On Solid Ground

Return on Investment, Animal Health, Regents Professors

Ag Research Earns High Returns on Investment Over the last several decades, the U.S. agricultural sector has sustained a high rate of productivity growth, driven largely by the nation’s agricultural research system, encompassing federal-state public research as well as private research. Economic analysis finds strong and consistent evidence that investment in agricultural research has yielded […]

Heroes, Community Partnership

WSU Beach Watchers Named “Environmental Heroes” Salmon recovery efforts in the Whidbey Basin of northwestern Washington are more strategic thanks to a team led by two Washington State University Extension Beach Watchers who have been named “Environmental Heroes” by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration for their efforts. NOAA annually distributes just 10 “Environmental Hero […]

Ag Exports, Flood Clean Up, Bioproducts Center Director

Washington Ag Exports Soar in 2007 Washington’s agriculture exporters had a banner year in 2007. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington exports topped $9.3 billion last year, a 38 percent increase from 2006. The dramatic increase in exports is a result of the strong yields by Washington growers, high prices producers are getting […]

New Wheat Varieties, Beekeeping, Sense of Place

WSU Releases Four New Wheat Varieties Washington State University has released four new wheat varieties for commercialization, including Xerpha, a soft-white common winter wheat, which is highly adapted to a broad range of production zones in Washington, Oregon, southern Idaho and northern California. “WSU’s job is to work in partnership with industry so growers will […]

Hello, Dahlia!, Vine to Wine Workshop

Hello, Dahlia! Ornamental flowers contribute an estimated $1 billion in sales to Washington’s “green industry,” making the greenhouse and nursery industry one of the state’s most valuable. In order for the flower industry to remain so robust, it’s vital for nurseries and growers to keep their plants free of disease and infection – especially when […]

Apple Genome, Peanuts, eXtension

Bringing Home the Apple (Genome) Cup Scientists at WSU and the University of Washington are spearheading a public, international effort to map and unlock the secrets of the apple genome to develop better tree fruit faster. “The Washington apple is an icon of quality around the globe,” said Dan Bernardo, dean of the WSU College […]

Molecular Lab, Ag Pilot Projects, Best Viticulture Paper

Molecular Lab Detects Pests, Trains Young Scientists As genomics research unravels some of life’s complexities, laboratories like the new molecular lab at WSU Puyallup applies that knowledge to real-world problems. For molecular geneticist Katie Coats, that means working with the WSDA and WSU Puyallup plant pathologist Gary Chastagner to understand the genetics of the exotic […]

Snow Mold, Bull Test, Sustainability

Genetic Map Should Speed Development of Snow Mold-Resistant Wheat A blanket of snow protects winter wheat from freezing, but heavy snow cover for too long on unfrozen ground can lead to a disease problem that farmers don’t want: snow mold. Snow mold is a fungus-caused disease of wheat and other grasses, including lawns. When severe, […]

AgWeatherNet, Pygmy Rabbits, Watershed Stewards

AgWeatherNet Hits the Palouse The Washington State University AgWeatherNet team recently installed a weather station at WSU’s Spillman Agronomy Farm located two miles southeast of Pullman. The station is equipped with sensors for monitoring and recording air temperature, wind speed and direction, relative humidity, solar radiation, leaf wetness, soil temperature and moisture at a depth […]

Tree Fruit, Blueberries, Ag Census

Neither Rain nor Heat As consumers, it’s easy to take for granted the perfectly shaped and colored produce we purchase in supermarkets. But food growers face a plethora of issues that threaten the profitability of their operations. For tree fruit growers, too much sun or too much rain can spell disaster. The sun’s radiant energy […]