Osler joined the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science (HCS) in January 2022. Before coming to Ohio, Osler worked in coffee production (in Nicaragua and is still an active co-owner), soybean production (M.Sc., Kansas and Argentina), and corn production (Ph.D., Nebraska). He leads a statewide applied research and extension program for developing and communicating science-based information on efficient, productive, and sustainable Corn & Emerging Crop Production Systems.
Osler’s research and extension on the CFAES Wooster Campus focuses on corn production, including planting dates, seeding rates, hybrid selection, cover crops, nutrients management, abiotic stress, abnormal ears, and organic production. His position provides leadership to the Ohio Corn Performance Test, a flagship program with 50+ years of history. Through collaborative efforts, sunflower research was launched in 2022. He is an active member of the Agronomic Crops Team and the Program of Excellence in Natural Rubber Alternatives (PENRA). Osler teaches the Domestication and Utilization of Agronomics Crops (HCS-5411) course.
For Osler, research, extension, and teaching are not the end of the story. He appreciates the dynamics in his position as a way to build service opportunities, connections, and relationships with students, faculty, staff, farmers, industry, stakeholders, and institutions in Ohio (and beyond). He enjoys visiting state and national parks, bicycling, and having grill-outs. Being a coffee grower, he welcomes a good cup of coffee anytime. Osler looks forward to meeting more OSU Wooster community members in the coming months and years. If you would like to connect, contact Osler via email (ortez.5@osu.edu), phone (785-370-9369), or stop by his office in Williams Hall, 214.