Jones, S.

Stephen Jones

Shaping the Future of Buckwheat in Western Washington Agroecosystems

Buckwheat is a common summer cover crop in western Washington (WWA) that provides exceptional weed suppression and pollinator support to crop rotations. However, buckwheat is rarely grown to seed in WWA due to lack of access to high performing and characterized varieties. Release of high-yielding public varieties could transform the value of buckwheat in rotation, […]

Breeding colored wheat and barley for nutrition and novelty for low-input integrated farms

In western Washington growers utilize small grains as a rotational crop to break disease and pest cycles as well as resting the soil between more intensive, and profitable, crops. We are breeding barley and wheat for nutritional content and end-use quality, using novel color traits to differentiate the crop and increase the antioxidant content of […]

Cascadia Grains Conference and Growing Grains Extension Publication

Small grains – wheat, barley, oats, and rye – have been in cultivation in Western Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia since the fur-trade era of the mid‐1800s. Today, these crops and pseudo-grains (e.g. quinoa, amaranth, and buckwheat) are grown in rotation with high‐value fruit and vegetable, as well as on pastures and haylands. Consumer demand […]

Quantifying biological control of pear psylla in a cover crop system

SUMMARY Effects of an alfalfa cover crop on biological control of pear psylla and tree nutrition was assessed. The bullet points below summarize findings. Experimental Orchard (Moxee) • substantial increase in predator densities on orchard floor associated with alfalfa cover crop • no correlative effect on predator numbers in trees • no effects of cover […]

Plant Breeding for Organic Agriculture Extension Course

There is a growing interest in breeding crop plants specifically for the challenges of organic agriculture as researchers begin to realize just how different the environmental factors can be between organic and conventional systems. This is based on the differences in how these factors are used in the two different systems; 1) the amount and […]

Evaluating and Developing Varieties for Organic Systems in Western Washington

The objective of this proposed research was to determine the relationship between agroecological factors (including climatic conditions, soil characteristics and wheat variety) and value-added traits (including nutritional content, yield in organic systems and baking quality) for wheat in Washington State. Using this information, we will develop agronomic strategies and value-added marketing options that focus on […]

Trends in Organic Agriculture in the PNW

The project supported the collection, compilation, analysis, and outreach for statistics regarding the organic sector in Washington State. This required cooperation with the certifiers who collect the data from growers. The primary certifier in the state is the WSDA Organic Food Program, with an estimated 95% of the certified farms. Oregon Tilth also certifies a […]