Research
‘YEN’ing for more information
The devil’s often found in the details, and one Lincoln County grower is shifting through a wheat field of data to find answers. Jesse Brunner, a fifth-generation farmer north of Almira, Wash., is going into his third year participating in the Great Lakes Yield Enhancement Network (YEN). The program, which…
Taking the long view
When William Jasper Spillman began applying Mendel’s Laws of genetics and inheritance to wheat improvement in the 1890s, he set in motion a tradition of agricultural research that has defined Pacific Northwest farming ever since. By 1958, the industry’s needs — for new varieties, tools, practices, and education — had…
North Carolinian brings unique experience to Eastern Washington
Coming from a region of rolling hills where soft red wheat dominates and annual rainfall averages 45 inches, Morgan Menaker admits he experienced some culture shock upon arriving in Eastern Washington. “The first time I came to Pullman for my in-person interview, driving south of Spokane into Whitman County was…
Start clean, stay clean
Aaron Esser’s message to growers at a workshop in January was fairly simple — the key to controlling weeds is starting clean and staying clean. Unfortunately, the way to accomplish that is anything but. “I’ve been doing this for 28 years now. Everyone remembers Maverick Herbicide, right? When that first…
Combatting Italian ryegrass
Cereal rye might not be the answer to Eastern Washington growers’ Italian ryegrass problem, but Morgan Menaker is hoping there might be a few lessons to be gleaned from his work in North Carolina with it. Menaker is the new Washington State University Regional Extension agronomist covering Asotin, Columbia, Garfield,…
Moving research forward faster
Technology has moved plant breeding forward by leaps and bounds, but not without some resistance, most notably to genetically modified organisms (GMO)s. Gene editing could provide a viable alternative in breeding programs without all the GMO baggage. In gene editing, researchers modify the current DNA of a plant to either…
Helping farmers bounce back
In a recently released report, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is tackling ag viability in the face of a changing climate and figuring out ways to help farmers come out ahead. Published in March 2025, the “WSDA Climate Resilience Plan for Washington Agriculture” is designed to support the…
Homegrown scientist returns to PNW wheat industry
It would seem Cat Salois was destined to be involved in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) wheat industry. Her father was raised on a farm near Goldendale, and Salois was born in the fertile Willamette Valley in Oregon. Both of her parents earned degrees from Washington State University (WSU). Before the…
A digital gathering space for growers, researchers
Carol McFarland hopes the PNW Farmers’ Network can play a complementary role in the digital space that the coffee shop plays in the real world, a place to gather and share information. And while it’s not required, a keen interest in talking about drills and spray nozzles is always welcome….
Research on my mind
There’s just a lot going on these days in agriculture. Between all the new advances in technology, chemistry, biologicals, spending money, and worrying, I find that my mental dance card is a bit full! This month I’d like to highlight one particular aspect of our industry that will either fill…
