@wsucsanr.bsky.social
Inspired solutions for the future of agriculture and the environment. https://csanr.wsu.edu/
Dramatic scene from the confines of a truck cab: two-lane highway, lake with lighting, and steep mountains.
🚛 Transport, diet & food waste. Ag’s climate impact goes beyond the field.
A report from CSANR, @scc_gov & KR Creative Strategies calls for whole-system thinking.
🔗 csanr.wsu.edu/organic-clim...
#DontAskMeToPullOverSoYouCanTakeAPicture #WSU
Cover crops in Douglas County. Photo by Leslie Michel.
🌱 Ag tools for climate resilience:
✅Cover crops
✅ Compost & manure
✅ No/reduced tillage
✅ Perennial crops
✅ Biochar/soil amendments
✅ Double cropping/no fallow
🔗 csanr.wsu.edu/organic-climate-smart-report
📸 Leslie Michel #CoverCrops #SoilHealth #WSU
Pacific Northwest Gardener's Handbook cover image.
This free WSU Extension book now features a new chapter on Climate Change & Gardening, brought to you by CSANR.
#MyGardenIsOnFire #WSU
1999–2022: Nutrient Source Early studies explore how compost enhances soil fertility; nitrogen availability from compost is quantified. 2000–2003: Tackling Contamination Early work responds to concerns about clopyralid, a persistent herbicide affecting municipal compost. 2003–2010: Scaling Up Research on managing farm’s waste streams to improve soil health continues. 2011–2025 Resources Recovery Waste to Fuels Technology partnership shows compost is viewed as part of integrated organics management strategy. 2022–now: CSANR explores compost’s role in carbon sequestration, evaluates compost’s footprint, and informs legislative decisions.
On the compost scene since before compost was cool.
🔗https://csanr.wsu.edu/the-dirt-on-compost
#DecadesOfDirty #HotCompost #WSU
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
Sweet lil' dairy calf folds in half to nap.
WA dairies can lead on climate action.
✅ Cut methane with digesters & feed additives
✅ Boost soil health with compost
✅ Keep farmland working = lower emissions
Read the new report on organic and climate-smart ag: csanr.wsu.edu/organic-clim...
#LessMethaneMoreMilk #WSU
Bowl of RoundUp and cherries from grandpa's backyard.
Raised on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, these cherries could be "climate smart."
Range of practices = more tools to fight climate change.
Read the "Organic and Climate-Smart Ag Report"
🔗 csanr.wsu.edu/news
#GrandpasCherriesTakeOnClimateChange #Organic #WSU
The sky is not falling—yet. Fig. 1. Columbia Plateau Regional Aquifer System study area. The aquifer system is outlined in yellow, encompassing portions of Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. The Columbia River flows from the north to the south where it joins the Snake River and continues flowing west to the Pacific Ocean. The map shows different landcover classes, highlighting cropland areas in pink.
How long can the wells reach the water?
WSU's Sasha McLarty shows that in eastern Washington...it depends. The amount of accessible groundwater left in the Columbia Plateau Regional Aquifer System varies depending on where you are.
📖bit.ly/44THlxw
Fancy Cat, Ph.D., talks down to Public Cat as Public Cat looks on.
CSANR's Alex Kirkpatrick shows that the knowledge deficit hypothesis (KDH) is not supported. KDH = If only they knew the facts, they would support xyz.
🔗 Read more: bit.ly/HowToShareSc...
#HardToShareWithThatPaywall #DialogNotData #WSU
AgWest gift to enhance capacity at WSU’s new Plant Growth Facility news.wsu.edu/news/2025/07...
07.07.2025 18:51 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0New study from CSANR’s Alex Kirkpatrick shows video & audio are more effective than text for building trust. Surprisingly, video did not outperform audio alone.
📖 Publication: bit.ly/AgAIDcommunication
💻 Video used in study: bit.ly/AgAID_video
#WayMoreWork #WSU #AgAID
Is experimenting on baby trees even ethical? CSANR's Chris Benedict shares a summer update about the @wasoilhealth's long-term agroecological research sites. Read more: 📖 https://washingtonsoilhealthinitiative.com/2025/06/ltare-update-summer-2025 #MyDirtHasWorms #WSU #Wenatchee
Is experimenting on baby trees even ethical?
CSANR's Chris Benedict shares a summer update about long-term agroecological research sites.
Read more: 📖 washingtonsoilhealthinitiative.com/2025/06/ltar...
#MyDirtHasWorms #WSU #Wenatchee
An invitation to "form a mutual association" interacts with a root's rhizosphere.
