CAHNRS News > Admin > CAHNRS News – May 31, 2013

CAHNRS News – May 31, 2013

May 30, 2013

Nicole Martini Appointed Interim WSU Master Gardener Program Leader

Nicole Martini, Master Gardener Program Coordinator in Pierce County, has been selected as the Interim WSU Extension Statewide Master Gardener Program Leader. She will assume the duties of Tonie Fitzgerald, who retires on July 1.

Nicole received her M.S. in Horticulture and Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Georgia in 2004, and her B.S. in Landscape Architecture from the University of Idaho in 1995. She brings a wealth of experience with Extension programs in agriculture, horticulture, environmental education, and Master Gardener program management in Georgia as well as here in Washington.

Nicole’s office will be located at the WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center, effective June 1. She will work closely with Tonie throughout the month of June for a smooth transition in program leadership. Nicole will assume full leadership responsibilities for the WSU MG Program on July 1. She may be reached by phone at 253-445-4516 or email nmartini@wsu.edu.

-Randy Baldree, Agricultural Extension Program Director & Assistant Director WSU Extension

Transitional Leadership for Marketing, News, and Educational Communications

Incoming Interim Dean Ron Mittelhammer and I have asked WSU Extension Associate Dean and Director Rich Koenig to serve as interim director of CAHNRS and WSU Extension Marketing, News, and Educational Communications (MNEC) effective June 1. Outgoing Interim Director Brian Clark is leaving to take a position with WSU Communications as associate executive director but will work with Rich to ensure a smooth transition. Dr. Koenig will serve as the supervisor of the unit until a permanent director is hired. All staff previously reporting to Brian Clark will report to Rich Koenig.

Rich and Brian, who have already been working closely together in collaboration with the MNEC team, will work together to keep the web integration project on schedule. Brian will continue to work with the writing and marketing staff to make sure On Solid Ground, Voice of the Vine, and Green Times and other communications tools continue to be published on time. Rich will work with the publishing staff to continue to refine the Extension publishing process, work he has already begun.

Though transition is always a challenge, Ron and I have complete confidence in the highly capable Marketing, News, and Educational Communications staff to meet this challenge and to continue to produce the high-quality work they are known for throughout CAHNRS and WSU Extension.

-Dan Bernardo, dean

Photo ID

What do we have here? Who is the man in a white jacket, holding a loupe, and examining a fruit tree in blossom?
Is he looking at pests, the blossoms, or another item of interest? Where was he stationed? And what kind of tree is this—apple, pear, cherry, or something else?

Need to see more detail? Just click the picture for a larger version.

WSU CAHNRS is seeking your help in cataloging its photo archive. We need your help to identify, as best you can,

the contents,
the date, and
the identity of the photographer.

Can you help us get started?

Please go to our Photo ID page and use the Comments field to tell us about this photo. We have nearly 200 photos posted that need identification, so please see our Photo ID page to help us preserve CAHNRS and Extension history!

Jack Rogers’ Retirement Gathering

On April 7, more than 100 guests including current and former colleagues, friends and former students gathered in Pullman to wish Dr. Jack Rogers a happy retirement. Dr. Rogers, Regents Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology, WSU, retired in January, 2013 after 50 years on the faculty. During his career at WSU, he published prolifically on the systematics of ascomycetes and is particularly well known for his work on important pyrenomycete genera including Xylaria and Hypoxylon. In addition to directing the research of numerous graduate students, he taught courses in forest tree pathology and mycology, and served on WSU Press Editorial Board. He served as department chairman for over 13 years. He is a member of American Phytopathological Society, Botanical Society of America, British Mycological Society, and Mycological Society of America (MSA). He served as Councilor and President of Mycological Society of America. He received numerous honors and awards, including Wade Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1966-67, Northwest Scientific Association Outstanding Scientist Award in 1978, Outstanding Teacher in the WSU Department of Forestry and Range Management in 1985 and 1986, WSU President’s Award for Excellence in Research in 1986, WSU Library Excellence Award, MSA W.H. Weston Award for Teaching Excellence, and MSA Distinguished Mycologist Award. Rogers has been instrumental in developing mycology into one of the areas of research pre-eminence at WSU. He was instrumental in making the Mycological Herbarium at WSU into a world class facility for educational and research purposes and has been a staunch proponent of the university libraries, especially the George Fischer Agricultural Sciences Library, named for one of the mycologists who preceded him at WSU. Rogers was honored by promotion to Regents Professor and was recognized with the Eminent Faculty award, the highest honor a faculty member could receive at WSU.

