metabolomics, insect-plant interactions, biological farming |
| Rajala-Schultz, Paivi | Veterinary Preventive Medicine | 614.688.0457 | Dairy production medicine and epidemiology of dairy cattle diseases; bovine mastitis |
| Regnier, Emilie | Horticulture & Crop Science | 614.292.8497 | Weed Ecology |
| Roe, Brian | Agric Environmental & Devlp Econ | 614.688.5777 | Livestock Economics & Experimental Economics |
| Schuenemann, Gustavo | Veterinary Preventive Medicine | 614.292.6924 | Dairy herd fertility, airy records and reproductive management |
| Sharp, Jeff | School of Environmental & Natural Resources | 614.292.9410 | Rural Sociology, Sociology of Agriculture, Exurban Community Change, Agricultural Change at the Rural-Urban Interface, Energy and Society |
| Sneller, Clay | Horticulture & Crop Science | 330.263.3944 | Wheat breeding and genetics |
| Sundermeier, Alan | OSU Extension | 419.354.9050 | Organic grain production |
| Thomison, Peter | Horticulture & Crop Science | 614.292.6373 | Corn (field/general), Corn production |
| Vodovotz, Yael | Food Science and Technology | 614.247.7696 | Physico-chemical and molecular properties of foods during formulation, processing and storage |
| Wang, Hua | Food Science & Technology | 614.292.6281 | Food safety; rapid detection, biofilms, commensal bacteria, antibiotic resistance, gut microbiota |
| Welty, Celeste | Entomology | 614.292.2803 | Biology and management of vegetable and fruit pests |
Stakeholders
Ohio farmer stakeholders catalyzed the development and continue to actively support the OFFER program. These stakeholders, along with the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) provide substantial input into the program’s activities, including the development and implementation of research projects and educational programming.