Western

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 Honey Bee Lab helps keep pollinators healthy and thriving

Honeybees are crucial pollinators for many crops, including apples, blueberries, cherries, carrots, clover, melons, almonds and broccoli. Nationwide, they pollinate an estimated $20 billion in food crops each year. But the total number...

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

OSU's Croptime helps farmers plant veggies at the right time

Well-timed harvests enable growers to meet demand for consistent supplies of produce. Good timing also helps farmers schedule labor when they need it, and can help minimize pest damage at stages during the growing season when ...

Feb 2021 | Impact Story

Extension helps deliver critical reforesting information and seedlings to woodland owners affected by 2020 wildfires

Following the 2020 Labor Day week wildfires that affected more than 180,000 acres of family-owned forestland in Oregon, many of the more than 5,000 owners found it almost impossible to find seedlings or tree planters to ...

Mar 2023 | Impact Story

Extension Small Farms Program among nation’s best

Many people, especially younger “agripreneurs,” start a farm as a way to make the world better than they found it. But not all new farmers are ready for intensive business planning. They soon find out how difficult it ...

Aug 2019 | 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 ...

Impact Story

OSU researchers gather data on threatened seabird

The marbled murrelet — a small seabird native to the North Pacific — is considered a flagship species for healthy ecosystems because it is one of the only birds in the world that gets all of its food from the marine...

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

OSU cultivates table-grape options for farmers

Oregon’s Willamette Valley has a good climate for grape growing but is primarily known for its wine grape production. Table grapes, however, remain a minor crop, grown on a small scale within diversified farming operations. ...

Jun 2021 | Impact Story