Polk

Online classes assist Oregon's $328 million wine industry

When Oregon's 1,200 vineyards need the latest information on growing grapes, they've been able to get it from online resources offered by Oregon State University. The number of vineyards in Oregon has doubled since 2005, and ...

Feb 2021 | Impact Story

Oregon Wine Research Institute helps state's vineyards and wineries stay competitive

Oregon's $271 million wine industry is based on producing premium-quality wines, not mass quantities. If wineries want to compete with premium regions around the world, they know that research is necessary to keep them on the ...

Jun 2021 | Impact Story

Organic farmers save money on fertilizer with OSU Extension tool

Farmers must walk a fine line when applying nitrogen fertilizer. Too little affects yield. Too much wastes money, makes crops more susceptible to some pests and threatens water quality. Managing nitrogen is especially complex for ...

Mar 2022 | Impact Story

OSU establishes demonstration orchard for state’s growing cider industry

Oregon’s cider industry is growing rapidly and the state is emerging as a national leader in craft cider production. The Pacific Northwest is home to one-quarter of the nation’s cider-makers. Interestingly, most of the cider ...

Jan 2021 | Impact Story

OSU helps Oregon's forest products industry remain competitive

About 80% of Oregon’s forestland is classified as “timberland" – forestland that can productively grow commercial-grade timber. From the end of World War II until 1989, timber harvests in Oregon generally ranged from 7 ...

Jun 2021 | Impact Story

OSU research keeps Oregon Christmas tree industry No. 1 in the nation

Oregon is the No. 1 producer of Christmas trees in the United States, selling about 4.5 million trees a year. With a market value of $110 million, Oregon's Christmas tree industry ranked as the 14th most valuable Oregon ...

Apr 2021 | Impact Story

School IPM Program protects health and safety of Oregon children

Asthma is the top cause of absenteeism in U.S. public K-12 schools. Mice urine is an asthma trigger, and mice are one of the top pests in Oregon schools. Mice and other pests can carry numerous life-threatening diseases. ...

Jan 2024 | Impact Story

OSU Extension Small Farms Program among nation’s best

A majority of the 35,547 farms in Oregon are small-acreage, meaning they are 50 acres or less in area. The smallest farms, or those with less than 10 acres, account for 32% of all farms. Farms between 10 and 50 acres ...

Apr 2024 | Impact Story

OSU’s 10-year study gives organic blueberry growers a leg up

Finding ways to reduce costs while increasing production is critical for organic blueberry growers. Organic fertilizers cost 10 times more than conventional products and approved herbicides are less effective and costlier. The Oregon ...

Apr 2023 | Impact Story

Food Hero enables Oregonians to eat healthier

For all the wealth of fruits and vegetables the state’s farmers produce, many low-income Oregonians struggle to include recommended amounts in their diets. An OSU survey of about 1,200 Oregonians eligible for federal food ...

Jul 2020 | Impact Story