Agriculture

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

Researchers study supply chain feasibility of biochar for agricultural use

Biochar, the charcoal-like material created by burning woody debris at high-temperatures in a low-oxygen environment, is recognized as offering a number of benefits for soil health, and is being proposed as a carbon-negative ...

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 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

Online classes assist Oregon's $328 million wine industry

When Oregon's 1,200 vineyards need the latest information on growing grapes, they've been able to get it from online resources offered by Oregon State University. The number of vineyards in Oregon has doubled since 2005, and ...

Feb 2021 | Impact Story

Oregon IPM Center leads the way to better pest management

Pesticides are important tools for farmers around the globe—ask anyone who has contemplated a hundred acres of cabbage aphids. However, some pesticides are significantly more hazardous than others. Broad-spectrum pesticides carry risks...

Jun 2021 | Impact Story

Oregon State vegetable breeder goes for the “Wow!”

When developing new vegetable varieties, Oregon State University's Jim Myers enjoys solving culinary problems that people with discerning palates didn’t even know they had. While disease resistance is always a concern, developing ...

Apr 2021 | Impact Story

Oregon Wine Research Institute helps state's vineyards and wineries stay competitive

Oregon's $271 million wine industry is based on producing premium-quality wines, not mass quantities. If wineries want to compete with premium regions around the world, they know that research is necessary to keep them on the ...

Jun 2021 | Impact Story

Organic farmers save money on fertilizer with OSU Extension tool

Farmers must walk a fine line when applying nitrogen fertilizer. Too little affects yield. Too much wastes money, makes crops more susceptible to some pests and threatens water quality. Managing nitrogen is especially complex for ...

Mar 2022 | Impact Story