Agriculture

Summer 2019

Life with elephants

The Asian elephants at the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park have inspired Janine Brown and other scientists for three decades. Brown heads up the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Fort Royal, Virginia, the world’s largest reproductive endocrinology lab. » More ...

Summer 2019

Spinach

The leafy greens of spinach were fit for a queen and an American president. Packed with nutrients and versatile in cuisine, spinach grows all over but Washington State University leads research on spinach seeds in northwest Washington. » More ...

Summer 2019

WSU@Prosser

For a century, Washington State University's research and extension center at Prosser has fostered innovations, such as the Rainier cherry, the wine industry, AgWeatherNet, and automated and robotic agriculture. It all started with irrigation that transformed central Washington. » More ...

Summer 2019

A point of reference

The Washington State University environmental research station at Meyer's Point on Puget Sound lends insight into the local ecology, history, archaeology, and shellfish farming, while providing environmental education opportunities. » More ...

Spring 2019

What’s gone viral?

Grapevine leafroll viruses threatens the wine industry in Washington and beyond, which is why Washington State University researchers like Naidu Rayapati are exploring the way leafroll viruses travel through grape plants. » More ...

Arron Carter and WSU graduate students at the Spillman Agronomy Farm

Spring 2019

Giving rust a rest

Ubiquitous in wheat-growing regions, stripe rust spores can ride the wind for miles upon miles and, when conditions are right, it grows quickly, sucking water and nutrients out of the leaves and crippling wheat’s ability to produce healthy seeds. Washington State University wheat breeders research and develop new wheat varieties resistant to rust. » More ...

WSU horticulture doctoral student Sarah Kostick next to a tree

Spring 2019

Stopping the blighters

Fire blight, a voracious bacterial infection, has plagued apple and pear trees for years, but weather conditions have worsened the severity of infestations in Washington state since 2015. That has spurred Washington State University researchers to seek resistant trees and Extension educators to help growers manage the disease. » More ...

Spring 2019

French fries

Hot, golden, and lightly salted, French fries have appeared on the menu at White House state dinners, they are a staple at diners and drive-ins, and a former first lady even ordered some on a visit to Buckingham Palace. From the palace to taste tests in Pullman, the beloved French fry knows few bounds. » More ...

Spring 2019

Soil Man

USDA-ARS and WSU scientist Jim Cook spent 40 years probing the jungle of soil microbiomes, and his lifetime of practical work on soil health helped numerous farmers and led to an honorary doctorate from WSU. » More ...

Spring 2019

The Wine Club for Cougs

The Wine-By-Cougars Wine Club over the last 12 years has raised the profile of Cougs in the wine industry, engaged alumni, and helped people learn more about wine at WSU. » More ...