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ENLARGE
Steve Renquist
Did you know that Oregon farmers are some of our nation’s leading producers of berry crops, pears, filberts, vegetable seed, Christmas trees, wine grapes and nursery crops? Oregon is also well known for its beautiful public gardens, green sustainable cities and world-class golf courses.
Since I have worked as a horticulturalist for the past 40 years with eight years in Oregon, this doesn’t surprise me. However, what does surprise me is the impact the horticultural industry has on the economy of Oregon. In 2007, the value of Oregon’s crop production hit 3.3 billion dollars. Since the horticulture industry is a big player in Oregon’s economy, I wanted to share with you what career paths the Oregon State University Horticulture Department is offering to prepare people for this vibrant industry.
The state of Oregon has a dynamic wine grape industry. By joining the viticulture and enology option, you can study to be a part of this industry whether you prefer to work outdoors in the vineyard as an owner or manager or indoors as a winemaker. If you start your viticulture and enology education at one of the community college programs in Oregon and you decide you would like to further that education, you can move on to OSU to get your bachelor’s or graduate degree.
Are you one of those people with a green thumb who loves to grow plants? You should look into the ecological and sustainable horticulture production option. This option prepares you to own or manage a nursery, greenhouse, orchard, berry farm, vegetable farm, or Christmas tree plantation. The nursery industry is the largest sector in Oregon’s agricultural industry, with a constant demand for qualified employees. And, with demand for healthy foods growing stronger with each year, berry and vegetable production knowledge is a very marketable skill.
Oregonians are people in tune with nature and our cities reflect that. Portland is known for its green-roofs, rain gardens, bio-swales, and beautiful public parks. If you are interested in owning a landscape business that provides these types of services to the public, look into taking the environmental landscape option.
Any sportsman or athlete who has ever visited Oregon is surely impressed with the natural beauty and abundance of great locations to play. Oregon has become a tourist destination for golfers. Many of these marvelous golf courses are being managed by turf management graduates from the horticulture department. Graduates are also managing sports fields, city, state and county parks. These turf management graduates are also learning cutting edge ways to minimize inputs of fertilizer, pesticides and water.
The horticulture department is also an excellent place to study if you are interested in plant science, genetics and chemistry. The agricultural industry has opportunities for field and laboratory researchers who participate in plant breeding programs, and work with disease and insect control methods.
The bonus of studying horticulture at OSU in Corvallis will be the skills you develop leading to a great career in Oregon’s dynamic agricultural industry.
Steve Renquist is the Horticulture Extension Agent for OSU Extension Service of Douglas County. Hve can be reached by e-mail at steve.renquist@oregonstate.edu or by phone at 541-672-4461.
Since I have worked as a horticulturalist for the past 40 years with eight years in Oregon, this doesn’t surprise me. However, what does surprise me is the impact the horticultural industry has on the economy of Oregon. In 2007, the value of Oregon’s crop production hit 3.3 billion dollars. Since the horticulture industry is a big player in Oregon’s economy, I wanted to share with you what career paths the Oregon State University Horticulture Department is offering to prepare people for this vibrant industry.
The state of Oregon has a dynamic wine grape industry. By joining the viticulture and enology option, you can study to be a part of this industry whether you prefer to work outdoors in the vineyard as an owner or manager or indoors as a winemaker. If you start your viticulture and enology education at one of the community college programs in Oregon and you decide you would like to further that education, you can move on to OSU to get your bachelor’s or graduate degree.
Are you one of those people with a green thumb who loves to grow plants? You should look into the ecological and sustainable horticulture production option. This option prepares you to own or manage a nursery, greenhouse, orchard, berry farm, vegetable farm, or Christmas tree plantation. The nursery industry is the largest sector in Oregon’s agricultural industry, with a constant demand for qualified employees. And, with demand for healthy foods growing stronger with each year, berry and vegetable production knowledge is a very marketable skill.
Oregonians are people in tune with nature and our cities reflect that. Portland is known for its green-roofs, rain gardens, bio-swales, and beautiful public parks. If you are interested in owning a landscape business that provides these types of services to the public, look into taking the environmental landscape option.
Any sportsman or athlete who has ever visited Oregon is surely impressed with the natural beauty and abundance of great locations to play. Oregon has become a tourist destination for golfers. Many of these marvelous golf courses are being managed by turf management graduates from the horticulture department. Graduates are also managing sports fields, city, state and county parks. These turf management graduates are also learning cutting edge ways to minimize inputs of fertilizer, pesticides and water.
The horticulture department is also an excellent place to study if you are interested in plant science, genetics and chemistry. The agricultural industry has opportunities for field and laboratory researchers who participate in plant breeding programs, and work with disease and insect control methods.
The bonus of studying horticulture at OSU in Corvallis will be the skills you develop leading to a great career in Oregon’s dynamic agricultural industry.
Steve Renquist is the Horticulture Extension Agent for OSU Extension Service of Douglas County. Hve can be reached by e-mail at steve.renquist@oregonstate.edu or by phone at 541-672-4461.
