Our project will conduct a nutritional analysis of the biodiesel byproduct, and complete an economic analysis using the camelina biodiesel byproduct as ruminant feed. The studies contained in this proposal address the 2012 BioAg priority areas: provide information that is critical in utilization of canola and camelina meals in ruminant diets and thereby promoting livestock […]
Only a small percentage of growers practice data-based irrigation management despite the fact that it has been shown to improve crop yields and quality while reducing water use by 15-30%. Optimizing soil moisture through improved irrigation management can also significantly reduce nitrate leaching which contaminates groundwater, reduces soil productivity, and increases the need for artificial […]
Calf diarrhea (scours) is a major animal health challenge for cattle producers because it causes dehydration, depression, mortality, and long-term reduction in vitality of infected animals. Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC; K99) and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC; e.g., serovars O157:H7, O26 and O111) can cause enteric colibacillosis in calves, and EHEC strains are also significant food […]
This proposal addresses the BIOAg priority area: Breeding, varietal selection, management practices, processing, or marketing practices to increase food quality, nutrition, safety, or access. Arsenic contaminates soil and water in many areas around the world. Fruit growing areas of Washington are contaminated from lead arsenate use as an insecticide. Other regions have natural deposits or […]
Organic agriculture uses tillage for several purposes including incorporation of organic inputs. Tillage also speeds oxidation of inputs and soil organic carbon (SOC). In order to understand and model the potential of organic inputs to change total SOC, we need to better characterize the effect of tillage on the simultaneous mineralization and oxidation of inputs […]
Reduced tillage can improve soil quality and reduce fossil fuel use. Adopting reduced tillage in organic production poses challenges because farmers rely on tillage as a primary means of weed management and for incorporating soil amendments to maintain soil fertility and quality. Recent research on organic reduced tillage has focused on mechanically terminated and mulched […]
This project addresses the BIOAg priority of innovation and diversification by supporting the formation of a hard cider industry in the Pacific Northwest. The project includes a comparison of juice of more than 50 hard cider apple varieties grown in the region, a comparison of select varieties grown in five regional orchards to better understand […]
The postharvest quality of small fruits is limited by fungal growth caused by spoilage organisms such as Penicillium expansum and Botrytis cinerea. Furthermore, the microbial safety of fresh produce is a common concern as highlighted by recent outbreaks caused by Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) […]
This proposal addresses the priority area of assessing economic sustainability of agriculture and food systems. As a tool for self evaluation, a yield data bank will be provided to small-scale organic/biointensive vegetable farms and to organic research sites. We will develop manual and electronic worksheets to assist small-scale organic/biointensive farmers in evaluating their per crop […]
Research conducted in the 2009-10 and 2010-11 growing seasons had three main components: a winter wheat-winter pea intercropping study, developing an inter-row cultivator with precision guidance for in-season weed management, and a new pea breeding project. (1) Intercropping: The potential use of winter peas as a nitrogen (N) resource for winter wheat was evaluated in […]