Pacific Northwest
Free consulting, GAP audit reimbursement set for Washington small specialty crop farms
The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is now accepting applications for a new bilingual program offered to help small, specialty crop farms forced to adjust in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to a... more »
Biochar path charted in report from Washington State University
A team of biochar producers, practitioners, scientists, and engineers have published a roadmap for future development of the biochar industry in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. This collaborative effort between individuals from industry, universities and... more »
Roadmap for Soil Health Initiative released by Washington State University
A 124-page "roadmap that outlines current challenges and pathways to help maintain healthy soils as an agricultural and environmental resource has been released. Washington Soil Health Initiative, recently funded with a $2.1 million annual allocation... more »
Tracking a bacterial culprit in the case of the warty pumpkin
On a Halloween pumpkin, warts and bumps have a certain spooky charm. But some unwanted bacteria-caused blemishes open the door to infections that rot and ruin this bright, seasonal fruit. Pseudomonas syringae is a rod-shaped bacterium... more »
Extension is investigating zapping weeds for control
In agriculture weeds have a huge impact on crops and the bottom line, especially on organic farms where using herbicides aren’t an option. “Weeds are very problematic,” said Marcelo Moretti, weed specialist for the Oregon... more »
Clearview certification for recruitment practices goes to labor contractors
Stronger Together US has announced Oregon-based AgriLabor and California-based AgSocio are the first farm labor contractors (FLCs) to achieve Clearview certification in the United States. Clearview is a global certification program that recognizes farm labor... more »
Small-scale organic farming school offered in Washington state
Does a lifetime of digging in the dirt (building soil!) sound like an enticing career goal? If so, we just may have the solution to your post-pandemic career blues. Next month the critically acclaimed Organic... more »
Satellite image project measuring double cropping in fields funded by NASA
With a $100,000 grant from NASA Jet Propulsion Lab’s Western Water Applications Office, Washington State University researchers will scour more than 20 years of satellite imagery to learn whether the farming technique of double cropping... more »