The latest guides from WSU Extension help Washington agricultural producers learn how to grow poplar as a bioenergy crop, and explore the feasibility of the Duke blueberry in northwest fields.
Growing Hybrid Poplar for Bioenergy in the PNW (EM123)
Hybrid poplar trees are a renewable source of biofuels in the Pacific Northwest. This 116-page manual helps growers interested in the production of hybrid poplar on short-coppice rotations as feedstock for biorefineries. Coppicing is the method of cutting poplars near the ground at harvest. Cost is $60; authors include Brian Stanton, Carlos Gantz, Mark Coleman, Jeffrey Comnick, Andrew Cooke, Luke Rogers, Jesus Espinoza, Marina Heppenstall, Richard Shuren, Jeffrey Kallestad, Brian Moser, George Newcombe, Posy Busby, Austin Himes, Rick Stonex, Nora Haider, R. Andrew Rodstrom, Noelle Hart, Kevin Zobrist, John Brown, and Doug Walsh.
In 2021, Washington State was the largest national producer of conventional highbush blueberries. ‘Duke’ is an early-ripening northern highbush cultivar, favored by growers due to its adaptability and high yield potential. This guide helps growers understand inputs, costs, and yields that are typical of well-managed ‘Duke’ fields. Authors include R. Karina Gallardo, professor and extension specialist, School of Economic Sciences; Suzette Galinato, WSU Extension assistant professor; and Chris Benedict, professor and agriculture agent, Whatcom County Extension.
Find more guides online at the WSU Extension publications website.