Mar. 14 – 20

On Wednesday the food industry website FreshPlaza.com posted a news release from the company PEAKfresh USA about how their packaging products for cherries fared in independent tests conducted by the WSU Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center.
http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=77818

On Saturday the Australian publication, The Land, included an article about the value of developing perennial grains that mentions the research collaboration between WSU and The Land Institute to breed perennial wheat.
http://theland.farmonline.com.au/news/state/grains-and-cropping/grains/perennial-grain-saviours/2105091.aspx?storypage=1

This week’s Western Farmer-Stockman is the latest publication to report on Ken Casavant‘s study on the plight of the nation’s private freight railcar fleet.
http://mobile.westernfarmerstockman.com/main.aspx?ascxid=cmsNewsStory&rmid=0&rascxid=&args=&rargs=9&dt=634359595554178067&cmsSid=47352&cmsScid=9

Tuesday’s Othello Outlook included a story announcing the Rural Washington Conference being cosponsored by the WSU Extension Horizons Project.
http://othellooutlook.com/?p=18021

The Yakima Herald-Republic reported on Monday that Latinos are using smart phones more than the general population, with Monica Babine commenting on the likely reasons.
http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2011/03/13/latinos-lead-the-way-in-smart-phone-use

Friday’s Daily Olympian reported on efforts to improve energy efficiency at the Tumwater City Hall in partnership with the WSU Extension Energy Program.
http://www.theolympian.com/2011/03/18/1583502/tumwater-replacing-old-lights.html

A column in Monday’s Seattle Times about two women who co-founded the educational Rwanda Girls Initiative mentions that WSU helped set up a farm at a Rwandan school started by the Initiative and garnered support of other universities.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/jerrylarge/2014489552_jdl14.html

Wednesday’s Yakima Herald reported on a consumer finding an apple with two distinct colors in a local story, with Mike Bush and Matt Whiting commenting on how it might have occurred.
http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2011/03/15/slice-of-yakima-abnormal-apple-can-t-seem-to-make-up-its-mind

An Associated Press gardening story appearing in several papers nationally including the Philadelphia Inquirer on synthetic versus organic fertilizers includes comments by Rich Koenig.
http://www.philly.com/philly/living/green/Pros_and_cons_of_organic_vs_synthetic_fertilizers_.html

A gardening article by the Franklin County Master Gardeners (Pennsylvania) appearing Thursday in the Chambersburg Public Opinion newspaper on handling roots properly when transplanting is based on information from Linda Chalker-Scott.
http://www.publicopiniononline.com/ci_17632085

Thursday’s Islands Weekly (San Juan Islands) included a story on the WSU San Juan County Beach Watchers and their current recruiting efforts.
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/sanjuans/isw/entertainment/118177104.html

In this week’s Capital Press:

“Millions spent to halt Ug99”
http://www.capitalpress.com/subscribers/mw-Cornell-Ug99-031111-Mike-Pumphrey-mug

“Cover crop ‘cocktail’ mulled”
http://www.capitalpress.com/subscribers/MW-cover-crop-031811

“Conservation tillage heads to California”
http://www.capitalpress.com/subscribers/CP-conservation-tillage-031811

“Pea acreage migrates to greener pastures”
http://www.capitalpress.com/subscribers/SB-SEED-pea-processing-031811-art-p-7

“WSU barley breeder retiring”
http://www.capitalpress.com/subscribers/mw-barley-breeder-retires-brief-031811

“Judicious pesticide use critical for pollinators”
http://www.capitalpress.com/subscribers/SB-small-farm-bees-031811-art

News Releases:

“Protect Your Livestock Investment with Proper Livestock Handling Workshops”

“Become a Volunteer Rosario Beach Naturalist”

“WSU Diversity Training Named a Program of Distinction”

“Stewardship Course Helps Woodland Owners Enjoy Land, Save Money”