Grants

Forage production is the largest agricultural land use in western Washington supporting a diverse livestock industry. Poor grazing management and repeated hay removal, without amendment contribute to reduced productivity, encroachment of weeds, erosion, and inadequate forage quality to support animal health. This integrated research and extension project will address the WSU Sustaining Resources Grand Challenge. […]

Soil erosion is the first order measure of agricultural soil sustainability. Clear economic incentives and accounting of public and private true cost are needed to identify pathways from conventional to transformational, biologically intensive management. Erosion occurs disproportionately from critical source areas, but the spatial distribution and temporal variability in erosion mechanisms are not well characterized. […]

It’s our Future that’s at stake” was the rallying cry of tens of thousands of students in cities nationwide just a few days ago as they coordinated a global climate strike. The youth of the world are worried, and rightly so, regarding the future of our planet.  This is why targeting elementary-age students with a […]

The intelligent digital systems are already disrupting many industries, and evolving technologies are rapidly finding their way to agriculture, with examples starting to mount. WSU being leader in applied agricultural research needs to increase our program footprint in artificial intelligence driven digital technologies. In such an effort, our team is developing an application to the […]

Our proposed work directly addresses the Sustaining Health Grand Challenge through the initiation of the first collaborative study between CAHNRS and ESFCOM, utilizing our Soil to Society research pipeline: including plant breeding and varietal development for nutritional characteristics and evaluating effectiveness in improving human health and well-being. Novel barley varieties high in the soluble fiber […]

Agricultural use of biochar is generally considered a sustainable and climate-friendly way to increase farm productivity. These benefits, however, depend on how biochar is produced. I have performed some preliminary calculations for a range of biochar production technologies using published data for methane emission and biochar carbon efficiency that suggest that most biochar production approaches […]

Weeds cause extensive loss in agricultural production and are particularly damaging in organic systems. Control generally relies on mechanical cultivation which reduces soil carbon, decimates soil fauna, and increases erosion potential. Cover cropping, a biologically intensive practice, can be an effective tool to reduce weed pressure and improve soil quality, but it also introduces new […]

Forest-grown specialty mushroom production may be an economical, low-impact, ecologically-appropriate enterprise for diversified farms and small woodland owners in western WA and the greater western Pacific Northwest (PNW). Nonetheless, to date, there has been little Extension research, publications, or formalized programs in the PNW on this subject as a commercial enterprise. In contrast, several northeastern […]

Sustainable agriculture in Washington State (WA) pushes to be economically viable while being environmentally responsible through improvements made to both on- and off-farm practices. Riparian (streamside) conservation measures are a primary off-farm field strategy to protect and enhance ecosystem functions and values, such as improving water quality and creating wildlife habitat. Two significant state administered […]

In order to feed 9 billion people by the year 2050 current agricultural systems will need major increases in water, nutrient, and land use efficiencies. The monoculture production systems currently prevalent in developed countries will no longer be able to adequately support the population. Intensified agriculture will be required to replace and augment current production […]