Fall 2003
A place at the table
American farmers claim less than 10 percent of what we spend on food. A growing number are going after their fair share--and we consumers stand to benefit. » More ...
Agriculture
Spring 2003
Homage to a difficult land: An African scientist returns home
Beset by a relentless drought, the Sahel seems in unstoppable ecological decline. But Oumar Badini will not give up. There must be some way to help Mali farmers reclaim the land. » More ...
Winter 2002
The Puyallup Fair
Every year in late summer, more than a million people gather in Puyallup to eat cotton candy, endure the latest thrill rides--and watch 4-H-ers show their stuff. » More ...
Winter 2002
Taking the University to the people
Cooperative Extension still offers advice on how to can your tomatoes or care for your chickens. But it also does much more, probing needs and providing solutions in every corner of the state. » More ...
Fall 2002
Keeping our food safe
If you’re worried that our food supply might be the next target of international terrorists, you probably needn’t be, says Barbara Rasco, associate professor of food science and human nutrition. Rasco’s research centers on bioterrorism and the safety of our food and water supply.
“I don’t think the events of September 11 mean there’s any increased risk to our food supply,” she says. Domestic ecoterrorists and bioterrorists are more likely to target our food supply than are foreign entities, she says. “The risk from them hasn’t changed.”
A lawyer as well as a food scientist, Rasco has worked on the prevention of international terrorist incidents. … » More …
Fall 2002
Killer compost
If you use compost in your garden, you may be setting yourself up for either a bumper crop or a bummer crop.
Gardeners, greenhouse operators, and organic farmers from Washington to California have experienced crop failures on certain plants after using compost to enrich their soil and help their plants grow.
The problem begins when common composting materials such as grass clippings and leaves collected from grounds that have been treated with an herbicide named clopyralid are sent to commercial or municipal composting facilities.
Clopyralid, made by Dow AgroSciences, is used to control dandelions, thistles, and other noxious broadleaf weeds on lawns, golf courses, and … » More …
Fall 2002
Genetically modified foods—What’s in it for you?
If you think scientists all agree on genetically modified foods, think again. » More ...
Fall 2002
Fall is the time to plant bulbs—but maybe not the ones you’d planned on
Another approach to perennials is to go back to basics--native plants. » More ...
Fall 2002
Bulbs and blooms
"Roozen" may mean "roses" in Dutch. But in Washington, it means tulips--to the tune of 50 million a year. » More ...
Summer 2002
An English import invades Puget Sound
A classic case of good intention gone bad, English cordgrass (Spartina anglica) was introduced to Washington around 1962 to stabilize dikes and provide forage for cattle. The U.S. Department of Agriculture imported seeds from England, and a WSU extension agent planted the seeds near Stanwood in the Stillaguamish Estuary.
English cordgrass has since infested large areas around Stanwood, particularly Port Susan Bay, Skagit Bay, Admiralty Inlet, and Saratoga Passage. It has also spread, with disastrous environmental effect, to other parts of Puget Sound, including Camano Island, Whidbey Island, and the San Juan Islands.
Due to its tenacity, its rapid growth rate, and its ability to … » More …