Research and Development

Washington State University's Per McCord talks about the Cherry Variety Update Program, and how it benefits growers and consumers.     If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@to... Read More ...

This was a good year for the Washington/Oregon Potato Conference.  The largest potato conference in North America got a little bigger this year, with a record attendance of over 3,000 attendees, surpassing last year’s attendance of 2,600, which at that time was a record.   “Widel...

Advances in crop production and preservation are poised for a new location as the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service broke ground for a modernized facility.  The new structure will consolidate all the labs that are currently located at the University of California-Davis.   ARS s...

Senators Michael Bennet, a Colorado Democrat, and Kansas Republican Roger Marshall introduced the Advancing Cutting-Edge Agriculture Act last week.  The goal of the bipartisan legislation is to support high-risk, high-reward agricultural research and development at USDA.  The spo...

A recent report from the Farm Journal Foundation and Chicago Council on Global Affairs says the U.S. needs to increase support for agricultural research and development in the next Farm Bill.  The support would help make sure that farmers can keep feeding the world despite the challenges faced by agriculture.  New inn...

With debate over the 2023 Farm Bill set to pick up in the coming months, commodity groups have been building their wish lists and letting lawmakers know what they would like to see in this year’s legislation.   Representative Dan Newhouse, a central Washington farmer, said for him, he wants a Farm Bill that encourages and promotes research and development.  He said ...

Ag Research was the Farm Bill title before the Senate Ag Committee this week, as USDA and other witnesses testified on the need to fund cutting-edge Ag research, the power behind modern, high-tech agriculture.  USDA research chief Chavonda Jacobs-Young told lawmakers research in need of funding has largely been ignored over the past couple of Farm Bills.   “...

When it comes to student enrollment at the University of Idaho’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, better known as CALS, the past two year have been very strong.  Dr. Matt Doumit, Associate Dean of Academic Programs at the College said this year’s class is the 2nd strongest on record, and very similar to numbers reported last fall.  He said one of the ...

One of the many research projects funded by the 2018 Farm Bill looks to help cherry growers detect little cherry virus.  Washington Farm Bureau member April Clayton said the disease infects cherry trees through insects.   “Basically, once they bite or land on the tree, the pathogens from the bugs transfer to the trees, and then the tree becomes infected. It leaves the fruit...

After a two-year hiatus, Washington State University returned to in person meetings during last week’s Lind Field Day in central Washington.  Clark Neely, researcher at WSU said many consider field days as an opportunity for researchers to talk at growers, but he noted these events are a two-way street. “I...