Research and Development

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...

The Federal Government provides 64% of public agricultural research and development funding in the United States. ERS released new data this week on ag research, showing state governments and non-governmental sources, including funds generated by universities, account for the other 36% of funds for public agricultural R&D. F ...

What does the Washington state Wine Commission do if there are more requests for research funding that dollars in the bank? Lin Scott with the Wine Commission has the details. If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekmedia... Read More ...

In today's PNW Ag Network Wine Minute, Linn Scott, with the Washington state Wine Commission talks about how funded research benefits the wine industry now and into the future. If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekmedia... Read More ...

John Lundeen with Potatoes USA discusses why supporting the industry is important, not only for growers, but consumers and many others as well. If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekmedia... Read More ... Read More ...

Last week, the USDA announced an additional investment of $80 million in the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives. In November, the program awarded $18.4 million to three current initiatives at the University of Tennessee, Vermont Agency for Food and Marketing and University of Wisconsin, and $1 ...

In September, the U.S. Agency for International Development announced it will provide a base $15 million investment, over the next five years, to support global research program led by UC-Davis. The research will focus on advancing fruit and vegetable production as well as improve handling and consumption efforts in struggling or developing nations ...

Late last week, the USDA awarded Washington State University $4,853,908 to benefit the Pacific Northwest hop industry. The funds, which were part of the Specialty Crop Research Initiative grant program, will allow WSU to conduct research on enhancing supply chain sustainability and global competitiveness ...

A vaccine for African Swine Fever? Not yet, but there is work going on in southeast Asia that USDA officials call "the most promising vaccine to date". Dr. Jeff Silverstein with ARS said a company in Vietnam working with US researchers, has come up with a vaccine which has performed well in lab tests so far and the company has recently gotten approval for field tests in Vietnam ... Read