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WHO WE AREWelcome to the Washington State University Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension

Center (IAREC) Annual Report for 2016. IAREC is home to 16 WSU faculty members, 8 USDA-ARS research scientists, and a Washington State University Department of Agriculture professional. We are host to faculty from the WSU Departments of Horticulture, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Crop and Soil Science, and Biological Systems Engineering. IAREC is also home to several subject matter centers including AgWeatherNet, the Center for Precision and Automated Agriculture Systems and the Clean Plant Center Northwest. IAREC hosts scientists from the USDA-ARS Grain Legume Genetics Physiology, Plant Germplasm Introduction and Testing, and Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research units.

The year 2016 marked the WSU hiring of Tree Fruit Information Technology Transfer Specialist Dr. Rob Blakey, Clean Plant Center Northwest Director and Virologist Dr. Scott Harper, Cherry Breeding Manager Bernardita Sallato, and Adminstrative Manager Karen Kniep-Blanton. New hires by the USDA-ARS include plant pathologist Dr. Kylie Swisher (Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research) and geneticist Dr. Brian Irish (Plant Germplasm Introduction and Testing).

IAREC scientists had a productive 2016 with over 50 peer reviewed publications and very strong commodity and federal grant support. WSU-IAREC has ongoing collaborations with the University of California-Davis, UC-Riverside, Cornell University, Oregon State University, University of Idaho, Oklahoma State University, The Ohio State University, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratories. IAREC faculty also continued their vigorous international collaborations through research travel to Argentina, Chile, India, Sri Lanka, France, Indonesia, Australia, Kuwait, Thailand, Nepal, Pakistan, Sweden, Holland, Italy, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Poland, Portugal, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Spain, and Germany.

Our significant contributions to graduate education continued during 2016. IAREC hosted 35 graduate students from 12 countries. Twenty-one students were granted degrees in 2016 (11 MS and 10 PhD).

IAREC faculty and staff are proud of the accomplishments of 2016 and are working together to ensure a strong and vital future.

VISIONWe work together, using world-class science, to develop solutions and inspire communities to sustain agriculture.

MISSIONWSU-IAREC creates integrated solutions and educates

regional and global communities and future generations to advance economically, environmentally, and

socially sustainable irrigated agriculture.

VALUESAchievement & Effectiveness • DiversityCommitment • Creativity & Innovation

Knowledge • Ethics & IntegrityTeamwork • Balance & Fun

Faculty by Department

Plant Pathology

Horticulture

Biological SystemsEngineering

Gary G. GroveProfessor of

Plant Pathology and

IAREC Director

Entomology

Crop & SoilSciences

AgWeatherNetAgWeatherNet (AWN) provides access to current and historical weather data from WSU’s automated weather station network along

with a range of models and decision aids. The weather data, advisories, and decision support systems provided by AgWeatherNet can help improve production and product quality, optimize resource use, and reduce environmental impact.

AWN has 177 automated weather stations located primarily in the irrigated regions of eastern Washington. The first station was installed in 1988. Standard AWN weather variables include air temperature, relative humidity, dew point temperature, soil temperature at 8 inches, rainfall, wind speed, wind direction, solar radiation, and leaf wetness. Some stations also measure atmospheric pressure. These variables are recorded every 5 seconds and summarized every 15 minutes by a data logger.

The monitoring stations are Campbell Scientific CR-1000 data loggers combined with a range of sensors powered by a battery that is recharged through a solar panel. Communications are handled through cell phone data telemetry and the Internet. Following processing, the weather data are disseminated via the website http://weather.wsu.edu. The weather data and associated tools that are provided on the website are updated continuously.

