WSU CAHNRS

Always love to see our scientists showing off the real-world impact of their work! #GoCougs

2 people talk in front of an academic poster.

A person stands in front of an academic poster holding an octagon-shaped object with the word Chitin on it, plus a scientific drawing.

A person stands in front of an academic poster. He's pointing over his shoulder with his thumb at the poster.

A person stands in front of an academic poster that is covered with lots of text and images.

Scholars from #WSU & 8 other institutions spent their summer embedded in WSU agricultural research & outreach. They presented their research at the Summer Research Symposium, Aug. 1. Way to go! More pics: www.flickr.com/photos/cahnr...
#GoCougs

Two people hold pom poms and a banner that reads "Made of Crimson" with the WSU cougar head logo above the words. Behind them is a sign that reads "CAHNRS Welcome Students! Student Success and Academic Programs."

We're #MadeofCrimson — built by hard work & rooted in passion!
In CAHNRS, learning goes beyond the classroom. We serve all people through research, academics, & Extension. We support healthy communities, sustain our economy & environment, & advance agriculture.
#GoCougs

Grad students across disciplines study climate’s effect on grain Team collaborates to review science on the effects of heat and drought on grain development, and to identify pathways toward “Climate Smart” wheat.

#WSU doctoral students published a scientific review that evaluates the state of knowledge about the effects of heat & drought on grain development, & points to areas of that development that could be targeted to develop a “Climate Smart” wheat. #GoCougs news.wsu.edu/news/2025/07...

Madison Shaw, a young grower from Port Orchard, Washington - Good Fruit Grower Madison is first-generation in agriculture. She earned a viticulture degree from Washington State University and is beginning her career in Gallo’s Washington vineyards. She is the daughter of Amy Mar...

Great Q&A w/recent #WSU wine science graduate Madison Shaw on Good Fruit Grower! Madison has excellent advice for anyone who may be interested in a viticulture or enology career. #GoCougs #WAwine goodfruit.com/madison-shaw...

Jam-packed with summer fruit? Don’t double that jelly recipe! It can throw off the texture, ruin the set, or even create food safety risks.
Stick to tested recipes from #WSU or UGA Cooperative Extension’s National Center for Home Food Preservation.
news.cahnrs.wsu.edu/podcasts/fsm...

Donation will allow WSU insect museum to double storage space, expand collection Terry and Faye Whitworth's donation will pay for installation of a new a sliding storage system, increasing storage capacity.

Thanks to Terry & Faye Whitworth, longtime supporters of #WSU’s Department of Entomology, the M.T. James Entomological Collection, the largest insect repository in Washington state, will eliminate unused space & boost its collection size. #GoCougs news.cahnrs.wsu.edu/article/dona...

WSU scientist recognized for research that keeps viruses out of crops, fights those already in Scott Harper will receive the Excellence in Regulatory Affairs & Crop Security Award from the American Phytopathological Society next month.

Constantly shifting challenges drew Scott Harper to be a virologist. His work protecting crops & fighting diseases like little cherry led to an award that he will receive at the @plantdisease.bsky.social annual conference next month. #GoCougs news.cahnrs.wsu.edu/article/wsu-...

Close-up shot of blueberry clusters growing on branch.

Explore the latest blueberry cultivars & breeding research at the #WSU Mount Vernon Northwestern Research & Extension Center’s (NWREC) Berry Field Day, supported by the WA Blueberry Commission 🫐.
📅 Wed., Aug. 6
🕝 2:30  - 4:00 p.m.
📍 Location: WSU Mount Vernon NWREC
mtvernon.wsu.edu/event/wsu-be...

National award for beautiful blooms honors disease-fighting peony researcher This summer, flower growers gave plant pathologist Gary Chastagner a rare compliment: an award in his name for outstanding blooms at the American Peony Society's National Flower Show.

He does way more than holiday trees! Gary Chastagner, nicknamed Dr. Christmas Tree for his research on conifers, recently had an award named in his honor to recognize all the great work he's done to help peonies.
#GoCougs news.cahnrs.wsu.edu/article/nati...

The Art of Range podcast banner showing silhouette of three different plant species.

New Art of Range podcast available! Land managers & stewards can learn about the upcoming 2025 Grazing Expo, which will include field days, research insights, & rancher peer-to-peer learning. #GoCougs
Tune in: artofrange.com/episodes/aor...

Composite of 2 images side-by-side. On the left, a metal can filled with cheese cubes that have toothpicks in them sits in a bowl of ice. On the right, several bottles of wine with WSU logos sit on a table, surrounded by crimson and gray items like pom-poms.

