Address: 7721 S. Charleston Pike South Charleston, OH 45368
3.5 miles northwest of South Charleston on SR 41 (Clark County, Ohio)
Western Agricultural Research Station Flyer
History
The Western Agricultural Research Station was established in 1958. It houses one of the world's oldest no-till experimental plots, started by Ohio State scientists in the early 1960s. The renovated barns that used to house the Western Station were replaced with new facilities in 2008. Included are offices, a workshop, a conference room, and seed and machinery storage areas.
Click here for historical data
Research Focus
The western Agricultural Research Station maintains intensive research programs that address the profitability and sustainability of western Ohio's most important agricultural industries: agronomic crops (corn, soybeans, and wheat among them); specialty crops (such as pumpkins and sweet corn); and swine production. Alfalfa and forage grasses are also studied as part of the 240 research projects conducted at the Western Station every year. Additionally, the station is home to one-of-a-kind studies on no-till crop production, carbon sequestration in no-till farmland, and bioenergy crops.
Improved Crop and Forage Production
Precision agriculture is the newest research station to the Western Station, comparing variable rate seeding with various planting down pressures and seeding depths. Drones are taking aerial imagery photographs throughout the growing season to help farmers make better management decisions.
The number of research projects involving growth regulators, micronutrients, and biologicals in corn, soybeans, and wheat is increasing. In-furrow placement of starter fertilizers continues to raise many questions with Ohio farmers. Current studies are evaluating different rates and types of starter fertilizer with other methods of application. Nitrogen stabilizers and late-season nitrogen applications are being compared to traditional side-dressing applications at different growth stages in corn.
Due to wet weather in the spring, farmers are often forced to plant earlier or later than ideal. With funding from Ohio Soybean Council, Dr. Laura Lindsey identifies management practices that maximize soybean yield for various planting date timeframes at this station.
Weed, Insect, and Disease Management
Different classes of fungicides are applied to corn and soybeans at different growth stages to determine the best integrated pest management strategy and rate disease control- key information that helps growers apply fungicides only when needed to save on input costs and decrease chemical use. Fungicide efficacy and IPM strategies are currently being evaluated to gice pumpkin growers information they need to try and control powdery mildew, one of their biggest problems.
Current weed studies include management of herbicide-resistant weeds, integration of herbicide-tolerant crops, and evaluation of novel herbicide chemistry. Multistate research programs seek to determine the critical period of weed control, cumulative stress on non-herbicide tolerant crops, and herbicide application timing in herbicide-tolerant crops.
Research is being conducted in field corn production with stacked corn hybrids, seed treatments, and in-furrowinsecticides to reduce insect damage. Bt sweet corn varieties are comparing various spray treatments for control of late-season insect pressure in sweet corn.
Soils and the Environment
With increasing concerns of fertilizer runoff in Ohio lakes and rivers, CFAES researchers are conducting more studies involving fertilizer rates and placement, application timing, and long-term phosphorous and potassium studies on corn and soybean production. They are evaluating fall versus spring application, strip-till versus conventional tillage versus broadcast applications, and fertilizer runoff.
The Western Station is instrumental to ongoing internationally recognized studies on soil carbon sequestration. Studies in soil reconditioning, residue management, and cover crops are being evaluated in continuous corn environments to improve soil structure. Bioenergy crops, including switchgrass, are also being evaluated at the station.
Swine Production
Current research initiatives focus on production tools, technologies, and technical approaches that are relevant to the sustained success of the commercial swine industry. This includes studies related to genetics, nutrition, management, health/well-being, animal welfare, and the environment.
Additional research deals with animal welfare assessment, swine health, antimicrobial resistance, and alternative production options.
For Investigators
Contact Information
7721 S Charleston Pike
S Charleston, OH 45368
Phone: 937-462-8016
Fax: 937-462-9329
- Joe Davlin - Manager
davlin.1@osu.edu - Kayla McIntire - Swine Herd Manager, mcintire.332@osu.edu
- Logan Coppock - Research Assistant
- Jason Rutschilling - Research Assistant
- Vacant, Research Assistant
- Emily Reinarts, Manager-Animal Herd (Department of Animal Sciences)