Contact Research Lead Melba Salazar-Gutierrez, m.salazar-gutierrez@wsu.edu,or Operations Manager Sean Hill, sehill@wsu.edu

Center for Precision & Automated Agricultural SystemsThe Center for Precision & Automated Agricultural Systems (CPAAS) was established to offer a framework for automated and

precision agriculture related efforts at Washington State University. CPAAS develops solutions for more effective growing, harvesting and processing of crops that will improve the quantity, quality, and safety of food production in the state of Washington, Pacific Northwest, and worldwide. To attain this goal, CPAAS has constructed needed research facilities and assembled a highly skilled trans-disciplinary team of researchers and support staff. CPAAS also supports postdoctoral research associates, graduate students, and visiting scholars from around the world who perform research and/or education activities at CPAAS.

Technologies developed at CPAAS, such as an automated labor management system, a hand-held mechanical blossom thinner, a high-trellis hop-twining robot, and smart targeted sprayer have been either commercialized by local manufacturers or adopted by individual growers.

CPAAS scientists are committed to developing “World Preeminent and Washington Relevant” research, education, and extension programs in the areas of agricultural automation and precision farming, and to providing a venue for: high-impact research outcomes for our stakeholders; true trans-disciplinary collaboration within WSU and worldwide; high quality educational and research experiences for our students; and incubation and development of new ideas relevant in an entrepreneurial climate.

Contact Director Qin Zhang, qinzhang@wsu.edu

Clean Plant Center NorthwestThe Clean Plant Center Northwest (CPCNW) is an association of scientists, researchers, state and federal regulators, large and small

nurseries, and growers of specialty crops who work together to ensure that plant propagation material is clean and available within Washington State, the Pacific Northwest, the USA, and around the world.

At the CPCNW, we offer clean plant services for the fruit tree, grape, and hops industries. Our clean plant services include virus- and virus-like disease detection and treatment, and the production, distribution, and retention of healthy plant material. The Virus Diagnostic Lab within the CPCNW provides virus testing services to growers and nurseries for targeted virus and virus-like diseases to a variety of agronomic and horticulture crops. In addition to our clean plant services, we conduct targeted research to find better, faster, and cheaper ways to test for viruses. The talented and diverse staff at CPCNW have relevant scientific, horticulture, research, laboratory, and management expertise.

The CPCNW works with other National Clean Plant Centers across the U.S. to keep agriculture growing strong by providing commercial agriculture with healthy, virus-tested plant material.

Contact Director Scott Harper, scott.harper@wsu.edu

CENTERS AT IAREC

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A Proof of Concept System Using Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Systems for Mitigating Bird Damage in Fruit and Berry CropsPI: Manoj Karkee Co-PI: Matthew Taylor

Funding Agency: WSU CAHNRS ARC Emerging Research Issues Internal Competitive Grant

2016 IAREC Funding: $50,000

Fruit crops including cherries and grapes lose $80 million annually to bird damage in the state of Washington alone. Netting, auditory scare devices, visual scare devices, chemical applications, and active methods such as falconry are the most common ways bird damage is minimized currently. As these methods are either ineffective or costly, growers have a critical need for a safe, cost-effective method for persistent bird deterrence. Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) is a promising technology for bird deterrence due to their decreasing cost and maneuverability. Our objective is to develop an autonomous UAS for bird deterrence and to fully test its effectiveness and financial implications. Field experiments carried out in 2016 showed that birds can be effectively deterred from vineyards using UAS. Multi-site experiments over two to three years will further validate the effectiveness and develop sensing and control systems for autonomous operation. In addition to bird deterrence in high-value fruit crops, such a system is expected to be able to deter birds in a variety of other situations, such as at landfills, dairy farms, and airports.

