The mild climate of the Willamette Valley supports a diverse vegetable industry. The specialty seed industry in Oregon produces over 170 seed crop species ranging from vegetable seed to cover crop and ornamental flowers.
Vegetable production
Agriculture in the Willamette Valley covers approximately 700,000 ha with 96,000 ha of irrigated production (USDA NAAS 2012). Vegetable production is characterized by small to medium-sized diverse cropping systems with multiple crops per year. Vegetables are sold in both fresh and processing markets and frequently involve brassica crops which are well suited to the mild climate.
Specialty seeds
The specialty seed industry in Oregon produces a variety of seed crops, over 170 crop species ranging from vegetable seed to cover crop and ornamental flowers. An estimated 14,000+ acres are planted to vegetable seed production statewide, for a farm gate value of over $27 million in 2012 (NASS 2014). Farm gate estimates including a wider selection of specialty seed crops such as flowers and cover crops exceed $50 million annually.
Extension Presentations
FarmDroid: Autonomous Weeding and Seeding Results in Veg Crops
Meet our experts
Kristie Buckland - Vegetable & Specialty Seed Crop Extension Specialist
Office: 503-506-0955 or email at [email protected]
Kristie Buckland is a plant scientist focused on vegetable and seed crop production research and extension. Her program strives to identify management strategies to increase farm sustainability. Using a systems approach, her research examines the interaction of crop growth, yield, and pest pressure along with soil health indicators. View a handout summarizing her research program here.
Kristie has worked for 9 years in both conventional and organic vegetable and small grain systems. She has experience implementing management strategies such as inter-cropping, trap cropping, crop rotations, as well as the timing and amount of diverse nitrogen input sources. Kristie has been involved with extension throughout these years with on-farm research, grower collaborations and community outreach.
Kristie earned a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy. She completed her M.S. and Ph.D. in Plant Science at Utah State University.
research areas
- Fresh market vegetables
- Processed vegetables
- Vegetable seed crops
- Crop development
Ed Peachey -Extension Agent
Cell: 541-740-6712 or Email
Research Areas
- Processed vegetables and vegetable seed crops
- Weed Management
- IPM
- Soil fertility
- Diagnostics