Crop and Soil Science

Crop and Soil Science and My Role

The Department of Crop and Soil Science is one of the largest departmental administrative units in Oregon State University.  The department head has overall management and leadership responsibility and authority for the department.  The department’s functions include teaching, basic and applied research, extension and specialized seed services (Seed Certification and Seed Lab).  Principle areas of activity are biotechnology and genetics, seed sciences, weed science, agronomic crop production and cropping systems, alternate crops, forages, and characterization of Oregon soils and their management in relation to agriculture, forestry, land use and environmental quality.  The mission of the department is to increase the profitability of Oregon’s agricultural and natural resource industries while protecting or enhancing environmental quality.  Research and extension activities are statewide, including all 36 counties and seven branch experiment stations.  Formal teaching programs are located at Corvallis and in LaGrande (OSU at Eastern Oregon University).  The department has full or partial administrative responsibility for over 85 tenure-track or professional faculty.  Combined research, extension, teaching and service budgets exceed $8M annually.  Over a third of the farm gate value of all Oregon agricultural activity is represented by programs worked on by departmental members.  Program emphases are in Oregon but most projects also have international components as well.  The Department Head insures that all people have equal employment and program participation opportunities regardless of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability, and disabled veteran or Vietnam-era veteran status.