Solid Set Canopy Delivery Systems: An Efficient, Sustainable and Safer Spray Technology for Tree Truit

PI: Lav Khot Co-PI: Gwen Hoheisel

Funding Agency: Michigan State University/ USDA NIFA Specialty Crop Research Initiative

2016 IAREC Funding: $112,604

American fruit growers are faced with unprecedented challenges due to: rapidly evolving horticultural practices, accelerating influxes of invasive pests, increased public and government scrutiny of agriculture, an increasingly competitive global marketplace, and a shrinking labor supply. The delivery and fate of agricultural inputs, particularly pesticides, are central to many of these pressing issues, yet the basic technology used to make applications in these systems (airblast sprayers) has remained relatively unchanged for the past 50 years. Our multi-region project will complete development, evaluation, and delivery of Solid Set Canopy Delivery Systems (SSCDS) for high-density tree fruit production to improve efficiency, productivity, and profitability. Prototype SSCDS produced by our team have validated proof-of-concept and will leverage ongoing advances in technology and mechanization of high-density tree fruit production. This project has national implications and is being undertaken with a view toward eventual expansion into a variety of perennial crops.

Eliminating Viruses in Sweet Cherry Cultivar Via In Vitro Grafting PI: Dan Villamor, Gary Grove, Scott Harper

Funding Agency: Washington State Department of Agriculture

2016 IAREC Funding: $25,340

Current virus elimination procedures for stone and pome fruits involve heat treatment followed by microshoot tip grafting of the treated scion to a seedling rootstock. While this process is very reliable in generating virus-tested clean planting material, its efficacy in sweet cherry (Prunus avium) has been low because many cultivars are sensitive to heat therapy and die back during the process. The need for repeated attempts results in delayed release of cultivars to the industry. Tissue culture may provide a way to address this problem. Meristem culture has been effective for producing virus-free material for a number of temperate fruit crops such as apples, peaches, and pears. Unfortunately, sweet cherry cultivars are often recalcitrant to meristem culture. This project will explore in vitro grafting, which offers great potential for virus elimination in sweet cherry cultivars. With the availability of the enhanced CPCNW tissue culture facility, and tissue culture system for select cherry rootstocks, the potential for success of this project is high. The recent incorporation of high throughput sequencing at CPCNW, coupled with this strategy, will improve the release of virus-tested budwood to industry in a timely manner.

A Multi-Level Approach to Heat-Related Illness Prevention in Agricultural WorkersCo-PI: Melba Salazar PI: June Spector* (*University of Washington)

Funding Agency: University of Washington, Department of Health & Human Services, National Institutes of Health

2016 IAREC Funding: $30,703

Current research suggests that heat warning systems may be effective in preventing heat-related illness (HRI) in the general population, but less work has been done to develop and evaluate heat warning systems, tailored to crop workers, that aim to reduce the risk of exertional HRI. Recommendations from previous collaborative work between AgWeatherNet and University of Washington include building upon AgWeatherNet’s decision support infrastructure to further develop, implement, and evaluate a heat awareness system for Washington growers that provides heat “alerts” coupled with consistent information about worker HRI prevention. Although measured and estimated Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), which combines the effects of temperature, relative humidity, radiant heat, and wind into a single index that is commonly used for worker health and safety, has already been explored at AgWeatherNet, an awareness system based on estimated WBGT has not yet been implemented or evaluated.

Borlaug Higher Education Agricultural Research & DevelopmentCo-PI: Naidu Rayapati PI: Colleen Taugher

Funding Agency: U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

2016 IAREC Funding: $96,238

The Borlaug Higher Education Agricultural Research and Development (BHEARD) program is funded by USAID and administered by Michigan State University. Collaborators include the Bureau for Food Security, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center. The goal of the BHEARD program is to build capacity of host country agricultural research institutions by providing MS and PhD degree and short-term training opportunities to their staff members. Participating countries includes Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Malawi, Mozambique, Kenya, Liberia, and Uganda. This project funded two PhD students from Bangladesh who began their studies under the guidance of Dr. Naidu Rayapati with the WSU Plant Pathology Department in 2016. Shimul Das is studying molecular characterization of major legume viruses. Mahfuzur Rahman is conducting research on molecular characterization of economically important viruses in vegetable crops.

