Programs
Research and Extension programs listed alphabetically.
Avian Health and Food Safety Laboratory (WADDL) is part of Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. The state of the art diagnostic laboratory, located at WSU Puyallup, provides diagnostic services including complete necropsy, bacteriology, mycology, virology, serology and DNA testing of all avian species. Services are also provided to back yard poultry, waterfowl, wild birds, zoo birds and rabbits. [Link]
The mission of the CSANR is to develop and foster agriculture and natural resource management approaches that are economically viable, environmentally sound, and socially acceptable. Rather than duplicate ongoing efforts, the center strives to facilitate interdisciplinary linkages and coalitions between WSU, growers, industry, environmental groups, agencies, and the people of Washington. As a university center devoted to sustainability, CSANR is uniquely positioned to leverage the resources of the land grant university and communities in our state. Some of the Center's current activities include: Biologically Intensive Agriculture and Organic Farming (BIOAg), Climate Friendly Farming, Community Capacity Building and Conflict Resolution, Education on Farming and Food Systems, Policy Research and Education, Small Farms Program. [Link]
One-third of the 34-36 million Christmas trees harvested each year are grown in western Washington and Oregon. The Christmas Tree Program's primary goal is to provide growers and retailers with research-based information that creates a high-quality Christmas tree product for consumers. To this end, the program covers two principal areas: disease and pest management, and post-harvest Christmas tree quality. For more information about this program, contact Gary Chastagner: chastag@wsu.edu. [Link]
WSU's Master of Science Coordinated Program in Dietetics Nutrition and Exercise Physiology combines classroom education with "real world" experience in dietetics including community nutrition programs, clinical dietetics and foodservice management. In this program, students first must complete the academic requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology as well as 1,200 hours of internship experience. This master’s degree program is designed for those whose career goal is to become a Registered Dietician through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. For more information on this program, visit the WSU Nutrition and Exercise Physiology website or email Janet Beary.
The mission of the Ecotoxicology Program at WSU Puyallup is to study the impacts of pesticides and other toxicants on populations, communities, and food webs with particular emphasis on aquatic organisms inhabiting rivers and streams in the Pacific Northwest, including salmon and the invertebrates that they feed upon. This is accomplished through a mix of laboratory and field studies. The laboratory studies involve developing toxicity data for animals exposed to various chemicals. The effects of low concentrations of the mixtures and concentrations of pesticides commonly found in Washington fresh water systems are also being investigated.
Additionally, a new salmon toxicology research lab has recently been built to work on the effects of pesticides on salmon behavior, growth and development. Field studies are also being conducted which involve placing water fleas (Daphnia) in rivers and streams and following their growth and development and comparing this to the chemicals that move through the rivers and streams. Indices of stream health and water quality based on species diversity and abundance are also being determined. Mathematical models of toxic effect based on demography are also being produced which estimate population growth or decline under stressful conditions. Ecological risk assessments for pollutants are also developed in this program. To learn more information about this program, contact Dr. John Stark by phone: 253-445-4519 or by email: starkj@wsu.edu [Link]
The WSU Environmental Horticulture Program incorporates the following areas: water conservation, recycled organic materials, and stress and pest resistant trees for modern landscapes. In addition, an upper division horticulture course, Hort 332, Interior Plantscaping, is taught from Puyallup via WHETS to students in Pullman, Spokane, Tri-Cities and Wenatchee during spring semesters. Students in Interior Plantscaping learn about the selection, design, installation, management and maintenance of plantings inside commercial buildings, as well as the effects of interior plants on people and the environment. [Link]
The Extension Nutrition Education Program addresses important nutrition education issues for individuals and families in Washington state. Some of the projects this group is involved in are: Food Stamp Nutrition Education (FSNE), Extension Family and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), Food $ense, and the Nutrition Education Network of Washington (NEN). [Link]
The Extension Family Living Program is a statewide outreach effort serving Washington families. The two largest programs among Extension's family offerings are Food $ense and parent education programs.
Other projects and programs include:
- The Strengthening Families Program (SFP)
- Children, Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR)
- Cultivating Community Strengths Together (CCST)
The WSU Urban Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Pesticide Safety Education Program helps landscape and turf professionals manage pests and develop a successful integrated pest management program. In 2004, the program included 12 pre-license courses and 26 recertification workshops and courses reaching 3500 people in Washington. Instructors also provide pesticide applicator and IPM training in Spanish. [Link]
The WSU Puyallup Turf Science Program provides research and extension information on turfgrass in the Pacific Northwest, primarily west of the Cascade Mountains. Topics include golf courses, athletic fields, lawn care, turfgrass diseases, pest management, maintenance issues, and other environmentally related issues. [Link]
The livestock Nutrient Management Program targets dairy, beef, swine, and poultry, focusing on whole farm nutrient management. This involves the integration of animal nutrition, agronomy, crops and soils, engineering, and economics. In addition, the program has developed specific outreach for allied agriculture industry professionals. The combined value of these industries in Washington is approximately $2 billion annually. [Link]
Additional web sites: WSU Electronic Dairy Newsletter and additional Extension sites
The WSU Master Gardener Program is WSU's most famous outreach program and the only uniquely WSU program that has been adopted both nationally and internationally. Active in 36 of our 39 counties, the WSU Master Gardener Program has over 4,000 active adult Master Gardener Volunteers working on behalf of WSU Extension, providing an annual contribution of more than $3.5 million in donated time, about the same as having an additional 65 county faculty positions.