Work on CSANR initiatives as WSU's Endowed Chair in Tree Fruit Soil and Rhizosphere Science.
🍒Details & Apply: bit.ly/TreeFruitSoil
#MyRootsHaveHairs #SoilScience #WSU
Orchard or army surplus? WSU cougar logo and "LTARE" spray painted with stencils on wood sign.
No awards for signage here, but WSU's Institute for NW Energy Futures is a finalist for the 2025 North American #Agrivoltaics Awards! 🍎☀️
At Sunrise Orchard, we’re testing solar arrays to shade trees and power operations.
Vote 👉https://agrivoltaicsawards.com/2025-plan-finalists
#MyApplesMakePower
Success kid makes a comeback in the Palouse, with text stating "Your idea—someone else's time and money."
SARE needs ideas for projects like fact sheets and how-to videos. Submit by June 30.
🔗 bit.ly/45R5xBN
MSU's Cheyenne Sloan and CSANR's Teal Potter (Climate Analogs Academy coordinator) pose for a selfie at a Stemilt Growers packing plant.
Michigan State University Extension's Cheyenne Sloan & CSANR's Teal Potter snapped this selfie on a tour stop at the Climate Analogs Academy. 📸
What are climate analogs—and why should growers care?
🔗 goodfruit.com/agricultural...
Find your analog:
🔗 agclimatechangetools.cahnrs.wsu.edu
StockSmart was named a @microsoft.com "AI for Good" winner! It’s a free tool that helps ranchers make grazing decisions.
🧠 Built by CSANR & partners
💰 Won $100K in @azure.microsoft.com credits
🔗 Try it: stock-smart.com
#BeefyBeef #WSU
screenshot of the save family farming interview with doug collins: new episode, WSU highlights compost research, benefits. Dr. doug collins, soil scientist at WSU's CSANR talks about the #DigIntoCompost campaign on the farming show. Doug is pictured in the center wearing a plaid shirt with tree branches in the background.
Dr. Doug Collins joined Dillon Honcoop on #TheFarmingShow to talk about our #DigIntoCompost campaign.
Dr. Collins and Dillion talked about the campaign and some best practices whether you are composting on a small or large scale. 🌱
🎧 savefamilyfarming.org/wsu-highligh...
#SustainableAg
A green compost bin is spilling food scraps onto a wooden surface. The words "how can policy support composting? clear goas, targeted incentives, and public investment could help Washington expand composting programs and infrastructure. Lessons from recycling policy. Let's #DigIntoCompost with WSU's Center for Sustaining Agriculture & Natural Resources."
♻️ Strong policy made recycling a success. Can compost follow?
A CSANR blog explores how Washington State could apply recycling lessons to support compost adoption.
📖 csanr.wsu.edu/lessons-from...
#DigIntoCompost #CompostPolicy #CircularEconomy #SustainableAg #WSUresearch #compost
The back end of a green truck backed up to a large compost pile with the words "compost buy-back programs could build soil carbon while stimulating Washington's economy" in white letters over the top of the photo.
The back end of a green truck backed up to a large compost pile with the words "by investing in compost markets and creating incentives, Washington could support both environmental and economic goals" in white letters over the top of the photo.
The back end of a green truck backed up to a large compost pile with the words "Ready to #DigIntoCompost to learn more? Find the study on our website: https://csanr.wsu.edu/dig-into-compost/" in white letters over the top of the photo.
💰 Compost isn’t just good for the soil—it’s good for the economy.
A WSU report explores how compost buy-back programs could support farmers, sequester carbon, & grow local markets. ♻️🌾
See the Read➡️link at the top: csanr.wsu.edu/dig-into-com...
#DigIntoCompost #SoilHealth #WSUResearch
A compost bin with food scraps and the words "compost can be worth the cost - if it goes to the right crops in the right places."
💰 Is #compost worth the cost? For some farms—yes!
Compost can be a valuable resource for mixed vegetables & raspberries. But for wheat & blueberries, the cost may be too high.
🔗 Find the blog post under “Municipal – Cost and Value”: csanr.wsu.edu/dig-into-com...
#DigIntoCompost #SustainableAg
A closeup of brown compost with a red box over the top and the words "compost builds soil carbon" in white letters.
A closeup of brown compost with a red box over the top and the words "applying compost increases soil organic carbon, but just how well do online tools actually estimate that benefit?" in white letters.
A closeup of brown compost with a red box over the top and the words "WSU researchers found that estimates of soil organic carbon varied across evaluated models and are more relevant applied over large areas" in white letters.