Developing and Delivering IPM Strategies to the Rapidly Expanding U.S. Hop IndustryPI: Doug Walsh Co-PIs: Sally O’Neal, J Robert Sirrine* Erin Lizotte* (*Michigan State University)

Funding Agency: USDA NIFA ARDP Crop Protection and Pest Management Competitive Grants Program

2016 IAREC Funding: $133,024

The rise of the craft (beer and ale) brewing industry has led to rapid expansion of hop production through out the U.S. This project targets hop growers from the traditional growing regions of the Pacific Northwest as well as hop growers in the emerging and reemerging growing areas of the Great Lakes/Upper Midwest and Eastern U.S. Objectives include addressing the industry’s #1 pest (spider mite), studying the role of natural enemies (biocontrol agents), promoting integrated pest management (IPM), and educating growers and nurseries on the necessity of clean plant material, observance of quarantines, and awareness of maximum residue loads (MRLs). This three-year product began with the establishment of research hop yards, collection of pest management records, surveying pest and beneficial arthropods present, technology transfer between regions, and development of extension outreach materials to educate growers on phytosanitary practices and integrated pest management.

We are grateful to the many agencies, funders, partners, and stakeholders who have provided funding and resources to Prosser IAREC in the past and currently,

including, but not limited to

= Federal (65.6%)

= Commissions (19.9%)

= State/Non-Federal (11.7%)

= Private (1.6%)

= Internal WSU (1.2%)

$4,026,373

$718,587

$1,222,113

$96,170$70,229

Grant Funds Generated($6,133,472 total)

GrantsBy the Numbers

New Grants 33 Termed Grants 24 Funding Agencies 40+

Grant Expenditures

Expenditures $6,805,722

Facilities & Administrative Funds Generated

$600,212

TOTAL Expenditures + F&A $7,405,994

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Books Keller M. 2016. The Science of Grape-vines: Anatomy and Physiology. Chinese Translation by J Wang, CQ Duan, F He, BQ Zhu. China Science Publishing & Media, Beijing, China, for Elsevier, New York, NY, USA.

Book Chapters Sankaran S, LR Khot, R Ehsani. 2016. Applied remote sensing systems in phytopathology. Annals of the 48th Brazilian Phytopathology Congress.

Extension Publications All citations Pullman, WA: WSU Extension Publishing

Bodah B, HR Connolly, JL Ullman, N Stabbdard, RT Peters, VA McCracken, W Pan. 2016. Forage Productivity of Vegetative Filter Strips Established on Rill-Irrigated Row Crop Fields. TB03.

Bodah B, J Ullman, RT Peters. 2016. Establishing Vegetative Filter Strip on Rill-Irrigated Row Fields. FS216E.

Bush M, EH Beers, JF Brunner, DB Walsh, GG Grove, JR Davenport, K Desta, TJ Smith, CH Daniels, J Kangiser, MW Klaus, M Strong, GV Tangren. 2016. 2016 Crop protection guide for tree fruits in Washington. EB0419.

Gohil H, M Keller, M Moyer. 2016. On-farm vineyard trials: A grower’s guide. EM098e, 23 pp.

Hoheisel G, MM Moyer, CH Daniels, TW Miller, DB Walsh, I Zasada, RA Naidu, JR Davenport. 2016. Pest Management Guide for Grapes in Washington. EB0762, 56 pp.

Moyer MM, GA Hoheisel (eds). 2016. Vine to Wine: Successfully Establishing a Vineyard and Winery. OM41 (DVD). Included the following: • Davenport JR. Nutrient management for new and existing vineyards. • Davenport JR. Soils for producing premium grapes. • Moyer MM, GA Hoheisel. 3 video sections. • Naidu RA. 2016. Grapevine viruses and clean plants. • Peters RT. 2016. Irrigation tools and scheduling. Peters RT, T Hoffmann. 2016. Center Pivot Chemigation/Fertigation Injection Rate Worksheet for Volume-Based Applications. FS226E.

