WSU researchers getting $15 million in USDA Specialty Crop Grants

Washington Ag Today October 1, 2009 Washington State University research teams have been awarded more than $15 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture grants aimed at specialty crops such as tree fruit, wine grapes and potatoes. As Dan Bernardo, dean of the WSU College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, explains, WSU researchers are among the top recipients in the country.

Bernardo: “This year there was 47 million dollars awarded nationally. Obviously with us receiving about two-thirds of the funds we are pretty proud of our faculty’s accomplishment in that area.”

Dean Bernardo points to one project as an example of the interdisciplinary cooperation involved in the research projects. That is Biodegradable Mulches for Specialty Crops Produced under Protective Cover, or high tunnels. He says a textiles scientist got involved in the project along with horticulturists and economist and an extension educator.

Bernardo: “That was the number one rated project in this competition. And USDA is using it as kind of a model of the interdisciplinary research and extension they are after in these projects. I think that one just cool because it has a real interesting story behind it.”

Overall, the nine projects funded will study everything from the most basic science at the cellular level to applied best practices which solve problems growers face in the orchard and field.

I’m Bob Hoff and that’s the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.