Growers and researchers from across the Northwest turned out to share the latest information and discoveries. Sagar Sathuvalli, OSU potato breeder, noted that much of the work is a team effort between OSU, Washington State University, the University of Idaho and USDA's ARS. Sathuvalli said if you combine the resources of those four outlets, the Tri-State is the largest breeding program in the world, especially when it comes to russets.
OSU Extension Service offers timely advice on garden chores, fertilizing, pest control, and more each month. Here’s the program’s advice for July gardening.
Pear, cherry, and apple production remains a key part of Oregon's rural economy, valued at $200 million in 2022. However, the industry is facing growing challenges, including climate variability, rising input costs, labor shortages, and stricter regulatory frameworks.
“There is not another land grant university that has a team this size and with this potential,” said Chris Schreiner, chief executive officer of Oregon Tilth, a leading organic certifier. “It’s historic.”
Traditional orchards aren’t designed for automation, and labor-saving technologies are still in early development. Meeting these challenges — and securing the future of Oregon’s fruit industry — requires innovative, cross-disciplinary solutions.
A new strawberry called Finnito is on the verge of being released and continues the legacy of Chad Finn, a USDA Agricultural Research Service berry breeder.
“I think it could be one of the largest kiwiberry research plots in the U.S.,” said Scott Lukas, an OSU small fruit researcher. Kiwiberry, also called hardy kiwi, is from northern Asia, but vines grow well in Oregon and Washington.
Coffee grounds aren't "magic pixie dust," but in the right circumstance they can help improve your soil according to Linda Brewer, a soil scientist with Oregon State University's Department of Horticulture.
As Priya Rajarapu explains it, Justin Whitehill, the leader of the Christmas Tree Genetics Program at N.C. State, would take lab members to meetings of the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association so they could meet growers.
