OSU extension programs are focused around five critical issues

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded The Ohio State University $24,215,512 on October 1, 2025, under the Smith-Lever Extension Funding program (CFDA 10.511), a formula grant supporting cooperative extension education across five critical issue areas.

OSU Extension delivers programming in health and wellness, including disease prevention, mental health awareness and literacy, chronic disease and obesity prevention, community nutrition education, and farm safety. Economic vitality programming addresses financial literacy, money management education, business retention and expansion, rural economic development, and broadband access in rural areas. Food security and production work encompasses research and education on best practices for yield and profitability, digital agriculture, climate-smart agriculture, food system sustainability, and community food production to address food deserts and improve food quality. The program also covers environmental sustainability and youth development through 4-H and related initiatives.

Extension services are delivered through cooperative offices, schools, community centers, food pantries, and WIC/SNAP program sites using workshops, field days, technical assistance, and peer educator engagement across Ohio's 88 counties, with administrative oversight at Columbus, Ohio.

The award period runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2030. This is a formula grant to a 1862 land-grant institution, obligating $24,215,512.

Health and wellness we achieve this goal through a focus on topics that include disease prevention, safety research and education, social and emotional health, and stress reduction. This plan of work will explore health-related issues including but not limited to mental health awareness and literacy, health opportunities, chronic disease and obesity prevention, community nutrition education, and farm safety. Economic vitality -through money management education, individuals, families, business managers, and community leaders will improve their financial literacy, decision making, and ability to manage resources. Programming related to economic vitality include but are not limited to: business retention and expansion, enhancing rural economic opportunities, increasing broadband access in rural areas, and food supply chain efficiency. Food security and production OSU extension conducts research and educates producers about best practices that increase yield and profitability. In addition, changing consumer preferences continually influence production practices and the types of products that producers are expected to bring to market. Using science-based information, ohio state helps consumers, producers, and policy makers become more informed about decisions related to food and the way IT is produced, processed, distributed, stored, prepared, and consumed. Engaging citizens in conversations about their food creates a holistic approach to solving food security issues. Additionally, teaching citizens to grow some of their own food can help improve food quality, eliminate food deserts, and increase community food security. We will explore issues related to mitigating food insecurity through community service and food production education programs and food system sustainability. We also look at issues of food production including but not limited to digital agriculture programs, climate smart agriculture, improved food animal health and production, crop improvement and resiliency, weed and pest control, and plant breeding and disease resistance studies. Also included in this critical issue are programs related to increasing food safety and foodborne illness reduction .environmental quality and sustainability -ohio state programs help people make more informed choices about how they can promote and sustain environmental quality. Programs focused on nutrient management, pesticide safety education programs, reduction of pesticide use, air quality, forestry, farming practices, water quality, and landscapes engage and encourage both urban and rural audiences to preserve natural resources for future generations. Thriving across the lifespan - our research and extension mission areas partner to leverage research-based knowledge and best practices to strengthen individuals and the various social structures in which they live. As our society and family structures change, the ways in which we reach and empower clientele will evolve, so IT is important that we are finding new ways to reach these audiences. Another key focus of our efforts is positive youth develo pment, delivered primarily through 4-H. Our goals are to empower youth, families, and communities to develop and expand characteristics, knowledge, and skills that create a strong foundation for a positive adulthood, including career and college readiness. Programs under this critical issue are related to positive human development for all ages. In addition to 4-H youth development, other programming efforts include but are not limited to financial literacy, community engagement, workforce development, successful CO-parenting and healthy aging.