In the high desert of Central Oregon, farmers produce some of the world’s most valuable hybrid carrot seed. But their fields face a persistent and costly threat: a plant disease called bacterial blight, caused by the ...
Pear, cherry and apple production is vital to Oregon’s rural economy, valued at a combined $200 million in 2022. But the industry faces serious challenges: climate change, rising costs, labor shortages and stricter regulations. ...
Oregon’s wine industry is known for producing high-quality wines and a wide variety of grape cultivars. Since commercial production began in the 1960s, the state has earned a strong reputation, ranking fourth in the United ...
The direct value of the wheat harvest in Oregon in 2022 was approximately $431 million, ranking sixth in value among the state's agricultural commodities. That economic weight means growers stay vigilant against threats to yield ...
Invasive annual grasses are a growing threat to the Great Basin desert ecosystem which includes much of Eastern Oregon. These grasses — such as medusahead, cheatgrass and ventenata — displace native plants, reduce habitat ...
In the drylands of Eastern Oregon, wheat farming is a way of life — and growers are looking for ways to replenish stored soil carbon and improve soil health in their fields. Oregon State University researchers at the ...
Oregon’s sagebrush ecosystem has declined by about 50% over the past 150 years due to invasive annual grasses, increased wildfire activity and encroaching conifers. This large-scale habitat loss has contributed to declines in ...
Oregon ranks among the top three onion-producing states in the United States, cultivating over 1.5 billion pounds of onions in 2020 across approximately 20,000 acres, primarily in Malheur, Morrow and Umatilla counties. The Snake ...
Oregon’s farmers continue to suffer losses from drought, heat waves, wildfire and other climate-related challenges. Traditional crop insurance and relief programs often don’t meet the needs of small-scale farmers who grow a wide ...
May 2025 |
Impact Story
Credit Oregon State University (Cropped from original)
Oregon’s grass seed industry, valued at $639.1 million in 2022, ranks fifth among the state's top agricultural commodities. While commissions have long supported research for ryegrass, tall fescue, fine fescue, orchardgrass and ...