Dr. Richard Zack, Assistant Director for the ARC
The Agricultural Research Center is pleased to announce Dr. Richard Zack will be acting as the Assistant Director for the ARC, taking the lead on the reporting system for all ARC research projects. Dr. Zack will also be assisting with the Plan of Work/Annual Report to the USDA, and representing the ARC at various meetings or travel where appropriate. We welcome Rich to the ARC.
Washington Cherry, Stone Fruit Growers Invest in WSU
Cherry and stone fruit growers throughout the state have agreed to make a $5 million investment over the next eight years to support research and extension at Washington State University Centers in Prosser and Wenatchee. This investment builds on a similar measure passed by apple and pear growers in 2011 to galvanize the partnership between the Washington tree fruit industry and WSU.
“The close partnership between Washington’s tree fruit industry and Washington State University continues to be transformational,” said WSU President Elson S. Floyd. “Working together for more than a century, we have helped to make Washington a world leader in tree fruit production.”
“The assessment by cherry and stone fruit growers in combination with the $27 million investment in WSU made by apple and pear growers in 2011 helps to ensure that our partnership in progress continues for an even brighter future for our state. We are extremely grateful for the industry’s confidence and investment in WSU.”
This investment comes at a time when the state’s $46 billion food and agriculture industry continues to increase its contribution to the state’s economy. Annually, the Washington tree fruit industry accounts for more than $7 billion of economic impact, with more than a third of that total derived from exports. Read more »
Showcase for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (SURCA)
Please encourage undergraduates to participate. The deadline to submit abstracts is February 15. The showcase will be March 29, 2013 in the CUB Ballrooms. See details at http://bit.ly/SURCA.
Academic Advising Survey
All CAHNRS teaching faculty should encourage their students to take the 2012-2013 CAHNRS Academic Advising Survey so that we can continue to monitor the quality of our advising. The survey will remain live until Friday, February 8. Our goal is to identify good advising strategies that are working well for students, and to help identify opportunities for improvement. The survey is available at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/AdvisingSurvey2012. Survey flyers also are posted around CAHNRS, allowing students to use their smart phones to access the survey by scanning the QR code. The survey has 14 questions and should take 5-10 minutes to complete. For more information, contact Adrea Cox, andrea.cox@wsu.edu, 509-335-5013.
Heart of Crimson Online Fundraising Campaign
The WSU Foundation has launched its first online giving fundraising campaign, called “A Heart of Crimson.” The campaign will run from February 7 through February 14, centering around Valentine’s Day with a goal of raising $25,000 through the online giving website, HeartofCrimson.wsu.edu. Sharing the Heart of Crimson campaign with your friends, family, and fellow Cougars will help make this campaign a success.
Suggested Facebook Posts and online teasers:
- Cougs have a Heart of Crimson. Show your Heart of Crimson and give to what you love today at HeartofCrimson.wsu.edu.
- Show you have a Heart of Crimson and make a gift to something you love today at HeartofCrimson.wsu.edu.
- We know you love WSU, and this week you can show it. Make a gift online at HeartofCrimson.wsu.edu and help us raise $25,000 for WSU.
Events
Apple, Pear and Potato Sales
WSU apple, pear and potato sales will continue on Fridays in February from noon to 6 p.m. at the WSU Tukey Horticulture Orchard at the junction of Terre View Drive and Airport Road. Included are McIntosh and other early apples; Fuji and other late apples; d’Anjou and Abate Fetel pears; and this year’s crop of potatoes. Payment by cash and check only. For more details about specific varieties and prices, as well as schedule updates, please see http://horticulture.wsu.edu/orchard.
Graduate School Questions and Answers
Undergraduates can get the answers to common questions about graduate school at a session co-sponsored by the WSU Office of Research & Graduate School and the Honors Student Advisory Council. February 21, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. in the Honors Hall Lounge, Room 110. See details at http://bit.ly/12wyw83.
Spanish Strengthening Families Program Facilitator Training
Registration is open for Facilitator Training for the Spanish version of Extension’s Strengthening Families Program for Parents and Youth 10-14, Fortaleciendo Familias. The training will take place in Bellingham Feb. 27-March 1. The registration form, information about the program and videos of parent graduates talking about their experiences are available at http://bit.ly/WQW5lE. Anyone with interest is welcome.
The Art of Queen Bee Rearing Workshop
WSU Pullman, June 12 & 13, 2013 and WSU Mt Vernon Ag Station, July 19, 2013. Details at http://entomology.wsu.edu/apis/.
“Vine to Wine” Workshop
WSU, in collaboration with wine-industry professionals, is offering a two-day intensive “Vine to Wine” workshop, 20-21 April in Prosser. For more information and to register, please visit http://bit.ly/Vhq6MT.