Peters RT, T Hoffmann. 2016. Center Pivot Chemigation/Fertigation Injection Rate Worksheet for Weight-Based Applications. FS225E.

Peters RT, T Hoffmann. 2016. Chemigation or Fertigation Injection Pump Calibration. FS230E.

Peters RT, T Hoffmann. 2016. Chemigation or Fertigation Injection Rate Worksheet for Water Concentration-Based Applications. FS227E.

Peters RT, T Hoffmann. 2016. Drip or Solid-Set Fertigation Injection Rate Worksheet for Volume-Based Applications. FS229E.

Peters RT, T Hoffmann. 2016. Drip or Solid-Set Fertigation Injection Rate Worksheet for Weight-Based Product Applications. FS228E.

Walsh D. 2016. Pests of Alfalfa Grown for Seed. In: PNW Insect Control Handbook, C. Hollingsworth (Ed.)

Journal ArticlesAdegbola RO, AM Fulmer, B Williams, TB Brenneman, RC Kemerait, W Sheard, JE Woodward, S Adkins, RA Naidu. 2016. First report of the natural occurrence of Tomato chlorotic spot virus in peanuts in Haiti. Plant Disease, 100: 1797.

Alabi OJ, LF Casassa, LR Gutha, RC Larsen, T Henick-Kling, JF Harbertson, RA Naidu. 2016. Impacts of grapevine leafroll disease on fruit yield and grape and wine chemistry in a wine grape (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivar. PLoS ONE, 11: e0149666.

Amatya S, M Karkee. 2016. Integration of visible branch sections and cherry clusters for detecting cherry tree branches in dense foliage canopies. Biosystems Engineering, 119: 72-81.

Amatya S, A Gongal, M Karkee, Q Zhang, MD Whiting. 2016. Detection of cherry tree branches in planar architecture for automated sweet-cherry harvesting. Biosystems Engineering, 146: 3-15.

Ampatzidis Y, L Tan, R Haley, MD Whiting. 2016. Cloud-Based Harvest Management Information System for Hand-Harvested Specialty Crops. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 122: 161-167.

Bagewadi B, RA Naidu. 2016. First report of Tomato yellow leaf curl Kanchanaburi virus in eggplant and tomato in Cambodia. Plant Disease, 100: 233.

Bahder BW, LD Bahder, M Hauser, E Beers, DB Walsh. 2016. Relative abundance and phenology of Drosophila Fallén, 1815 (Diptera: Drosophilidae) species in south-central Washington State. Pan-Pacific Entomologist, Vol. 92-2.

Bowen P, KC Shellie, L Mills, J Willwerth, C Bogdanoff, M Keller. 2016. Abscisic acid form, concentration, and application timing influence phenology and bud cold hardiness in Merlot grapevines. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, 96: 347-359.

Boyle N, S Kesoju, S Greene, D Walsh. 2016. Migratory Bee Hive Transportation Contributes Insignificantly to Transgenic Pollen Movement Between Spatially Isolated Alfalfa Seed Fields. Journal of Economic Etomology, doi: 10.1093/jee/tow243.

Chikh Ali M, RA Naidu, AV Karasev. 2016. First report of Potato virus Y (PVY) strain PVYC associated with a tomato disease in Kenya. Plant Disease, 100: 864.

Davidson J, A Silwal, M Karkee, C Mo, Q Zhang. 2016. Hand Picking Dynamic Analysis for Undersensed Robotic Apple Harvesting. Transactions and the ASABE, Vol. 59(4): 745-758.

Davidson J, C Mo, M Karkee, Q Zhang. 2016. Robotic Manipulation for Specialty Crop Harvesting: A Review of Manipulator and End-Effector Technologies. Acta Horticulturae.

Davidson J, A Silwal, M Karkee, C Mo, Q Zhang. 2016. Hand-picking dynamic analysis for undersensed robotic apple harvesting. Transactions of the ASABE, 59(4): 745-758.

