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News and Events

Ag Tech Field Day is a new event for 2025! Hosted at OSU's North Willamette Research and Extension Center in Aurora, OR, the event will showcase research trials, demonstrations, and discussions about emerging technology applications for farms in our region. Join us on June 12th, 2025. The link provides details on presenters and topics and the station locations can be seen on this map. 

Recently, we hosted a Willamette Valley Vegetable Education Day at NWREC. The link includes slides from our presenters on a variety of topics including pest management, irrigation, and cover crop selection.

For more field days and workshops, check out the NWREC Events calendar and the College of Agricultural Sciences Field Days calendar.

 

Publications

Muskmelon Response to Combinations of Wavelength-Selective Mulches and Row Tunnels (1992)

Introduction

Muskmelon production in the Willamette Valley is usually limited by cool springs, a short growing season, and relatively cool nights, even during mid-summer. Cultural techniques to increase air and soil temperature around plants, such as black plastic mulch and row covers, have hastened development and increased yield of muskmelon in the valley.

OSU Unveils New Purple Tomato, ‘Indigo Rose’

The first "really" purple variety to come from a program at OSU.

Government Agencies and Regulations: Resources for Organic Seed Producers

Stone, A., M. Colley, and L. Brewer, 2009. Government Agencies and Regulations: Resources for Organic Seed Producers. eOrganic article. Available at http://www.extension.org/article/18334.

Organic Fertilizer and Cover Crop Calculator

This free online tool on the OSU Extension Service Small Farms website compares the nutrient value and cost of cover crops, organic and synthetic fertilizers and compost. Use this Excel Calculator to develop well balanced and cost effective nutrient management programs for your farm. Developed by Nick Andrews, Dan Sullivan, Jim Julian and Kristin Pool. OSU Extension Series # EM 8936-E

Organic Seed Processing: Threshing, Cleaning and Storage

Colley, M., 2009. Organic Seed Processing: Threshing, Cleaning and Storage. eOrganic article. Available at http://www.extension.org/article/18350.

Intellectual Property Protection: What Do I Need to Know When Growing and Breeding Organic Crops and Seed?

Myers, J., 2009. Intellectual Property Protection: What Do I Need to Know When Growing and Breeding Organic Crops and Seed?. eOrganic article. Available at http://www.extension.org/article/18449.

Green Bean Breeding and Evaluation
December 31, 1998

Objectives:

The general objective of the processing component of this research is to support the green bean breeding program being carried out by Dr. Jim Myers in the Horticulture Department. The specific objectives are:

Identification of Sweet Corn Hybrids Resistant to Root/Stalk Rot
December 31, 1999

For the past several years a "stalk rot" disease has been afflicting commercial sweet corn fields grown in the Willamette Valley. The disease seems to have a pathogenic basis, but the exact causal agent is unknown.
Eighteen hybrids with se or su endosperm were evaluated for resistance to root/crown rot. Ears were also evaluated for processing quality.

Objectives: Characterize su and se sweet corn hybrids for reaction to root/crown rot.

Cooperator: M. Powelson, Botany and Plant Pathology

Snap Bean Tolerance to Imazamox
December 31, 2000

 Objectives:

  • Herbicide effects on snap bean emergence, growth and root health (Corvallis)
  • Influence of timing, rate, surfactant, and Basagran on tolerance to Imazamox (Corvallis)
  • Weed control with Imazamox (Independence)
  • Potential of Imazamox as a rescue treatment (Mt. Angel)
Management of Sweet Corn Root and Crown Rot in the Pacific Northwest
December 31, 2006

Objective 1: Evaluation of commercial sweet corn varieties and inbred germplasm in small plots for susceptibility to seed rot/damping-off as well as root, stalk, and crown rot.

Objective 2: Evaluation of microbial and chemical treatments for suppression of sweet corn seed rot/damping-off, root rot, and crown rot.

Objective 3: Cooperate with other sweet corn projects (cultivar screenings, irrigation studies, etc.) within and outside of OSU programs.