Dr. Hanu Pappu, department chair, welcomed the attendees and thanked Ms. Cheryl Hagelganz, Administrative Manager-Plant Pathology for organizing the event. Dr. Dan Bernardo, Vice President for Agriculture and Extension and Dean, CAHNRS, who was in attendance, recognized Dr. Rogers for his 50 years of distinguished service to the college and WSU. Dr. Dean Glawe, professor of Plant Pathology, gave an overview of Dr. Rogers’ professional accomplishments. Drs. Bob Allan Emeritus Professor, Tony Fernandez, President, Lewis and Clark State College, and Jim Durfey, instructor of Crops and Soil Sciences AGTM and former student, reminisced their experiences with Dr. Rogers.

For pictures from this event: http://plantpath.wsu.edu/whatsnew/2013/Rogers%20reception%20edited.pdf.

Friendly competition, organized by dairy commissions in both states, set for June

It’s Oregon vs. Washington in the fight against hunger

The issue of hunger in the Pacific Northwest is not going away, but neither are those who can help do something about it, including farmers, retailers, and a donating public in both Oregon and Washington. To help celebrate June as dairy month, a partnership that began with dairy producers has been established to raise $100,000 and 100,000 pounds of food before July. As an incentive, the states of Oregon and Washington are competing to see who brings in the most donations.

The month-long drive, referred to as “Northwest Farmers Fighting Hunger,” started as an idea of the Oregon and Washington Dairy Products Commissions but quickly picked up some enthusiastic partners. Fred Meyer stores are generously promoting the event and collecting donations at 110 locations in the two states. Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Washington State Department of Agriculture are lending support by wagering a contest between the two states–-complete with a verbal challenge between ODA Director Coba and WSDA Director Bud Hover–-and the winner takes home a bonafide victory trophy to keep for the next year. The plan is to make this food drive and two-state contest an annual affair. The final partners are the food assistance organizations in both states that will distribute the donations–-Oregon Food Bank, Food Lifeline, and Second Harvest.

Everything kicks off next week with events scheduled for Monday, June 3 at the Hollywood West Fred Meyer Store in Portland, and Wednesday, June 5, at the Ballard Fred Meyer in Seattle. The two state directors of agriculture will be on hand in their respective states to launch the drive.

The momentum created by the dairy commissions in both Oregon and Washington has spread to other commodity groups that hope to have a presence during the month-long food drive. Help from Fred Meyer has given the event a tremendous boost. Collection bins will be in place in stores and cash donations can be made at Fred Meyer checkout registers.

No matter which state raises the most food and monetary donations, everyone will come out a winner if residents of Oregon and Washington who are able to give will answer the challenge.

Kudos

Dr. Desmond R. Layne, Endowed Chair – Tree Fruit Extension Program Leader and Professor of Pomology, is on the scientific committee and is an invited speaker for the I.S.H.S. VIII International Peach Symposium (June 17-20, 2013) in Matera, Italy. His presentation entitled “Everything About Peaches: Website, Social Media, YouTube and Other Tools for Peach Grower Education,” will be followed by a roundtable discussion on how best to engage and educate fruit growers around the world.

Dr. Gary Grove, professor of plant pathology based at the WSU Prosser IAREC, has been appointed director of IAREC effective May 20. Grove and a five-person transition team comprised of IAREC faculty and staff will work to continue the high-level of productivity that has been observed over the past several years, and position the center for a new director to assume leadership in 2014.

Yu Ma, a Ph.D. student working with Dr. Dorrie Main, received a scholarship of $2000 from the University of Washington to attend the 18th Summer Institute of Statistical Genetics in Seattle in July.

