Western

Developing Oregon’s winter vegetable market project fills need

Winter squash is a delicious and nutritious vegetable. Pacific Northwest retail winter squash sales peak in October/November and decline through April when almost all the squash sold in Oregon is imported from California or Mexico....

Apr 2023 | Impact Story

Extension grass seed study helps improve farm efficiency

Grass seed is big business in Oregon, with a value of $458.3 million in 2020 – making it the fourth most valuable crop in the state. Growers use swathers to harvest the crop, but a significant portion of seed can be ...

Jul 2020 | Impact Story

Master Woodland Manager volunteers improve Lane County forest health

Forests cover 85% of Lane County and have long been considered a major jewel in the crown of the county’s natural resources. Lane County’s family woodland owners play a vital role in forest management, providing substantial ...

Apr 2021 | Impact Story

OSU wheat and barley field trial helps growers make annual variety choices

In 2020, wheat was Oregon's sixth-largest commodity, with a value at the farm gate of $273.7 million. While barley production is substantially lower than wheat production, the grain is an important rotation crop in many parts ...

Feb 2021 | Impact Story

Oregon State entomologists develop organic product to control fruit pest

The invasive spotted wing drosophila (SWD) first arrived in Oregon in 2009. While its fruit fly cousins lay their eggs in overripe fruit, this insect lays eggs in berries, cherries and other soft fruits as they begin to ...

Aug 2019 | Impact Story

Community scientists track climate change, blaze new paths of communication

Climate change brings new challenges and with those come a demand for information to help natural resource-based communities. Collaboration between researchers, community scientists and the Oregon State University Extension Service is a...

Apr 2021 | Impact Story

Farm tours address dairy production misconceptions

Few people are familiar with how milk is produced, handled and processed. Misconceptions and lack of knowledge about animal agriculture can lead people to opinions and actions based on inaccurate information and mistaken beliefs. ...

Mar 2024 | Impact Story

IPM program helps vegetable growers maximize efficiency

Pest monitoring is considered the first step in integrated pest management (IPM), because it helps people know if they have a pest problem, and what species may be contributing to it. Agricultural professionals in the Willamette...

Jan 2019 | Impact Story

OSU Extension provides leadership for statewide Outdoor School

Outdoor School is a transformative, immersive experience that instills environmental literacy and positive learning behaviors in students. It also encourages a belief that Oregon is a special place, with ecosystems they can enjoy and...

Mar 2024 | Impact Story

OSU institute responds to growing smoke exposure in wine grapes

An increase in the frequency of wildfires in California, Oregon and Washington in recent years has exposed wine grapes in some areas to high levels of smoke. One of the affected areas has been Oregon's fertile Willamette ...

Mar 2022 | Impact Story