Lime and Fertilizer Effects on Overwintered Cauliflower (1984)

Effect of Frequency and Timing of Irrigation on Yield and Head Rot of Broccoli (1994)

Introduction

Effect of Nitrogen Rate and Cover Crops on the Yield of Sequential Crops of Broccoli and Sweet Corn (1994)

Introduction

Nitrogen Rate on Yield of Green Beans, Beets, and Carrots, and Residual Mineral Nitrogen Concentration of Willamette Silt Loam Soil (1994)

Introduction

Vegetable Production in "Solar Pods"
April 1, 1982

The Willamette Valley of western Oregon is well known for production of a wide range of quality vegetables. Commercial, large-scale production of warm-weather vegetables such as tomatoes and melons is possible but is limited by competition from more favorable growing areas. However, for the home gardener or small market gardener, production of almost any vegetable crop except tropicals is possible in the long, mild growing season of the Willamette Valley. Major limiting factors are late spring frosts, insufficient heat for some warm-weather crops, and low night temperatures.

Phosphorus Fertilizers and Sweet Corn Production (1984)
February 1, 1985

Summer (Heat Tolerant) Cauliflower Variety Trials (1984)
February 1, 1985

The purpose of these trials was to evaluate varieties of cauliflower for summer harvest. The major desired quality is heat tolerance: the ability to withstand high temperatures without ricing and to maintain the high curd quality typical of autumn-harvested cauliflower. A second desired quality is long wrapper leaves for self-blanching.

Overwintering Cauliflower for Spring Harvest (1978-1979)
April 1, 1981

Green bean breeding and evaluation
December 31, 2007

Objectives: 1. Breed Bush Blue Lake green bean varieties with high economic yield and improved plant architecture. 2. Improve pod characteristics including straightness, color, smoothness, texture, flavor and quality retention, and combine with delayed seed size development. 3. Incorporate white mold resistance and improve root rot tolerance. 4. Map genes for resistance to white mold to facilitate marker aided selection.

Effect of irrigation level, insecticide and variety on root rot and yield of sweet corn
December 31, 2005

Puncturevine and Hairy Nightshade Management
December 31, 2005

The objectives of this project were to evaluate the efficacy of common row crop herbicides for control of puncturevine, and determine the effect of post harvest weed management strategies on hairy nightshade seed development.

Shallot Planting Density Trial
February 1, 1987

Shallots may be grown as an overwinter or spring-planted crop in the Willamette Valley. Major cultural problems in this crop include weed and disease control, effect of planting dates on yield, maturity, and degree of bolting, and the effects of size of, planting stock and planting density on yield and bulb size at harvest. This study was designed to investigate the effects of three planting densities and two bulb sizes on the total yield and mean bulb weight at harvest and on the number of bulbs produced per bulb planted.

Methods

Row Cover Effects on Minimum Air Temperature (1988)
July 1, 1988

Response of Tomato and Lettuce on Straw Bales to a Plastic Cover (1986)
May 1, 1987

Overwintered Onion Variety Trial, 1977-1978
February 1, 1987

Methods

Row Covers on Overwintered Vegetables (1988)
July 1, 1988

Introduction

Overwintered vegetables, seeded in late summer or early autumn for harvest the following spring, are important new alternative crops in the Willamette Valley. These crops offer a source of cash flow in the spring, present the opportunity for three crops in two years, and may be less expensive to grow because of reduced needs for insecticides and irrigation. Cauliflower, onions, and spinach have shown the most promise as overwintered crops.

FMC approves Rovral/Topsin 2ee label with 14 d phi

Changes to the Roval label for application.

Ascospore Trapping of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in Snap Bean Fields (2009)
December 31, 2009

Report to the Oregon Processed Vegetable Commission

Cindy Ocamb
OSU Dept of Botany and Plant Pathology

Nathan Miller
Postdoctoral Research Assistant, BPP, OSU

David H. Gent
USDA-ARS, Corvallis

Robert B. McReynolds
OSU North Willamette Research & Ext. Center

Objectives:

  1. Evaluate ascospore detection of S. sclerotiorum using multiple Rotorod spore traps.
  2. Monitor environmental conditions within bean fields to begin model development of ascospore detection events.
Abundance and Diversity of Native Bumble Bees Associated with Agricultural Crops: The Willamette Valley Experience (2009)
December 2, 2009

Rao, Sujaya and W. P. Stephen. 2009. Abundance and Diversity of Native Bumble Bees Associated with Agricultural Crops: The Willamette Valley Experience. Psyche. Volume 2010, Article ID 354072, 9 pages. 

