Horticulture and Crop Science is broken down into six areas of specialization: agroecology, agronomy, controlled environment agriculture, horticulture, plant biosciences and turfgrass science. Study in these areas leads to a large variety of career paths across the agribusiness spectrum, including sustainable and precision crop production, greenhouse and nursery management, turfgrass and sports field management, landscape design and urban greening, and plant breeding, genetics and research.
“We are excited to partner with Ohio State Lima to offer agronomy courses beginning next academic year. This will provide local students an opportunity to explore college while studying agriculture close to home and create pathways to continue their education either through Ohio State ATI for an associate’s degree, or through our Columbus campus for bachelor’s degree,” said Doug Karcher, professor and chair of the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science. “We are eager to help address the growing demand for agronomy professionals, as there are currently more career opportunities in our region than we have graduates to fill.”
The ongoing regenerative ag project at the Ohio State Lima farm serves as a local living laboratory, advancing sustainable farming practices and hands-on learning. Interested students will be able to engage in research as early as their first year in the program.
“Agriculture is not just a legacy in northwest Ohio. It is the economic lifeblood of our region,” Young said. “By expanding our hands-on research and building direct career pathways in crop science and horticulture, we are keeping our sharpest agricultural talent rooted in our local economy, driving innovation right where our community needs it most.”
Qualifying students who enroll for their first year at a regional campus are eligible to participate in the Regional Campus Commitment Program, which provides eligible new first-year students with the opportunity to attend Ohio State tuition-free.
Students interested in the new pathway can schedule a visit at Ohio State Lima today by emailing lima-askabuckeye@osu.edu, or visiting https://lima.osu.edu/future-students/visit.