Happy National #WineAndCheeseDay! Last week, we got to show off these 2 products at Crave Northwest! Our profs help educate the next generation of #cheese & #wine makers, while also doing science that improves these products for everyone! #WAwine #GoCougs

2 people stand on ladders looking up into a pear tree.

A person holds a tray covered with pieces of paper that are each different colors.

A person stands on a ladder reaching out into a pear tree for a piece of paper attached at the top.

A person stands next to a pear tree talking to a large group of people.

#WSU Tree Fruit Extension held their Pear Integrated Pest Management Field Day earlier this month. Industry members learned more about IPM application, reducing broad spectrum insecticide use, increased natural enemies & biological control, & better fruit quality. #GoCougs
@wsuextension.bsky.social

Youth beach cleanup inspires the next generation of environmental stewards - Lynnwood Times Kayak Point Park in Stanwood became a hub of environmental action as over 70 youth and volunteers gathered for a Youth Beach Cleanup

70+ youth & volunteers joined the #WSU Extension Beach Watchers & Snohomish County leaders for a July service day, hauling 151 lb of trash from the Puget Sound shore while learning about marine science & stewardship. #GoCougs
lynnwoodtimes.com/2025/07/12/y...

Unlocking forest secrets with trail cams A well-placed trail camera can capture more than surprising images of wildlife that share our forests—they can help landowners better know and manage their woodland.

Well-placed trail cameras can capture more than wildlife images—they can help landowners better know & manage their woodland.
@wsuextension.bsky.social Foresters & other experts hosted a seminar, now online, on the uses & benefits of trail cameras. #GoCougs news.cahnrs.wsu.edu/article/unlo...

Meijun Zhu elected to Washington State Academy of Sciences Professor among seven WSU faculty elected to the academy for 2025.

Huge congratulations to Meijun Zhu from the School of Food Science, who was 1 of 7 #WSU professors elected this year to the Washington State Academy of Sciences (@washacadsci.bsky.social). #GoCougs news.cahnrs.wsu.edu/article/meij...

WSU Extension’s Whidbey Gardening Workshop wins international community service award Island County Master Gardeners are proud to announce that their Whidbey Gardening Workshop has been awarded first place for community service in the David Gibby International Master Gardener Search fo...

Congratulations to the Whidbey Gardening Workshop! They won first place in the David Gibby International Master Gardener Search for Excellence Awards in the category of community service from the Extension Master Gardener National Committee. #GoCougs news.cahnrs.wsu.edu/article/wsu-...

AgWest gift to enhance capacity at WSU’s new Plant Growth Facility AgWest Farm Credit pledged $500,000 to help build WSU’s new Plant Growth Facility in Wenatchee, boosting research and innovation for the state’s $10 billion tree fruit industry.

Scientists at WSU's Wenatchee Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center (TFREC) have received a new $500,000 pledge from AgWest Farm Credit supporting enhanced greenhouse and research capacity through the new Plant Growth Facility. 🌳 🍎

news.wsu.edu/news/2025/07...

@wsucahnrs.bsky.social

Two people stand together under a WSU-themed tent wearing WSU cougars gear and smiling. Behind them is a banner with the WSU Cougar head logo and the words "Washington State University College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences." A flag with a WSU cougar head also hangs behind them.

Two people lean over a table with boxes of Cosmic Crisp apples and a tray full of sliced apple samples. A person wearing latex gloves reaches into the tray. 

A person stands behind a table with bottles of wine and bowls with cheese samples on it. In front of the table are two people. One reaches into a bowl for a cheese sample, while the other places her cheese sample into her mouth.

Two people stand behind a table, each holding a bottle of student-made wine. In a bowl of ice in front of them are two more bottles of wine.

We had an awesome time at the Crave food festival last night!! Thanks to all who stopped by to try cheese & ice cream from the WSU Creamery, WSU V&E wines, honey, Cosmic Crisp® apples, & beef sticks from the animal sciences department! #GoCougs More photos: www.flickr.com/photos/cahnr...

Newsletter banner with name and tagline: Agricultural and Natural Resource Science News

Scot Hulbert leads CAHNRS as acting dean, a public research update on #WSU's latest #apple, AgWest's gift to the new Plant Growth Facility & much more. Read & subscribe to our On Solid Ground newsletter today. #GoCougs
us5.campaign-archive.com?u=3cd4b2a328...

Three people gather around a bin filled with cherries. One of the people reaches into the bin. In the background, another person is standing.