Save the Date: Cultural Competency Training for Extension Professionals
Navigating Difference: Cultural Competency Training for Extension Professionals, presented by WSU Extension on May 14-16, 2013, Federal Way, Wash. TheNavigating Difference training is one of four Essential Skills Trainings based on the core competencies for WSU Extension Professionals and is recommended for all Extension personnel. For details, see http://bit.ly/Tsj8qE.
Seminars
Improvement of Heating Uniformity in Peanut Butter during Radio Frequency Pasteurization using Polyetherimide ‘Ultem,’ presented by Yang Jiao, and Microbial oil production from lignocellulosic biomass by Cryptococcus curvatus, presented by Xiaochen Yu, Ph.D. candidates in Biological Systems Engineering, Friday, February 8, 2013, a 4 p.m. in FSHN Room T101.
Dr. Jane Payumo, International Research, International Programs, WSU “Crop Improvement in Emerging Economies: Harnessing Global Plant Science Innovations for Food Security,” Monday, February 11, 3:10-4:00 p.m. in Johnson Hall Room 204 and via WECN.
Elizabeth Kramer, M.S. student, Induction of systemic acquired resistance in cucumber: A possible mechanism for suppression of Pythium root rot by compost (See Announcement) and Taras Nazarov, Ph.D. student, RNA sequencing analysis of Magnaporthe oryzae and rice interaction (See Announcement), Monday, February 11, 4:10 p.m. in Johnson Hall 343 and via WECN Dial-up #:5777077.
Invited Horticulture Speaker: Douglas Young, Professor, School of Economic Sciences, WSU, Procedures for Evaluating Yields and Profitability of Small-Scale Organic Vegetable Farms, Thursday, February 14, 2:50 – 3:40 p.m., Pullman, Murrow 55 and transmitted via AMS.
Invited Horticulture Speaker: Elizabeth Mitcham, Director, Postharvest Technology Center, UC Davis, Thursday, February 21, 2:50 – 3:40 p.m., Pullman, Murrow 55 and transmitted via AMS.
Kudos
Desmond Layne, WSU endowed chair and professor of pomology, was honored by his peers during the recent Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference in Savannah, GA. The members of the South Carolina Peach Council awarded Layne the title of “Mister Peach,” based on his “outstanding contributions to the peach industry.”
Geyang Wu (pursuing a Ph.D. in Food Science) and Chen Liu (pursuing a M.S. in Food Science), both students in the School of Food Science, are the second place winners of the Flexible Packaging Association’s (FPA) 2013 Student Flexible Packaging Design Challenge. Their flexible packaging prototype for the SAFE YOGURT TUBE was selected from seven outstanding prototypes/bench samples submitted into the 2012 challenge. The judges found their flexible packaging solution to be a “good safety feature” enhancement to an existing flexible package. Their package will be displayed during the 2013 FPA Annual Meeting (February 26-28, 2013) in the 2013 Student Flexible Packaging Design Challenge Showcase. FPA will also highlight their winning entry in an upcoming issue of the FPA Update in Flexible Packaging Magazine.
WSU School of Food Science M.S. student Megan Waldrop won a travel award to attend the USDA Agricultural Forum in Arlington, Virginia on February 21-22, 2013. She was chosen based on her essay on “The Greatest Challenge Facing Agriculture Over the Next 5 Years.” It is a sponsored trip that includes a tour of the ARS and other meetings in addition to the forum.
WSU Puyallup 2012 Employee of the Year awards went to Marianne Elliott, Admin Professional Employee of the Year, and Jim Grosz, Classified Staff Employee of the Year. They each received a WSU sweatshirt, a WSU key chain, and had their names engraved on a plaque.
Recent News Releases
WSU Professor Explores Corporate Social Responsibility in Small Apparel Firms
WSU Student’s Designs Part of Prince Harry Charities Fashion Show
Washington Cherry, Stone Fruit Growers Approve $5 Million Special Project Assessment to Support WSU Research, Extension
Avoid Herbicide Drift and Damage to Susceptible Crops or Plants
Family Forest Expo slated at Green River Community College, March 23
WSU Student Chapter Donates Shoes for Soles4Souls Philanthropy
In study of organic apparel, everyone has their price
All our news releases are archived at http://cahnrsnews.wsu.edu/news-archive/.
New in CAHNRS e-Newsletters
The January 30 edition of On Solid Ground discusses the launch of the Plant Health International website by emeritus professor James Cook, and profiles Doris Sonstelie, a Yakima County master gerdener and 2013 winner of WSU’s Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Community Service Award. Read all about it at http://bit.ly/YXdzSE.
Archives
CAHNRS News is archived at http://cahnrsnews.wsu.edu/category/cnews/.