Upcoming Events

WSU Organic Farm on the Mall

Fresh-picked organic produce from WSU’s Organic Farm will be offered for sale at a farm stand on WSU’s Terrell Mall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays, beginning May 8th. Due to many requests for the farm’s produce, the farm stand will be open starting in May and running through early October. The first weeks will include fresh greens from the hoophouses and organic vegetable and flower starts for sale. The farm accepts cash and checks only.

Winter canola the focus of upcoming tours

AgVentures NW Winter Canola Variety Trial Tour
Wednesday, May 29, 9:00-11:00 a.m., Paul & Lorri Williams’ farm northwest of Reardan.
This tour will begin with learning about canola production from Paul and Lorri’s perspective, including discussion of seeding dates and harvesting methods. Other agenda items include disease and pest management strategies by John Merkel of AgLink, an oilseed research and outreach update from WSU/USDA-ARS, and walking tours of both the large scale winter canola variety plots and the University of Idaho winter canola variety trials.
Contact: Paul Porter, AgVentures NW; 509-348-0060, paul@agventuresnw.com

WSU Tour of Fresh Wheat Stubble Management for Irrigated Winter Canola
Thursday May 30, 7:00-8:30 p.m., Jeff Schibel farm near Odessa
This twilight tour will feature an update about a winter canola research trial WSU established last fall to look at four winter wheat stubble management treatments, including direct-seeding winter canola into fresh winter wheat stubble. Jeff will share his experiences with 15 years of irrigated winter canola production, and Roy Andrews from Wilbur-Ellis will discuss winter canola fertilizer, herbicide and disease management strategies. The evening will conclude with a tour of the University of Idaho winter canola variety trials at the same location.
Contact: Karen Sowers, WSU Crop & Soil Sciences 808-283-7013, or ksowers@wsu.edu

Oregon State University Pendleton Agricultural Research Center Field Day
June 11, 7:45 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Pendleton, OR
Registration begins at 7:45, and tours begin at 8:35 a.m. Presentations during the tours will be by university and ARS scientists, including one stop at an early-planted, biennial winter canola study investigating nitrogen fertilizer application timing, and the potential for forage production. Other stops feature quinoa, barely, winter field peas, winter wheat, wheat diseases, and more. A hosted lunch is provided, and tours conclude at 2:30 with an ice cream social.
Contact: 541-278-4186 or complete program is posted at www.cbarc.aes.oregonstate.edu

Oregon State University Sherman Co. Agricultural Research Center Field Day
Wednesday, June 12, 7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Moro, OR
Biennial canola production (early-seeded canola) will be one of several stops on the bus tour at the field day. Wheat diseases and management, winter wheat breeding and variety trials, and transitioning CRP ground to wheat production will also be discussed at other stops on the tour. A hosted lunch at the Sherman Co. fairgrounds will be provided following the tours.
Contact: 541-278-4186 or see complete details at www.cbarc.aes.oregonstate.edu.

Croplan Genetics/Winfield Solutions cereal grain and canola Answer Plot® tour
June 27, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Carothers Rd. west of Pullman
Winfield Solutions established this long-term cropping systems trial in 2011-12, and it is the first Answer Plot® location in the Pacific Northwest, near Pullman. The test plots serve as an outdoor classroom to provide those attending with production results and help make planning decisions for their next crop. Please RSVP for the tour and lunch.
Contact: Beau Blachly, (509) 843-7334 or bpblachly@landolakes.com

University of Idaho Parker Farm Field Day
Tuesday, July 9, 8:00 a.m., Parker Farm, Moscow, Idaho.
The PSES Department at University of Idaho is hosting a field day that will include tours of canola, mustard and rapeseed research trials as well as other agricultural research. The field day concludes with a hosted lunch at noon.

In eNews

The May 22 issue of On Solid Ground has stories about Borlaug Fellow Michael Lege, growing mushrooms, and recently updated handbooks from the WSU Extension Online Bookstore.

The May 23 issue of Voice of the Vine brews up stories on Cougar Ale, provides an update on the Wine Center at WSU Tri-Cities, profiles recent grads in the wine industry, and links to a video on the WSU V&E Clubs’ winemaking project.

The May 23 issue of Green Times features a story on the power of flowers in pest management and high-residue farming.