Serving Northwest Oregon
The North Willamette Research and Extension Center (NWREC) serves growers in the North Willamette Valley area with research and educational programs that focus on the region's most important crop systems.
Oregon’s Most Diverse Agricultural Region
Nearly 40% of the $5.7 billion farmgate value of Oregon Agriculture is produced within a 50 mile radius of NWREC.
NWREC combines the research and outreach activities of Oregon State University to serve the needs of the region’s agricultural industries. NWREC researchers and Extension faculty focus their work and programming on our most important local agricultural crops including: greenhouses and nurseries, hazelnuts, berries, vegetables and specialty seed production, Christmas trees, orchard crops, and field and grass crops. In addition, four other programs cut across these crop systems—small farms production, organic production, pesticide research, and agrivoltaics.
NWREC’s unique geographic location and proximity to Portland makes it a critical interface between rural and urban communities.
Ag Innovations Conference-Sustainable Agriculture
Our 2 day conference featured an exciting agenda of talks, field tours, and opportunities to network.
View the AIC presentations from both days.
Our annual Harvest Dinner commenced on Sept 23rd, 2022 following the conclusion of the AIC.
Our Mission
Our mission is to conduct horticultural crops research and to extend new knowledge to the horticultural industries and communities, particularly in the Willamette Valley. The location, just 20 miles south of Portland, provides growers with convenient access to research findings and Extension Service educational programs.
Research is aimed at producing better quality crops at lower costs, and with reduced environmental impact. Often the quality or form of a product must be changed to meet the demands of domestic or foreign customers. Growers must change varieties and learn to grow what the market demands.
Agriculture is Oregon's leading industry. Farming and its support industries account for 11% of the employment in the Portland metropolitan area. We seek to keep agriculture healthy and growing. Because of the highly competitive nature of farming, other regions will try to gain a larger share of the Oregon market. This means we must continue to test and adapt new crops and production systems to keep Oregon competitive.
Tractor Safety Course
The Youth Tractor Certification Course is a 22-hour program designed to teach safety as it relates to driving and managing farm implements. It offers both classroom and hands-on tractor driving experiences, for youth ages 14-17 who are interested in summer employment opportunities in the upcoming agricultural season.
Courses are made available through partnerships with OSU Extension, Clackamas County 4-H and local farmers.
All 2022 sessions are FULL.
BEAV Plant Health Scouting Program
The BEAV Plant Health Scouting Program uses unmanned aerial vehicles to assess the health of plants and crops from the air.
NWREC News
Learn about research and the latest news from NWREC in our quarterly newsletter.
Sustainable Farm Agrivoltaic Project
In the News
Electric weed control being examined in hazelnuts
Hazelnut growers looking for weed control options may soon be able to throw a new option in the mix. According to a presentation at the 2022...
Innovations conference to focus on conservation
Event to be held in September on OSU’s North Willamette research farm, featuring West Coast researchers and agricultural industry...
Oregonians once feared their state would be wrecked by out-of-control sprawling development
“I always say we can grow everything in the Willamette Valley,” says Bondi, “from asparagus to zucchini.” Commercial farmers grow more than 200...