Western

OSU fertilization research shows savings for berry growers

In the late 1990s, Oregon growers had many questions about the best fertilizing methods for blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, strawberry and kiwiberries. Information available focused on typical grower practices and/or research from ...

Mar 2021 | Impact Story

Extension support of farm loops helps connect people to local food systems

On-farm sales and activities are on the rise in Oregon as producers look for different avenues to make their farms and ranches viable. They are increasingly turning to agritourism, which is a form of commercial enterprise that...

Mar 2023 | Impact Story

Tree School Online helps woodland owners during COVID-19

More than 79,000 family forest owners in Oregon manage 3.6 million acres of private forestland, providing substantial economic, social and ecological value. Surveys show that landowner goals are diverse, as are the challenges they ...

Mar 2021 | Impact Story

OSU Extension steps up to address the needs of Oregon’s organic farms

Organic agriculture continues to grow rapidly in Oregon and is becoming an important economic engine in the state. The state ranks fifth in the nation in organic sales and is stronger than ever in farmers markets, community ...

Jan 2021 | Impact Story

OSU Extension Fire Program steps up for landowners after wildfires

Westside Oregon landscapes that typically don’t see frequent wildfire events were hit hard by the 2020 Labor Day fires. Fueled by dry conditions and fierce east winds, the westside fires burned over one million acres and ...

Dec 2020 | Impact Story

Extension-led effort enhances cover crops collaboration and education

Farmers use cover crops to improve soil, avoid erosion and keep weeds at bay, but there was no formal way to corral the available information for the growers who need it. Nick Andrews, Oregon State University Extension ...

Dec 2020 | Impact Story

Food Hero Bingo fosters healthy behavior changes outside of school

Many Oregon families struggle to get their kids to build healthy habits outside of school. In Oregon, nearly 12% youth ages 10 to 17 are obese, ranking 43rd in the United States and District of Columbia, according to the ...

Oct 2020 | Impact Story

$1 billion Oregon nursery industry benefits from OSU plant trials

As climate change transforms the weather in western Oregon, more and more nursery owners, landscapers and home gardeners are looking for plants that are fully drought-tolerant and cold-hardy. Development of genuinely low-input ...

Sep 2020 | Impact Story

Healthy Kids Club addresses food insecurity through home cooking skills

About 11% of Oregon’s 4.1 million residents said they faced food insecurity in 2018, similar to the U.S. average. Oregon has more than 300,0000 food insecure children, according to Oregon by the Numbers. Compounding food and ...

Aug 2020 | Impact Story

Research shows quinoa has potential to be a viable crop in Oregon

Quinoa has been grown for millennia in present-day Peru and Bolivia. Farmers there have cultivated thousands of varieties to provide consistent harvests in their diverse growing regions. The quinoa plant is a nutritious food, with...

Mar 2022 | Impact Story