OARDC Serves Ohio

LEADERSHIP

The Board of Trustees of The Ohio State University governs OARDC. Director Steven A. Slack heads the operation of the Center. He reports to Bobby D. Moser, Vice President for Agricultural Administration at Ohio State and Executive Dean of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. Chairs and associate chairs of the departments and program areas have administrative responsibilities for OARDC-supported research in the colleges of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences; Biological Sciences; Veterinary Medicine; Human Ecology; and Medicine at Ohio State. 

THE RESEARCH TEAM

The OARDC research team is composed of 259 scientists who devote part or all of their time to OARDC-supported research. Many of them have teaching and Extension appointments as well. Of our faculty members, 194 (74.17 full-time equivalents or FTEs) are based in Columbus and 65 (49.27 FTEs) are in Wooster. The team also includes staff at Columbus, Wooster, the outlying branches and the Ohio State University South Centers—305 administrative and professional employees (248.19 FTEs) and 200 civil service employees (180.75 FTEs). Seasonal workers are hired as needed. In all, OARDC provides full- or part-time employment to more than 764 Ohioans. 

SCIENTIFIC EXPLORATION

At any given time, OARDC scientists are conducting more than 400 research projects. Projects are underway in agricultural, environmental and development economics; food, agricultural and biological engineering; animal sciences; entomology; food animal health; food science and technology; horticulture and crop science; human and community resource development; human ecology; natural resources and plant pathology. In addition, the center trains graduate students in all of these fields. 

FUNDING SOURCES

OARDC is supported by a line-item appropriation from the Ohio General Assembly, by federal formula funds and by grants, gifts and contracts. 

LAND RESOURCES

OARDC manages some 7,400 acres of land in Wooster, Columbus and at the outlying branches. The campus at Wooster and the other units in Wayne County total 2,300 acres. 

AN EMINENT HISTORY

The Ohio General Assembly established OARDC as the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station in 1882. The station was first located on Ohio State’s Columbus campus. It was moved to Wooster in 1892. In 1965, the name was changed to the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center to better reflect its function and programs. The center formally merged with Ohio State in 1982. Since its founding, OARDC has been a leader whose research and discoveries have made a difference for Ohioans.