Agriculture and Natural Resources

Disease-resistant potatoes boost Pacific Northwest farmers

Potatoes are susceptible to a number of pathogens such as potato virus Y, Columbia root knot nematode, and verticillium wilt. Pacific Northwest scientists including Oregon State University's Sagar Sathuvalli are constantly at work to...

Feb 2019 | 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

OSU develops detection method for incurable crown gall disease

Crown gall disease is an incurable malady that affects numerous species of plants, including many of economic importance to Oregon. Crown gall disease is caused by a soil bacterium that modifies the plant’s genome and causes ...

Impact Story

OSU Extension helps ranchers follow strict new antibiotic rules

Antibiotics are an effective weapon against bacterial disease. But because they’re used widely in both animals and humans, some bacteria have evolved into deadly, drug-resistant super-strains. About two million people in the United ...

Jun 2021 | Impact Story

OSU teaches Oregonians to raise honeybees as hives struggle

As honeybees struggle for survival, people are recognizing their role in pollinating key crops. They're increasingly interested in raising them in their backyards, but many don't know where to begin. To give them a hand, the ...

Aug 2019 | Impact Story

OSU Wheat Breeding Program makes gains in disease resistance

With the leading wheat varieties in Oregon and Washington, Oregon State University's Wheat Breeding Program has a long-standing reputation for success. Each year, OSU tests more than 40,000 genetically distinct lines specifically for ...

Jun 2021 | Impact Story

Soft-catch system could reduce costs for Oregon's fresh blueberry industry

Oregon and Washington produce more blueberries than anywhere in the world. Oregon harvests 150 million pounds annually, which pencils out to be more than $120 million in farm gate value. When laborers work on large farms, they...

Jun 2021 | Impact Story