North Willamette

OSU research helps growers stay ahead of damaging flatheaded borers

Oregon produces the vast majority of the nation’s hazelnuts, and the industry supports family farms, rural jobs and local tax bases. The rapid expansion of new orchards over the past decade has strengthened the state’s ...

May 2026 | Impact Story

Willamette River Basin symposium renews planning and collaboration

The Willamette River Basin is Oregon’s most populated watershed and supports much of the state’s agriculture, industry, transportation and fish and wildlife habitat. In the coming decades, the basin is expected to face increasing...

May 2026 | Impact Story

Partnerships improve wildfire preparedness in Washington County

Washington County faces increasing wildfire risk as development expands into fire-prone areas, fuels accumulate and climate conditions change. These efforts reduce the likelihood and severity of future wildfire impacts, helping communities...

May 2026 | Impact Story

OSU research cuts labor costs in blackberry production

Oregon is a leading production state for machine-harvested trailing blackberries, an industry that supports growers, processors and rural communities. ‘Columbia Star’ has quickly become one of the region’s most widely planted ...

Apr 2026 | Impact Story

OSU Extension grows library partnerships for access to food preservation

Food preservation is a popular practice in Oregon, with more than half of households using methods beyond refrigeration and freezing. It helps families lower food costs, reduce waste and enjoy seasonal foods year-round. These ...

Apr 2026 | Impact Story

OSU study links stand spacing to Douglas-fir wood value

Douglas-fir is the backbone of Oregon’s timber industry and a major source of lumber, engineered wood products and manufacturing fiber in the Pacific Northwest. Better knowledge of how spacing affects wood development can help ...

Apr 2026 | Impact Story

OSU Extension expands access to forest education

Many Oregonians have limited access to practical, science-based forest education. That can reduce public understanding of forest ecology and management and weaken confidence in stewardship and natural resource decision-making. By combining...

Mar 2026 | Impact Story

Olea project supports development of Oregon’s olive industry

Interest in growing olives — a high-value specialty crop — is increasing in Oregon. However, research-based information on cultivar selection and production practices for the state is limited. Primary challenges include damage from...

Mar 2026 | Impact Story

OSU Extension meets growing demand for safe home food preservation

Nearly all U.S. households use some form of food preservation to extend the shelf life of perishable foods, stretch food budgets and prevent waste. A 2024 nationwide survey found that 49% of households preserved food through ...

Mar 2026 | Impact Story

OSU research shows smarter ways to manage a costly berry pest

Spotted-wing drosophila is a small fruit fly that can ruin berries right before harvest. Unlike the fruit flies many people know from kitchens, it can lay eggs in firm, ripening fruit still on the plant. The eggs hatch into...

Feb 2026 | Impact Story