On the Palouse and in the orchard country of central Washington, new infrastructure is helping shape the future of agriculture. Two projects, one now operational and the other at the midpoint of construction, will enable bold new approaches in CAHNRS research, education, and outreach.
The first, the new USDA-ARS Plant Bioscience Research Building, was dedicated this month on the Pullman campus. This state-of-the-art facility brings together ARS and WSU scientists in a shared environment designed to advance solutions for grower needs in grains, potatoes, crop breeding, weed management, and many other areas critical to Washington agriculture’s future.
The second, the new Plant Growth Facility at WSU’s Wenatchee Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center, has reached the midpoint of construction. This milestone brought together members of Washington’s tree fruit industry, faculty, donors, and partners for a tour of the building site on Oct. 26, offering a glimpse of the transformative opportunities this facility will create.
Both projects are decades in the making, and their realization reflects the foresight and commitment of partners who understand the enduring value of agricultural research. In Pullman, the USDA-WSU partnership reaches back to 1931 and is reflected in the legacy of Orville Vogel, the renowned USDA wheat breeder whose work helped fuel the Green Revolution. Washington grain growers, potato producers, and other agricultural leaders played an instrumental role in advocating for this much-needed investment.
In Wenatchee, the partnership with the tree fruit industry extends even further. Growers first called for a tree fruit experiment station in 1921, and the state established the station in 1937. Today, its 70-year-old greenhouses have long exceeded their intended lifespan. Through the combined support of the Washington Legislature and tree fruit industry donors, a new facility is now taking shape, creating a modern home for advanced experimentation, discovery, and innovation.
These two facilities demonstrate what is possible when agriculture, universities, industry partners, and federal agencies unite around a shared vision. Together, they are investing in buildings, and in people, ideas, and solutions that will strengthen the future of Washington agriculture for generations to come.
As these facilities come online, the impact of those investments will be realized through the discoveries, innovations, and solutions generated by USDA and WSU scientists, faculty, and students working side by side. It is an exciting moment for partnership and a powerful reminder of what can be accomplished when we invest in a common future.
Read ahead in this month’s newsletter for fuller coverage of both projects.
As always, Go CAHNRS Cougs!
— Raj Khosla, Cashup Davis Family Endowed Dean of CAHNRS