Western

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

4-H partnership creates belonging for Oregon's military-connected youths

Oregon hosts U.S. Army and Air National Guard, Army Reserve and U.S. Coast Guard operations. More than 2,000 children with active-duty military parents and more than 7,200 children with parents in the National Guard or military ...

May 2026 | Impact Story

Wider spacing helps Oregon nurseries slow boxwood blight

Boxwood blight causes serious losses in nursery production by making plants unsalable and increasing management costs. Oregon is the nation’s leading producer of boxwood, supplying about one-fifth of the U.S. market, so disease ...

May 2026 | Impact Story

OSU builds high-tech tools for orchard growers

Pear, cherry and apple production are vital to Oregon’s rural economy, with cherry production valued at $68 million and pear production at $90.8 million. But the tree fruit industry faces growing pressure from climate change, ...

May 2026 | Impact Story

4-H partnership leads to outdoor school experience for Marion County fifth graders

Many fifth grade students in Marion County have limited access to consistent, hands-on outdoor science learning that connects classroom concepts to local ecosystems. Schools often face constraints related to time, transportation, funding...

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 pruning research helps hazelnut growers cut losses

Oregon is the center of the U.S. hazelnut industry, and the crop is an important driver of farm income, processing activity and rural economic vitality in the Willamette Valley. Hazelnuts support growers, nurseries, processors, ...

Apr 2026 | Impact Story

OSU Extension brings gardens and nutrition to classrooms

Many elementary students in Marion County — especially those in urban or dual-language classrooms — have limited opportunities for hands-on science, nutrition and garden-based learning. By responding to county priorities and ...

Apr 2026 | Impact Story

OSU Extension, partners develop strategy for gray-tailed vole control

Gray-tailed voles are a recurring pest in Oregon agriculture and can cause serious crop damage when populations surge. In the Willamette Valley, grass seed fields provide prime habitat. By identifying shared priorities and ...

Mar 2026 | Impact Story