De Kleine ME, M Karkee. 2016. A Semi-Automated Harvesting Prototype for Shaking Fruit Tree Limbs. Transactions of the ASABE, 58(6): 1461-1470.

Gent DH, C Probst, GG Grove. 2016. Interaction of Basal Foliage Removal and Late Season Fungicide Applications in Management of Hop Powdery Mildew. Plant Disease, 100(6): 1153-1160.

Gongal A, A Silwal, S Amatya, M Karkee, Q Zhang, K Lewis. 2016. Apple Crop-load Estimation with Over-the-Row Machine Vision System. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 120: 26–35.

Grove GG. 2016. Development of a grower-conducted inoculum detection assay for management of grape powdery mildew. Plant Pathology, 65: 238-249.

He L, J Zhou, Q Zhang, HJ Charvet. 2016. A string twining robot for high-trellis hop production. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 121: 207-214.

James DG. 2016. Population Biology of Monarch Butterflies, Danaus plexippus (L.) (Lepidoptera:Nymphalidae) at a Milkweed-rich summer breeding site in central Washington. Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society, 70: 182-193.

James DG, LM Seymourr, GL Lauby, K Buckley. 2016. Beneficial Insect Attraction to Milkweeds (Asclepias speciosa, Asclepias fascicularis) in Washington State, USA. Insects, 2016(7), 11 pp.

Jarolmasjed S, CL Zuniga, S Sankaran, LR Khot. 2016. Postharvest bitter pit detection and progression evaluation in ‘Honeycrisp’ apples using computed tomography images. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 118: 35-42.

Jennifer JT, CA Urrea, J Zhou, LR Khot, S Sankaran, PN Miklas. 2016. Selective phenotyping traits related to multiple stress and drought response in dry bean. Crop Science, 56: 1–13.

Kafle G, LR Khot, J Zhou, HY Bahlol, Y Si. 2016. Towards precision spray applications to prevent rain-induced sweet cherry cracking: understanding calcium washout due to rain and fruit cracking susceptibility. Scientia Horticulturae, 203: 152-157.

Kafle G, LR Khot, S Jarolmasjed, Y Si, K Lewis. 2016. Robustness of near infrared spectroscopy based spectral features for non-destructive bitter pit detection in honeycrisp apples. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 120: 180-192.

Kafle G, LR Khot, S Sankaran, HY Bahlol, JA Tufariello, HH Hill Jr. 2016. State of ion mobility spectrometry and applications in agriculture: A review. Engineering in Agriculture, Environment and Food, 9(4): 346-357.

Keller M, P Romero, H Gohil, RP Smithyman, WR Riley, LF Casassa, JF Harbertson. 2016. Deficit irrigation alters grapevine growth, physiology, and fruit microclimate. American Journal of Enology and Viticulture, 67: 426-435.

Keller M, PM Shrestha, G Hall, B Bondada, JR Davenport. 2016. Arrested sugar accumulation and altered organic acid metabolism in grape berries affected by berry shrivel syndrome. American Journal of Enology and Viticulture, 67, 398-406.

Khot LR, S Sankaran, AH Carter, DA Johnson, TF Cummings. 2016. UAS imaging based decision tools for arid winter wheat and irrigated potato production management. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 37(1): 125-137.

Kimura E, SC Fransen, HP Collins, SO Guy, WJ Johnston. 2016. Sustainable intercropping of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and hybrid popular (Populus spp.) for bioenergy production: Forage quality. Agronomy Journal.

Kimura E, SC Fransen, HP Collins, SO Guy, WJ Johnston 2016. Sustainable intercropping of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and hybrid popular (Populus spp.) for bioenergy production: Yield. Agronomy Journal.

Li J, M Karkee, Q Zhang. 2016. Characterizing apple fruit robotic picking patterns and detaching parameters. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 127: 633-640.