WSU Master Gardener volunteers in Washington each give an average of 52 hours of volunteer service during the year, annually serving over a 250,000 people with science-based horticultural information and programs. The WSU Master Gardener Program also includes a network of 167 "Plant Clinics" operating in 105 communities that offer plant, insect, and disease diagnosis to the public. Approximately 800 persons are trained each year, with approximately 95% becoming WSU Extension volunteers. [Link]
The Natural Resource Science Program involves the breeding and testing of hybrid poplars for growth, disease resistance, and wood chemical and physical traits as it relates to energy content and conversion efficiency to ethanol. A clone arboretum is managed for breeding purposes, and research is conducted on the production physiology of fast growing tree species including hybrid poplars, alders, willows and selected conifers. New directions in research include the breeding and testing of hybrid alder, the physiology of poplar leaf rust, and environmental uses of these tree species in riparian buffer plantings, for carbon sequestration and for wastewater reuse in the Pacific Northwest. [Link]
The goal of the Organic Nutrient Management and Soil Management Program is to close the recycling loop for organic materials produced in urban areas (biosolids, yard debris, compost, and animal manure from surrounding agricultural areas), using them as a source of nutrients and organic matter for crop production, soil renovation, and environmental protection. The team's largest effort has focused on biosolids management in agriculture. The program demonstrates various cover crop systems, and has developed a multidisciplinary organic system experiment, which integrates research on nutrient management, soil quality, weed management, insect ecology, and economics of different organic systems. For more information see the following websites:
The Ornamental Bulb Crop Disease Research Program at WSU Puyallup utilizes a combination of field, greenhouse and laboratory studies to better understand how various cultural and disease management practices affect the development of foliar and soil borne fungal diseases on daffodils, tulips, iris, and lilies. Studies include: 1) looking at survival of inoculum from one season to the next; 2) developing screening protocols to examine pathogen variation and host resistance; 3) developing information that helps growers minimize the number of fungicide applications needed to control various diseases; 4) managing fungicide resistance: and 5) developing safer more environmentally sound control strategies. For more information about this program, contact Gary Chastagner: chastag@wsu.edu. [Link]
The WSU Puyallup Plant Diagnostic Lab provides one-on-one identification of both home and commercial pests. The clinic deals with over a thousand specimens per year. Clients are able to bring in samples of plants and insects for an accurate problem diagnosis. [Link]
Professional Education offers more than 80 WSU programs a year from both eastside and westside offices. The Puyallup office consists of a dynamic team of four professionals who are among the most experienced conference leaders in the state. Their outstanding work promotes life-long learning and professional excellence by linking WSU's resources to learning opportunities. Some of the programs lead by this team include: the Sewing and Stitchery Expo, boasting an annual attendance of 32,000 people from as far away as Spain and Australia; workshops for WSU's Energy Program, Dairy Program, and 4-H Program; Office of Superintended of Public Instruction (OSPI) Igniting Innovation Conference; Pierce county Association for the Education of Young Children; NW Biosolids Management Association Conference and the ongoing Partners in Emergency Preparedness Program. [Link]
With leadership from the statewide Small Farms Program, WSU's Small Farms Team engages in Extension, research, and teaching activities that benefit small- and mid-sized family-owned farms. The 40 team members help our state's growers manage the new realities of urban-influenced agriculture. These growers face development pressure, increased costs, and competitive global markets, but also enjoy advantages that come with smaller scale production. They can more quickly adapt to emerging markets, tend to be viewed positively by their communities, and are poised to benefit from increased demand for sustainably grown farm products. Team members represent a wide variety of specialties, and are based in WSU programs, state agencies and non-profit organizations. [Link]
The Small Fruit Breeding and Genetics Program works to develop new raspberry and strawberry cultivars adapted to the Pacific Northwest that have excellent flavor, high yields and improved disease resistance. The program also conducts research on genetic variation and cultivar responses. Research in the near future will be on the nutritional properties of raspberries, root rot tolerance and machine harvestability of raspberries. For more information about this program, contact Pat Moore: moorepp@wsu.edu
The WSU Structural Pest IPM program trains professionals to reduce the number of inaccurate wood-destroying organism inspections and reduce the potential health risks from unnecessary or improper pesticide applications. A trained workforce of Structural Pest Inspectors and Pest Management Professionals will be more knowledgeable about identification of structural pests, conditions conducive to pest infestations, and integrated pest management (IPM) techniques.
