Alisa Boswell-Gore

OSU Agriculture celebrates 75 years of seed partnerships with OK farmers

August 7, 2025 Alisa Boswell-Gore Tulsa Beacon

STILLWATER, Okla. – Before 1950, producing Oklahoma wheat and peanut crops looked a little different from what it does now. Diseases, pests and yields were much more of a challenge for agricultural producers in the early 1900s, as farmers had few ways of obtaining new varieties with stronger genetics. “I imagine wheat production would have…

OSU Extension launches new beginning farmers and ranchers series with garlic workshop

November 14, 2024 Alisa Boswell-Gore Tulsa Beacon

STILLWATER, Okla. – Oklahoma State University recently has received a $719,000 United States Department of Agriculture-National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant to help new farmers and ranchers get their start in Oklahoma. The average age of an agricultural producer in the U.S. today is 58, and the number of family farms in the U.S….

Study to examine Oklahoma’s dams

August 18, 2022 Alisa Boswell-Gore Tulsa Beacon

STILLWATER – One year into a five-year project to improve dam infrastructure, scientists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the Oklahoma Water Resources Center (OWRC) are adding some high-quality technology to their tool bag. Dams age and wear down over time just as buildings and roads do, and nearly 12,000…

Ponds suffer from algae and heat

August 4, 2022 Alisa Boswell-Gore Tulsa Beacon

STILLWATER – Most Oklahoma ponds are green thanks to algae that forms on the water, but just like anything else, too much algae can be a bad thing. Algae is a normal occurrence in ponds unless it becomes too thick. That’s when pond owners are in danger of the most common fish kill scenario –…

Drought damages wheat crop

June 2, 2022 Alisa Boswell-Gore Tulsa Beacon

STILLWATER – On the western side of Oklahoma, early cotton acre establishment is in question, and winter wheat outcome looks devastating, according to Gary Strickland, Jackson County director and southwest regional agronomist for Oklahoma State University Extension. With winter wheat crops being harvested as of last week, OSU Extension experts predict a nearly 50% decline…

Tips for taxpayers before April 15th

April 7, 2022 Alisa Boswell-Gore Tulsa Beacon

STILLWATER  – As the April 18 filing deadline approaches, there are some important items taxpayers need to keep in mind as they get ready to file their tax returns. “In general, you want to look at all the pieces that apply to you,” said JC Hobbs, Oklahoma State University Extension associate specialist for farm management…

Study looks at how black bears are living with people

August 12, 2021 Alisa Boswell-Gore Tulsa Beacon

STILLWATER – Thanks to the research of Oklahoma State University professor and researcher Sue Fairbanks and her colleagues, there is a positive future for black bears in Oklahoma. This summer, the team of researchers have been continuing their research efforts of tracking black bears to collect data on their movements in northeastern Oklahoma and to…

Contract is part of USDA 5-year plan

August 5, 2021 Alisa Boswell-Gore Tulsa Beacon

STILLWATER – The Oklahoma Water Resources Center has contracted with the Hydraulic Engineering Research Unit to participate in a five-year research grant to update tools and guidelines regarding flood control structures. The project is in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service. The HERU, a one-of-a-kind research laboratory under the USDA’s…