AgWeatherNet helps growers battle crop disease
Timing is critical for controlling diseases that crop up in agriculture. Start pesticide applications too early and you can waste time and materials. Start too late and you may not effectively control diseases that threaten your crop.
Web-based computer models that integrate the relationship of climate and occurrence of periodic events in nature such as bud bursting, or flowering of plants, are helping the state’s farmers make timely decisions.
WSU scientists have created models to help manage such diseases as the powdery mildews of cherries, hops and grapes, and late blight of potato. The models are fueled by near real-time weather data collected by WSU’s AgWeatherNet system based at the WSU Prosser Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center and weather predictions from the National Weather Service.
AgWeatherNet provides free, online public access to raw weather data generated by nearly 130 publicly owned regional weather stations located in 26 counties across Washington State. The stations collect and transmit weather data at 15-minute intervals (considered “near real-time”) for local growers. The system collects and publishes raw data such as air and soil temperatures, solar radiation, wind speed and humidity.
The network’s online weather information is available to the public free of charge at http://weather.wsu.edu. Users must register to access detailed information, and, once registered, they can log in at any time to view or download data.
Long-term, targeted approach best for biofuel market development
The state of Washington is well positioned to develop biofuel markets, but only if it begins now to take a long-term, targeted approach focused on advanced biofuels and potential biomass sources, according to a team of economists in the Washington State University School of Economic Sciences.
“Our analysis suggests that Washington has relatively strong long-run potential in biofuels, but weak short-run prospects,” writes a team led by economics Professor Jonathan Yoder. “However, this does not suggest waiting to put policies in place. In fact, Washington has the opportunity to ‘get ahead of the curve’ by adopting balanced and carefully targeted polices now to better position the state for biofuel markets of the future.”
In April 2007, the Washington State Legislature directed WSU to examine and analyze the economics of biofuel and feedstock markets in the state, and to recommend incentives for developing the state’s biofuel markets in ways that benefit the state’s economy, reduce petroleum dependence and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
View the full report at http://www.ses.wsu.edu/research/EnergyEcon.htm.
WSU researchers receive $3.3 million in USDA specialty crop grants
Researchers at WSU were among the most successful nationwide in winning competitive grants through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s new Specialty Crop Research Initiative.
This initiative targets research funding to “specialty crops,” which include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticultural and nursery crops. Designated research funds had not previously been available for these crops, unlike the long-established programs for commodity crops such as wheat, corn and soybeans.
WSU scientists will receive more than $3.3 million to study a variety of things including how plant nutrients affect white wine quality, new ways of thinning tree fruit, integrated pest management systems that allow farmers to use fewer pesticides, and the development of new fabric-based, degradable mulches for use as crop cover. Altogether, WSU researchers received nearly 12 percent of the funding available in this $28 million program.
“The success of WSU researchers in this first year of the Specialty Crop Grant program is strong testimony to the quality and innovation of their work,” said Ralph Cavalieri, associate dean and director of WSU’s Agricultural Research Center.
CAHNRS Kernels
Short but sweet stories from CAHNRS and WSU Extension.
- AgWeatherNet helps growers battle crop disease
- Long-term, targeted approach best for biofuel market development
- WSU researchers receive $3.3 million in USDA specialty crop grants
- Summer thyme and the garden continues to grow
- S is for “sustainable agriculture”, W is for “wheat”
- Washington organic acreage, sales continue to grow
- Get your crunch on: WSU evaluates a new apple from Stemilt
- Experiential Human Development class offers students a unique experience
- Undergrads present adolescent sexuality research at conference
- Project CAT
- AMDT student represents WSU at Project OR design competition