One Week at Waterman: Summer 25

Crop it like it’s hot. Soil scientist Ryan Haden checks ground temps after the “DirtDryer,” an industrial propane burner, makes a pass across a soybean field at Waterman Lab. Haden, with plant pathologists Horacio Lopez-Nicora and Anna Testen of USDA-ARS, is testing whether a combo of roto-tilling and burning can knock back soil pathogens. By semi-sterilizing the soil, the multi-disciplinary team hopes to suppress soybean cyst nematodes (SCN) — the most damaging soybean pest in the U.S. — while also reducing weeds in soybean and cantaloupe fields. With historically high SCN levels, Waterman is the perfect test ground for this new practice.

Innovation across continents. Visitors from Vietnam’s government and business community toured the Controlled Environment Agriculture Research Complex (CEARC) this summer to explore state-of-the-art facilities with entomologist Luis Cañas and meet with CFAES researchers. Part of a larger U.S. trade mission, the delegation — led by Minister of Agriculture and the Environment H.E. Do Duc Duy (center) — heard from soybean scientist Laura Lindsey, dairy specialist Maurice Eastridge, and entomologist Sam Ward about advances in crop, livestock and pest research. Agriculture remains the backbone of Vietnam’s economy, and like producers everywhere, farmers there are eager for more sustainable practices and technologies that boost productivity. Photo by Victor van Buchem, Office of International Affairs, The Ohio State University.

Camp fun starts here. At the Kunz-Brundige Franklin County Extension Building (KBFCEB), 30 teen counselors from across Franklin County spent the day preparing for a summer rite of passage: 4-H Camp. Training at Waterman Lab included developing activities, practicing skits and refining campfire performances with feedback from adult leaders — “project, smile, face the crowd.” In June, these counselors welcomed more than 120 campers to Camp Ohio for five days and four nights of songs, stories, and non-stop fun. The KBFCEB offers spacious indoor and outdoor areas for meetings, programs and events. Learn more or request a space at Places and Spaces.

Launchpad for learning. “Does anyone know the engineering design process?” Howard Greene asked a group of 5- to 9-year-olds from St. Stephen’s Space Camp at the Controlled Environment Agriculture Research Complex (CEARC). Without missing a beat, they chanted: “Identify, design, build, test!” Greene, who leads Workforce Development and Student Success for Ohio State’s Starlab – George Washington Carver Science Park, guided the summer-long camp’s design challenge: improve astronaut health during low-orbit missions. Many campers tackled agriculture in space, and this day testing how to move water and nutrients to plant roots without gravity (above) and see first-hand how LED lights help plants grow (main image). Weekly mentor meetings, space-themed books and poetry, and hands-on projects all built toward a final presentation to community judges, showcasing their creativity and grasp of the design process.

Udderly automated. The new Dairy Building is taking shape — over the summer, crews completed the foundation, steel, and roof, and now walls for offices, milk rooms, and labs are going up. With almost 72,000 work hours already invested, anticipation is high for the year-end debut of Ohio State’s fully robotic dairy. In the spring semester, students will learn cutting-edge skills in robotic feeding, milking, and manure management, all while supporting sustainability. The Lely Discovery robot will clean the barn using 95% less water than traditional flush systems. Cows get milked at will, the system ID’ing them by their collar, while automated feeders deliver precision diets for optimal animal health. Just four months to go before the grand opening — moo-ving day is almost here.

Picking up healthy habits. Children rush into the Garden of Hope, eager to pick flowers, fruits, and vegetables to take home, part of a long-term research project at Waterman Lab. Harvest guides at the end of each row show what’s ripe, how to pick it, and storage suggestions, along with nutrition facts. Led by Colleen Spees, professor of medical dietetics, the USDA-funded clinical trial pairs kids ages 6–12 with their caregivers to explore how fresh produce influences health while researchers track metabolic changes in participants. Spees says the project fosters adventurous eaters and a deeper understanding of how healthy eating can improve quality of life. Study partners include Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Ohio State’s College of Medicine, and CFAES — Waterman Facility Manager Glenn Mills works with dietitians to plan and maintain the garden year-round, now in year 13.

Photos by John Rice, CFAES Marketing and Communications except where noted.