Pest and Plant Disease Management

OSU survey highlights weed challenges in Oregon agriculture

Weeds pose a serious threat to Oregon agriculture. They reduce yields, lower seed and grain quality, and can keep shipments from meeting market standards. This challenge is statewide although its impacts vary by region. The ...

Oct 2025 | Impact Story

Oregon State research helps wheat growers manage glyphosate-resistant Russian thistle

Russian thistle (Salsola tragus), also known as tumbleweed, is a persistent summer annual weed and an ongoing challenge for wheat growers in Eastern Oregon. The weed infests nearly 5 million acres across the Pacific Northwest, ...

Oct 2025 | Impact Story

Oregon State researchers develop forecast model for spotted lanternfly

The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is an invasive insect pest that has been spreading rapidly across the United States since its initial detection in Pennsylvania in 2014. It feeds on more than 70 plant species, ...

Sep 2025 | Impact Story

New OSU study shows persistent airborne spread of carrot disease

In the high desert of Central Oregon, farmers produce some of the world’s most valuable hybrid carrot seed. But their fields face a persistent and costly threat: a plant disease called bacterial blight, caused by the ...

Jul 2025 | Impact Story

Study guides strategic fertilizer and insecticide decisions for onion growers

Dry bulb onions are a vital crop in the Treasure Valley of Eastern Oregon and southwestern Idaho. About 10,000 hectares are planted each year, contributing more than $120 million to the region’s economy. But onion farming is...

Jul 2025 | Impact Story

Extension forester distributes seedlings to help restore Port-Orford-cedar

Port-Orford-cedar root rot, caused by the invasive pathogen Phytophthora lateralis, has led to widespread mortality of Port-Orford-cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana) throughout its native range in Southern Oregon. These distribution efforts ...

May 2025 | Impact Story

OSU Honey Bee Lab supports pollinator health, saving beekeepers millions

Honey bees are essential pollinators for crops like apples, blueberries, cherries, melons, almonds and broccoli. In the United States, they contribute an estimated $20 billion in crop pollination each year. But over the past 50 ...

May 2025 | Impact Story

Oregon IPM Center leads the way to better pest management

Pesticides are commonly used in agriculture to manage serious pest problems. But not all pesticides carry the same level of risk. Broad-spectrum pesticides can affect earthworms, birds and other beneficial species. Some can also ...

May 2025 | Impact Story

Workshops boosts weed control efforts in Eastern Oregon

Invasive and noxious weeds are a major cause of land degradation in Eastern Oregon, affecting more than 500,000 acres of rangeland and pasture, along with miles of waterways. In Baker County, land managers often struggle to ...

Mar 2025 | Impact Story

OSU Extension leads the fight against X-disease in Oregon’s cherry orchards

Oregon is the third-largest producer of sweet cherries in the United States, supplying about 11% of the U.S. market. The state’s sweet cherry industry was valued at $68.2 million in 2022. The majority of Oregon's cherry crop...

Mar 2025 | Impact Story