By Sonia A. Hall, Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources, Washington State University, and Tip Hudson, Washington State University Extension We recently released StockSmart, a free, online decision support tool that we developed in partnership with the University of Arizona and the US Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, that accesses remotely sensed forage […]
By Karie Boone, Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources, Washington State University Washington State is working towards the goal set by HB-1799 to reduce organic waste taken to landfills by 75% by 2030. An important alternative destination for organic wastes—such as manure, yard debris, food waste, wood and garden waste—is composting facilities, which process […]
By Janelle Christensen (she/her),USDA Northwest Climate Hub In The Dalles, Oregon, dryland wheat farmers are using innovative farming practices that help them prepare for extreme weather caused by climate change. The benefits of these practices extend far beyond improved climate resilience. They also reduce the impact farming can have on the local ecosystem. As a […]
By Georgine Yorgey (she/her) Associate Director, Center for Sustaining Agriculture & Natural Resources, Washington State University Honeybees are small but mighty. They produced about 139 million pounds of honey in the US last year, worth more than $350 million. But even more valuable than that, they pollinate more than 130 types of fruits, nuts, and […]
By Alex Kirpatrick, PhD (they/them), Communication Scientist, Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources, Washington State University Artificial intelligence (AI) is filtering your spam, gatekeeping your newsfeed, chatting with you online, and underpinning many of your regular activities. Many vaunt the potential of AI in agriculture to help land-managers adapt to uncertain and extreme weather, […]
By Amanda Stahl, Washington State University and Karie Boone, The Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources, Washington State University Predicting climate impacts on water availability for agriculture and potential effects on salmon populations requires us to understand natural seasonal changes in streamflow patterns across the Pacific Northwest. The Washington Department of Ecology in collaboration […]
By Christine Buhl, PhD, Oregon Department of Forestry Hot droughts have led to an increase in damaged and dead trees across the Pacific Northwest. However, many resources are available to help landowners create forests that are more resilient and better prepared for a changing climate. This post highlights current strategies from universities and natural resource […]
By Janelle Christensen, USDA Northwest Climate Hub As the climate changes, the forests we love and care for will need to adapt to a “new normal.” We want to help, but sometimes are unsure of what to do. The choice of what to do often becomes more challenging because these places are more than places. […]
Dani Gelardi, Washington State Department of Agriculture Last year, we asked, “How will the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) impact Washington agriculture?” For a brief primer on the topic, read the 2022 blog post. Now, with one year passed, let’s review how farmers are faring under this ambitious state law to reduce greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions. […]
By Lulu Chen, Intern at the AgAID Institute, Washington State University Can data be a game changer for farmers in the face of climate change? Farmers are at the forefront of risk and uncertainty in the face of a rapidly changing environment. Irregular weather patterns, severe temperatures, and shifting precipitation levels create significant challenges to […]
