Dr. Osler Ortez

I'm from northern Nicaragua - my family farms coffee. Our rural communities also had small scale corn & the equivalent of US soybeans. I was interested to expand my education through graduate school in the US, I was fortunate to find the opportunities to pursue those goals. 

Agronomic management in corn production:

• Planting date and hybrid selection, see our featured project on this Battle for the Belt. 

• Corn and soybean replant guidelines: research & extension to help farmers make informed decisions.

• Intensive management and input application effects in corn physiology and yield. 

Cover crops and cropping systems:

• Evaluating cover crops, field history, and their effect on subsequent cash crops - unlocking the potential.

• Cover crop establishment methods and biological applications in corn-soybean systems. 

• Water productivity, soil carbon, and sustainability of integrated Multi-Crop Systems using field-scale research. 

Emerging crops:

• From 2022 to 2025, we studied sunflower's agronomic viability as full-season and double crop options in Ohio.

• New Engineering Research Center for Transformation of American Rubber through Domestic Innovation for Supply Security (TARDISS).

I come from a background of coffee production (in northern Nicaragua), soybean production (in Kansas and Argentina), and corn production (in Nebraska and the US Midwest). As soon as I saw the job posting here at OSU; I knew it was perfect for my interests - I was a bit early applying (I was still finishing up my PhD) but thought I would put my best foot forward to achieve my bigger goals.

My program works with domestic and international students, either as student interns, visiting scholars, or graduate students. As an example, students or alumni from Zamorano University in Honduras have fulfilled some of these roles.

Agronomy, Crops & Soils (aka the tri-societies meeting) - is my favorite; I've attended the past 9 years! This is a great meeting for making new connections, seeing scientific advancements & getting new ideas to bring back home.

All the new faculty members - I'm looking forward to working with whoever comes. The new ideas, projects & backgrounds they'll bring will surely make for exciting collaborations!

I like to have a good balance between work, family & community. I'm a big mountain biker & active member of my church. I also try to be involved in activities that support the community (I'm currently involved with a non-profit that helps kids with autism get some training in agriculture activities). I also enjoy BBQs and hanging out with friends & talking with family.