The WSU Horticulture Center is having #cherry sales July 17-20 from 12-6pm. Stop by to pick up large, sweet Selah and Skeena #cherries — perfect for eating fresh, freezing, baking, or preserving. #GoCougs

Darrin Morrison, Morrison Farms and Kim Matthews, Western Washington Agricultural Association chat while walking between presentations.

Sintayehu Daba, WSU Plant Pathology and Sanjaya Gyawali, Sakata Seed have a discussion while riding to the next presentation.

Diana Wisen, Skagit County Master Gardener, marvels at the health of the blueberry bushes.

Lindsey du Toit, WSU Plant Pathology Department Chair, Alfred Christianson Distinguished Professor of Vegetable Seed Pathology & Extension Plant Pathologist gives a presentation about Verticillium.

Mt. Vernon NWREC hosted its annual Field Day last week. Topics ranged from establishing tea production in WA to managing wilt in seed crops, sparking plenty of conversations between presentations.

#WSU #CropCurious #BringBackBuckwheat #PNWTea

A Washington State University Extension expert holds up a vial to show participants in the foreground. Fruit trees line the background.

WA tree fruit growers won’t want to miss the upcoming WSU-USDA Sunrise Research Farm Field Day! #GoCougs
Learn about the latest tree fruit research on topics like soil health, sunburn, X-disease, & more.
Thurs, July 24, Rock Island, WA. For more details: treefruit.wsu.edu/event/wsu-us...

New from WSU Extension: updated Pacific Northwest Gardener’s Handbook, tools for acidic soils Aimed at Northwest gardeners and farmers, the newest publications from WSU Extension include a comprehensive handbook on Pacific Northwest gardens and a look at a new soil-improving calculator tool.

Do you have questions about gardening in the PNW? Wondering how to fix acidic soils w/ lime? Our latest publications address these & other topics ⬇️. #GoCougs
Most are free to download, so dive into our trove of #WSU Extension publications!
news.cahnrs.wsu.edu/article/new-...

WSU Extension’s Whidbey Gardening Workshop wins international community service award Island County Master Gardeners are proud to announce that their Whidbey Gardening Workshop has been awarded first place for community service in the David Gibby International Master Gardener Search fo...

Congrats to the #WSU Extension Island County Master Gardeners who were awarded first place in the David Gibby International Master Gardener Search for Excellence Awards in the category of community service!🥇 #GoGougs
news.cahnrs.wsu.edu/article/wsu-...

WSU V&E department launches brewing certificate Beer lovers, homebrewers, and aspiring brewing professionals have a new way to enter the industry through WSU's newly launched Brewing Certificate Program.

#Beer lovers, homebrewers, & aspiring brewing professionals have a new way to enter the industry through #WSU’s new Brewing Certificate Program, which provides a comprehensive education in the science, technology, & business of #brewing. #GoCougs

news.cahnrs.wsu.edu/article/wsu-...

Professional head shot of Raven Weaver.

#WSU prof. Raven Weaver grew up spending time w/older neighbors, leading to a career as a gerontologist. Weaver’s research & dedication were recently acknowledged when she was selected as a fellow by the
@geronsociety.bsky.social. #GoCougs

news.cahnrs.wsu.edu/article/heed...

2 people sit at a table, which has a small windmill sitting on it. One person is looking at a screen on a device attached to the windmill.

A person stands next to a creek holding a long stick with a white cup attached on one end. He's pouring water from the cup end into another a glass container. A second person watches nearby.

2 people stand at a table actively working on a science experiment, with lots of beaker, bottles, and lab equipment nearby.

In a large room, 1 person holds a box fan up near a windmill, spinning the arms of the windmill. 2 other people talk about the readings they're getting from equipment attached to the windmill. In the background, several other groups are working on the same project.

Last week, #WSU ag education professors taught some teachers! ~35 school teachers from across the country visited WSU Pullman to earn certification & stay up to date on the latest teaching techniques. They learned new activities & lab experiments their students will do this year. #GoCougs

Sunburn on apples, an update to #WSU's Decision Aid System, how to reduce doubling in cherries, upcoming events, & much more. Check out the latest Fruit Matters newsletter from our WSU Tree Fruit team of scientists. #GoCougs treefruit.wsu.edu/newsletter/f...

Bright red cherries hang from a tree.

The #WSU organic farm has sour pie cherries ripe & ready for U-Pick! They're open for picking Thursday & Friday (7/10-11) between 8-2. Bring your own bucket or bags to pick into. $2.50 per pound. Email for appointment times. More details: mailchi.mp/eadc40fc9a2a...