A closeup of brown compost with a red box over the top and the words "Rady to #DigIntoCompost and learn more? Visit https://csanr.wsu.edu/dig-into-compost/" in white letters.
Compost can increase soil carbon — but are your tools capturing the full story?
See the READ section at the top of our website for the link to Digging Deeper: Assessing the predictive power of common greenhouse gas accounting tools...
csanr.wsu.edu/dig-into-com...
#DigIntoCompost #SoilHealth
a field of green plants with the words "compost + cover crops = a resilient duo" in white letters over the top.
a field of green plants with the words "WSU researchers and farmers are integrating cover crops and compost, helping to restore degraded soils" in white letters over the top.
a field of green plants with the words "cover crops improve soil fertility, moisture retention, and improve crop yield" in white letters over the top.
a field of green plants with the words "ready to #DigIntoCompost and learn more? visit https://csanr.wsu.edu/dig-into-compost/" in white letters over the top.
When used together, cover crops & #compost can do wonders:
✅ Improve soil fertility
✅ Boost moisture retention
✅ Support higher crop yields
✅ Restore degraded soils
▶️ Watch ‘Compost & Fertilizer to Improve Cover Crop Success’ in the video section: csanr.wsu.edu/dig-into-com...
#DigIntoCompost
close-up cross section of a field with grass growing on top and roots below. over the roots are the words "composting is an act of climate resilience".
close-up cross section of a field with grass growing on top and roots below. over the roots are the words "compost improves soil's ability to withstand flooding and save water for future use".
close-up cross section of a field with grass growing on top and roots below. over the roots are the words "increasing organic matter through compost application allows water to move into soil and stay there".
close-up cross section of a field with grass growing on top and roots below. over the roots are the words "ready to #DigIntoCompost further with WSU's center for sustaining agriculture and natural resources and learn more about what you see here? visit: https://csanr.wsu.edu/dig-into-compost/".
This week, we are highlighting how composting is an act of #ClimateResilience.
💧 Did you know #compost can increase soil’s water holding capacity? It not only saves water but supports crops during dry spells.
csanr.wsu.edu/dig-into-com...
#DigIntoCompost #SustainableAg #SustainableAgriculture
a pair of Caucasian hands is scooping compost from a larger pile. the words "when compost and biochar team up, the benefits go beyond the pile: improved crop yields, reduced emissions, healthier soils" are on top of the photo
a pair of Caucasian hands is scooping compost from a larger pile. the words "compost + biochar = boosted benefits" are on top of the photo
a pair of Caucasian hands is scooping compost from a larger pile. the words "ready to #DigIntoCompost and learn more about biochar? visit https://csanr.wsu.edu/dig-into-compost/" are on top of the photo
#Compost + #Biochar = Soil Superpowers 💪
What happens when you mix two powerful tools for soil health?
✅ Better yields
✅ Cleaner air
✅ Resilient soils
WSU researchers are showing how biochar can boost the benefits of compost: csanr.wsu.edu/dig-into-com...
#SoilHealth #RegenerativeAg #WSUResearch
We awarded nearly $10 million to help landfills across Washington reduce methane pollution through Landfill Methane Emissions Reduction grants. This funds projects at 13 municipal landfills across the state.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIr3...
A close-up view of compost. There is a red box overlaid on the compost with the words "compost builds soil health"
A close-up view of compost. There is a red box overlaid on the compost with the words "compost feeds the soil, increasing soil organic matter that improves:"
A close-up view of compost. There is a red box overlaid on the compost with the words "soil structure, water retention, nutrient cycling, and long-term resilience"
A close-up view of compost. There is a red box overlaid on the compost with the words "Learn more with Dr. Kirsten Ball's talk in our video section"
🌱 Healthy soils = healthy farms!
#Compost helps improve structure, moisture, & nutrient cycling.
👨🔬 Learn how compost builds soil health in the video from Dr. Kirsten Ball — see the "Videos" section of our website: csanr.wsu.edu/dig-into-com...
#soilhealth #soilorganicmatter #SustainableFarming
Rolling hills with green dryland wheat and a blue sky with white fluffy clouds. Overlaid in white font are the words "high rates of compost can be a useful amendment to increase water-holding capacity in dryland wheat systems: insights from a long-term study."
In dryland systems, water is everything. 💧 Compost helps retain soil moisture and support consistent yields.
📊 See the long-term study on dryland wheat 🌾 from Wilke Farm → csanr.wsu.edu/high-rate-of...
#DigIntoCompost #drylandfarming #soilmoisture #compost