A Structural Pest Research and Demonstration Facility is located at WSU Puyallup. This facility offers unique opportunities for research and demonstration workshops related to structural pests and their management. In addition, it will provide both hands-on demonstration workshops and pre-license training classes for Structural Pest Inspectors, Pest Management Professionals, and other clientele. For more information about this program contact Carrie Foss: cfoss@wsu.edu. [Link]
Phytophthora ramorum is the recently identified exotic pathogen that causes sudden oak death and Ramorum leaf blight and/or shoot dieback on over 60 host plants. Douglas and grand fir are natural hosts of this pathogen under certain conditions in California. In addition, a large number of conifers, including noble fir, have been shown to be susceptible to this pathogen in laboratory studies.
During the past two years there has been increased concern about the potential disruption of shipment of Christmas trees and boughs out of the Pacific Northwest because of potential quarantines relating to this pathogen. About one third of the 25 million Christmas trees produced annually in the USA come from western Oregon and Washington. Douglas-fir, noble fir and grand fir account for 55%, 36% and 5% of the production, respectively. In addition, about 20,000 tons of noble fir boughs are harvested from natural stands of trees in the Cascade Mountains. During 2004, 669 Oregon and 116 Washington Christmas tree plantations were surveyed for the presence of this pathogen. A total of 441 noble fir bough production stands were also sampled. No P. ramorum was detected during these surveys. For more information about this program, contact Gary Chastagner: chastag@wsu.edu. [Link]
Urban horticulture is an emerging field with few academic experts; it encompasses all facets of selecting, installing, and managing plant materials in home landscapes, public greenspaces, restoration sites, and commercial settings. The Urban Landscape Horticulture Program at WSU Puyallup is relatively new, beginning in April of 2004. The Extension Horticulturist provides outreach seminars to WSU Master Gardeners, the nursery and landscape industries, landscape architects, and community groups reaching over 3000 individuals in the past year. Please contact Linda Chalker Scott for more information. [Link]
WSPRS is the main mechanism used to facilitate communication between Washington agricultural interests and state, regional and national entities involved in pesticide issues. WSPRS is one of several Washington State Links with the Western Regional Integrated Pest Management Center. WSPRS serves as a hub for research-based information about pest management practices, including both chemical and alternative control methodologies. This hub allows web clients to connect directly with WSU researchers working in different areas of pest management around state. This hub also allows clients to obtain information about pesticides registered in Washington and Oregon as well as specific information submitted to EPA/USDA on pesticide use practices of Pacific Northwest growers. Clients include Washington State agricultural producers, researchers, Extension staff, and local, state and national policy makers. On an internal basis the Pesticide Coordinator's Office Reviews and approves all WSU publications containing pesticide recommendations. [Link]
The WSU Western Extension District is made up of 12 counties; Clallam, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Island, Mason, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, and Whatcom. The WSU Northwest Washington Research and Extension Center at Mount Vernon works collaboratively with the five county directors in the north part of the district, developing and delivering a regional vision and program to the agricultural community. The faculty at WSU Puyallup, located in the southern part of the Western District, are beginning to develop a regional vision with the county directors with a focus on urban extension, small farms, and the environment. [Link]
The Washington State 4-H Foundation is a private non-profit foundation governed by a 21 member Board of Trustees for the purpose of serving 4-H youth programs in Washington State. Established in 1961, the foundation currently maintains its funding base through corporate, individual and group contributions. Since it's beginning the foundation has actively supported programs such as urban low income, personal development, forestry and natural resources, leader forums and seminars, county, state and national awards, international exchanges, scholarships and camperships and state 4-H conferences. [Link]
The Puyallup Research and Extension site is home to one of two state offices of Washington State University Extension 4-H Youth Development. The staff direct and oversee the activities of a variety of programs offered by Washington's 39 counties and has direct involvement in the following statewide and national programs: 4-H Know Your Government Conference, State 4-H Forum, National 4-H Congress, Washington State 4-H Camp Rally, Western Regional 4-H Forum, National 4-H Conference, National 4-H Technology Leadership Conference, 4-H Science Camp-In, State 4-H Teen Conference, Washington State 4-H Fair, Operation Military Kids, and Cultural Exchange.
4-H is a community of young people who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. 4-H clubs are open to youth ages 5 - 19. Project areas include technology, photography, public speaking, animal science, clothing, digital imaging and the arts. These hands-on projects are designed to assist youth acquire knowledge, develop skills and form attitudes that will enable them to become self-directed, productive and contributing members of their communities. 4-H provides youth with opportunities to be challenged, given responsibility and be recognized for their achievements. [Link]