Agroforestry: Sustaining Native Bee Habitat for Crop Pollination (2006)
August 1, 2006

Vaughan, Mace and Scott Hoffman Black. 2006. Agroforestry: Sustaining Native Bee Habitat for Crop Pollination. Agroforestry Notes. USDA National Agroforestry Center.

Alternatives for Control of Atrazine Tolerant Weeds in Sweet Corn Production (1993)
December 1, 1993

Report to the Oregon Processed Vegetable Commission

Deby Boquist
Ed Peachey
Gavin Crabtree
OSU Dept. of Horticulture

Continued use of atrazine for weed control in sweet corn has led to the evolution of atrazine tolerant weeds. The objective of the research was to evaluate efficacy and crop tolerance of several new herbicides and several herbicide combinations at sites with atrazine tolerant pigweed.

Alternatives to Dinoseb for Weed Control in Snapbeans (1987)
December 1, 1987

Report to the Oregon Processed Vegetable Commission

Bill Braunworth
Garvin Crabtree
Phil Diener
Dan McGrath
OSU Dept. of Horticulture

Objectives:

Alternatives to Dinoseb in Snap Beans (1992)
December 1, 1992

Report to the Oregon Processed Vegetable Commission

Ray William
OSU Dept. of Horticulture

Objectives:

Alternatives to Lorox in Carrot Production (1988)
December 1, 1988

Report to the Oregon Processed Vegetable Commission

Bill Braunworth
D. Curtis
Dan McGrath
Gavin Crabtree
OSU Dept. of Horticulture

Objectives:

  1. Obtain data on the weed control efficacy and crop safety of herbicides currently registered for usein carrots.
  2. Identify other herbicides not currently registered for use in carrots, which might serve as a substitute for Lorox.
  3. Obtain data which could be used toward the registration of suitable herbicides.
Anticrustant Effects on Vegetable Seedling Emergence (1984)
February 1, 1985

Research report from OSU's North Willamette Agricultural Research and Extension Center

Delbert Hemphill
OSU Dept of Horticulture, NWREC

Anticrustants on Seedling Emergence of Carrot and Lettuce (1986)
May 1, 1987

Research report from OSU's North Willamette Agricultural Research and Extension Center

Delbert Hemphill
OSU Dept of Horticulture, NWREC

Introduction

Aphid and Looper Contamination of Broccoli and Cauliflower (2002)
December 31, 2002

Report to the Oregon Processed Vegetable Commission

Dan McGrath
OSU Dept of Horticulture

Five insects contaminate broccoli in the Willamette Valley: cabbage loopers (Trichoplusia ni), cabbage white butterfly larvae (Pieris rapae), diamondback moth (Marrtestra aphids (Brevicoryne brassicae). Broccoli is inspected very closely before it is accepted for processing. Low levels of insect contamination result in the rejection of truckloads of harvested broccoli by processor quality assurance programs and thousands of dollars of loss to growers.

Attracting Birds of Prey for Rodent Control (2012)
December 1, 2012

Rodents are an increasing problem in fields and pastures. Birds of prey play a vital part in integrated pest management of rodent pests. Living on The Land — Attracting Birds of Prey for Rodent Control succinctly describes the value to farmers and ranchers of attracting barn owls and American kestrels for rodent control, and ways to help build up local populations of these birds.

Automated Yield Monitoring in Vegetable Crops (1997)
December 31, 1997

Report to the Oregon Processed Vegetable Commission

Timothy Righetti
OSU Department of Horticulture

Our goal is to start with computerized record keeping, GPS based sampling systems, and the creation of yield maps. Once this has been done various forms of computer assisted management become possible.

