Research and Development

What are some of the Fiscal year 2026 research projects that are currently underway? The Washington State Wine Commissions Melissa Hansen takes a look.

Research leaders from Washington State University and the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission were in Pullman last week to reaffirm their “groundbreaking partnership”.

Well, yes, a year-round treat, anytime, there is still association of strawberries ready for harvest in June in many parts of the country.  Some varieties that are day neutral can bear fruit until October in Florida.   “Florida is especially interesting because they plant in the fall and harvest in the winter,” according to USDA research geneticist Kim Lewers.  But for most types ...

In today's Wine Minute, Julie Pond talks with us about the future of the Northwest Center for Small Fruits.   If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com 

How are Doge cuts impacting the farming community?  That depends on who you ask.   Some in rural America are applauding the Administration’s work to trim agencies in an effort to shrink the national debt.  But others are concerned that these cuts to USDA, ARS, and others will create more problems for farmers than they will prevent.  Central Washington’s Dan New...

Julie Pond, Executive Director of the Northwest Berry Foundation, says they conduct a lot of research that has a direct impact on the local wine industry.     If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@to... Read More ...

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...