Showing 51-60 of 442 results
western.sare.org news light-it-up-using-uv-light-to-kill-powdery-mildew-in-grapes Light it Up! Using UV Light to Kill Powdery Mildew in Grapes
Instead of relying solely on fungicides to control powdery mildew on winegrapes, growers may one day – and one day reasonably soon – have an effective non-chemical option: light. Specifically, light in the form of spore-killing ultraviolet UV-C radiation, delivered directly to the plant by a self-driving tractor moving through vineyard rows autonomously at night. […]
western.sare.org news measuring-biochars-benefits-for-healthy-orchard-soils Measuring Biochar’s Benefits for Healthy Orchard Soils
As the California agricultural community seeks new tools and practices critical for adapting to a changing climate, the American Farmland Trust partnered with a Madera County almond grower, conservation districts, and the University of California at Merced to conduct a field demonstration project and experiment on the application of biochar and its effects on soil […]
western.sare.org news breaking-the-barriers-to-ipm-adoption-in-wenatchee-pears Breaking the Barriers to IPM Adoption in Wenatchee Pears
For all the promise, potential and profound benefits integrated pest management can bring, there’s also this harsh reality: IPM only works if people practice it. In some pear-growing regions in the Pacific Northwest, IPM is a widely accepted, effective and economical way to manage pear psylla and codling moth, the crop’s key insect pests. But […]
western.sare.org news a-new-tool-for-managing-invasive-grasses-in-montana A New Tool for Managing Invasive Grasses in Montana
Invasive annual grasses, such as cheatgrass and ventenata, are reducing the abundance of native grasses that livestock producers depend on in the semi-arid rangelands of southwestern Montana. At the current low-to-moderate levels of invasion, it’s crucial to begin targeted management before invasive populations become too advanced. To guide efforts to slow or halt annual grass […]
western.sare.org news impacts-of-compost-application-on-the-drought-resiliency-of-rangeland Impacts of Compost Application on the Drought Resiliency of Rangeland
Severe droughts, expected to increase due to climate change, pose threats to California’s rangelands. Ranchers and rangeland managers are facing decreased livestock forage production, reduced biodiversity, and soil degradation. A previously funded Western SARE project (grant number OW19-349) found that compost amendments provide benefits to soils and forage productivity, including greater resilience to drought. However, […]
western.sare.org news propagating-tea-plants-for-the-west Propagating Tea Plants for the West
Tea is one of the most popular drinks in the world, second only to water in consumption. In America, you can find it in more than 80 percent of households. Finding it growing in U.S. soil is another story. Tea is produced on less than 100 acres in America, mostly in Hawaii and the South. […]
western.sare.org news hawaii-research-examines-ecological-pest-management-and-values-driven-farming Hawaii Research Examines Ecological Pest Management and Values-Driven Farming
Agricultural researchers often measure success in terms of higher yields or higher profits, but a new project in Hawaii is looking at a third dimension of success: Growers’ personal values. “A lot of farmers make the transition to organic partially for commercial reasons, but it’s also a values-driven decision,” said Ben Wiseman, a third-year PhD […]
western.sare.org news studying-the-ecology-of-fear-to-protect-chile-in-colorado Studying the Ecology of Fear to Protect Chile in Colorado
Tiny aphids are causing outsized losses for chile pepper growers in Colorado, even though the insects don’t feed on that particular crop and don’t linger in it. Instead, aphids move through chile fields, especially after nearby alfalfa fields are cut. That wasn’t a problem until 2019 when alfalfa mosaic virus appeared in southern Colorado. Aphids […]
western.sare.org news targeted-grazing Targeted Grazing
Wildfires throughout the West are growing more severe. Fire season starts earlier, lasts longer and claims more lives and property along the way. Grazing is one of the most effective, cost-efficient tools available to lessen fire spread and severity. And now, thanks to a recent Western SARE-supported project, grazing has become even more useful to […]
www.sare.org news farmer-friendly-sare-grant-finds-poultry-production-efficiencies-and-processing-barriers-in-hawaii Farmer-Friendly SARE Grant Finds Poultry Production Efficiencies and Processing Barriers In Hawaii
Dependent on imports for more than 80% of their food, Hawaii’s people are perpetually at risk of supply chain interruptions due to natural disasters or other disruptions. Improving the capacity of local food production is one way farmers can generate income opportunities while reducing the remote islands’ risky reliance on imports. Nicole Correa of O‘ahu’s […]