Objectives:

Biological Control of Insect Pests (2009)

Barbercheck, M., 2009. Biological Control of Insect Pests . eOrganic article. Available at http://www.extension.org/article/18931.

Biological control and reduced-tillage for white mold management in Willamette Valley processed snap bean production (2008)
December 31, 2008

Report to the Oregon Processed Vegetable Commission

Alex Stone
OSU Dept. of Horticulture

Ken Johnson
OSU Dept. of Botany and Plant Pathology

Objectives:

  1. To determine the impact of fall Contans applications on Coniothyrium minitans (Cm) infection and survival of sclerotia left on the soil surface through the winter and summer
  2. To determine the impact of summer irrigation and burial on sclerotial survival and infection with Cm and other fungi
Biodiversity Conservation: An Organic Farmer's Guide (2005)
August 1, 2005

Baumgartner, Jo Ann, Laura Smith, Reggie Knox, and John Davis. 2005. Biodiversity Conservation: An Organic Farmer's Guide. Wild Farm Alliance. Watsonville, California.

Beet Western Yellows Virus Survey (1990)

Research report from OSU's North Willamette Agricultural Research and Extension Center

Delbert Hemphill
OSU Dept of Horticulture, NWREC

Introduction

Bean Mold Scouting Program (1997)
December 31, 1997

Report to the Oregon Processed Vegetable Commission

Dan McGrath
OSU Dept of Horticulture

Objectives:

  1. To reduce bean mold scouting effort and increase the value of the information produced by the scouting effort.
  2. To validate that the modified scouting program produces an accurate assessment of risk of mold development.
Assessing the costs of transitioning land to certified organic in processed vegetable production (2007)
December 21, 2007

Report to the Oregon Processed Vegetable Commission

Clark Seavert
NWREC Center Director & agricultural economist

Ed Peachey
OSU Dept of Horticulture

Dan McGrath
OSU Dept of Horticulture, Linn County Extension Office

Alex Stone
OSU Dept of Horticulture, Vegetable Extension Specialist

Objectives:

Alternative Crops for the Columbia Basin (2006)
October 1, 2006

This publication explores possibilities for new crops in the Columbia Basin. Includes crops for oilseeds, food, forage, revegetation, and xeriscape plant nurseries. Crops are classified into three categories: grasses and cereal grains, broad-leafed herbs and forbs, and shrubs and trees. Includes index by common and scientific names.

Ascospore trapping of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in snap bean fields (2008)
December 31, 2008

Report to the Oregon Processed Vegetable Commission

Cindy Ocamb
OSU Dept of Botany and Plant Pathology

Nathan Miller
Postdoctoral Research Assistant, BPP, OSU

David H. Gent
USDA-ARS, Corvallis

Robert B. McReynolds
OSU North Willamette Research & Ext. Center

Objective:

  1. Determine whether ascospores of S. sclerotiorum can be detected in experimental bean plantings by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Ascospore Trapping of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in Snap Bean Fields and Root Rot Management (2011)
December 1, 2011

Report to the Oregon Processed Vegetable Commission

Cindy Ocamb
OSU Dept of Botany and Plant Pathology

Nathan Miller
Postdoctoral Research Assistant, BPP, OSU

David H. Gent
USDA-ARS, Corvallis

Robert B. McReynolds
OSU North Willamette Research & Ext. Center

Jim Myers
OSU Dept. of Horticulture

Objectives:

Assessment of Value of Aqueous Nitrogen Fertilizer Solutions as Fertilizer and Herbicide Supplement in Broccoli (1989)
December 1, 1989

Report to the Oregon Processed Vegetable Commission

Garvin Crabtree
Bill Mansour
OSU Dept of Horticulture

Objectives:

  1. Determine the potential selective herbicidal activity of three nitrogen-containing fertilizer solutions.
  2. Compare broccoli response to nitrogen applied in these foliar sprays to equal amounts of nitrogen applied in the usual form of side-dressed fertilizer.
Automated Yield Monitoring in Vegetable Crops (1996)
December 1, 1996

Report to the Oregon Processed Vegetable Commission

Timothy Righetti
OSU Department of Horticulture

Objectives: