WSU Lands $1.5 Million For Specialty Crop Research

Washington State University announced Friday the school has been awarded $1.5 million to research specialty crops, such as apples, pears, potatoes and strawberries. Seven research teams at WSU will work to enhance the competitiveness of Northwest crops by fighting diseases and promoting sustainable agriculture. Research will focus on issues such as fertilizer, manure, potato storage and fighting gray mold in tree fruit.

The $1.5 million in Specialty Crop Block Grant funds come from the WSDA and the USDA.

Grant awards summary by the numbers:

Pius Ndegwa, Concentrating and Blending of Manure Nutrients to Enhance Sustainable Production Practices, $249,973

Sindhuja Sankaran, Novel Sensing for Potato Harvest Quality and Loss Management in Bulk Storage Environment, $249,951

Richard Knowles, Evaluation of Crop Enhancement Products and Innovative Technologies to Enhance Yield and Quality of Potato, $248,700

Achour Amiri, Understanding Pre- and Postharvest Parameters to Enhance Gray Mold Management in Pome Fruit, $230,155

Carol Miles, Cost Effective Technologies for Cider Apple Orchard Mechanization and Fruit Quality Evaluation, $177,808

Patrick Moore, A Thriving Fresh Market Strawberry Industry through Breeding, Horticulture Systems, Grower Resources and Nursery Expansion, $110,40
Gary Chastagner, Optimizing Postharvest Botrytis Control and Handling of Cut Peonies, $80,968.

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