Research

Are bees omnivores, eating both plants and proteins?  A USDA researcher says a bee's diet is more than pollen and nectar, also containing fungi, bacteria and other microbes with amino acids; the building blocks of proteins.   "What we've done is establish that bees eat lots of microbe-derived proteins in their fermenting pollen provision. Most of ...

Washington State University's Carolyn Ross talks about the latest research when it comes to wine sensory.         If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekradio.com...

Washington State University's Carolyn Ross talks about the latest research when it comes to wine sensory.         If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekradio.com...

On Wednesday, the National Onion Association announced it had been awarded $4 million from the USDA Specialty Crops Research Initiative to combat bacterial disease.  NOA’s Rene Hardwick said the funds will  be used to help 24 researchers in 12 different states, in an effort to stop rot, which she pointed out can hit onions in any stage of the game.   “So, t...

On Wednesday, the National Onion Association announced it had been awarded $4 million from the USDA Specialty Crops Research Initiative to combat bacterial disease.  NOA’s Rene Hardwick said the funds will  be used to help 24 researchers in 12 different states, in an effort to stop rot, which she pointed out can hit onions in any stage of the game.   “So, there’...

Dry land farming could become more precise thanks to a study done by the USDA. Researchers are looking at how elevation changes within a crop field can impact both yields as well as nutrient application amounts.  Researcher, Merle Vigil, said when it comes to crops like wheat and corn grown in low-lying areas that have captured run-off and organic matter that hold water better.  ...

Dry land farming could become more precise thanks to a study done by the USDA. Researchers are looking at how elevation changes within a crop field can impact both yields as well as nutrient application amounts.  Researcher, Merle Vigil, said when it comes to crops like wheat and corn grown in low-lying areas that have captured run-off and organic matter that hold water better.   ...

Melissa Hansen with the Washington state Wine Commission says they want to hear from industry professionals about researchers projects moving forward.     To participate in that survey, Click Here.   If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekradio.com...

The Washington Winegrowers Association is asking the Washington State Department of Agriculture to change two administrative codes: one on grape certification and the other on pest quarantines.  The request stems from three years of work by a tri-state work group to create a regional approach for grapevine virus certification to harmonize quarantines and regulatory programs for grapevine nursery s

Washington State University say researchers, students and farmers across the Northwest will benefit from the 2018 Farm Bill signed into law in late December.  Glynda Becker Fenter, Director of Federal Relations for WSU, said the Farm Bill will help a wide variety of the over 300 commodities grown across the state.  Sh...