Ma S, PA Scharf, Q Zhang, M Karkee, J Tong, L Yu. 2016. Effect of Cane Stool Density and Stubble Height on Sugarcane Stubble Damage in Hawaii Fields. Transactions and the ASABE, 59(3): 813-820.

Molitor D, M Keller. 2016. Yield of Müller-Thurgau and Riesling grapevines is altered by meteorological conditions in the current and previous growing seasons. OENO One, 50: 245-258.

Morales MA, BM Mendoza, LC Lavine, MD Lavine, DB Walsh, F Zhu. 2016. Selection of Reference Genes for Expression Studies of Xenobiotic

Adaptation in Tetranychus urticae. International Journal of Biological Sciences, 12(9): 1129-1139. doi: 10.7150/ijbs.16319.

Moyer MM, DM Gadoury, WF Wilcox, RC Seem. 2016. Weather During Critical Epidemiological Periods and Subsequent Severity of Powdery Mildew on Grape Berries. Plant Disease, 100: 116-124.

Moyer MM, JM Newhouse, GG Grove. 2016. Efficacy of Biopesticides and Leaf Removal in Grapevine Powdery Mildew Management. Plant Health Progress, 17(2): 84-91.

Moyer MM, J Londo, DM Gadoury, L Cadle-Davidson. 2016. Cold Stress-Induced Disease Resistance (SIDR): Indirect Effects of Low Temperatures on Host-Pathogen Interactions and Disease Progress in the Grapevine Powdery Mildew Pathosystem. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 144: 695-705.

Moyer MM, JM Newhouse, GG Grove. 2016. Efficacy of Biopesticides and Leaf Removal in Grapevine Powdery Mildew Management. Plant Health Progress, 17(2): 84-91.

Osroosh Y, RT Peters, CS Campbell. 2016. Daylight Crop Water Stress Index for Continuous Monitoring of Water Status in Apple Trees. Irrigation Science, 34(3): 209-219.

Osroosh Y, RT Peters, CS Campbell. 2016. Infrared Thermometry and Microclimatic Measurements in a Fully Irrigated Apple Orchard. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering.

Osroosh Y, RT Peters, CS Campbell. 2016. Daylight Crop Water Stress Index for Continuous Monitoring of Water Status in Apple Trees. Irrigation Science, 34(3): 209-219. DOI 10.1007/s00271-016-0499-3.

Osroosh Y, RT Peters, CS Campbell, Q Zhang. 2016. Comparison of Irrigation Automation Algorithms for Drip-Irrigated Apple Trees. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 128: 87-99.

Poojari S, OJ Alabi, PA Okubara, RA Naidu. 2016. SYBR Green-based real-time quantitative reverse-transcription PCR for detection and discrimination of grapevine viruses. Journal of Virological Methods, 235: 112–118.

Probst C, ME Nelson, GG Grove, MC Twomey, DH Gent. 2016. Hop Powdery Mildew Control Through Alteration of Spring Pruning Practices. Plant Disease, 100(8): 1599-1605.

Sadeghi SH, RT Peters. 2016. Analytical Determination of the Energy Grade Line for Tapered Irrigation Pipelines. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, 139(6): 483-489.

Sadeghi SH, RT Peters, FR Lamm. 2016. Closure to Design of Zero Slope Microirrigation Laterals: Effect of the Friction Factor Variation. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, 142(8): 07016006.

Journal of the Association of Brewing Chemists. http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/ASBCJ-2016-1115-02

Wolfenbarger SN, ST Massie, C Ocamb, EB Eck, GG Grove, ME Nelson, C Probst, MC Twomey, DH Gent. 2016. Distribution and Characterization of Podosphaera macularis Virulent on Hop Cultivars Possessing R6-Based Resistance to Powdery Mildew. Plant Disease, 100 (6): 1212-1221.

Zhang J, Q Zhang, MD Whiting. 2016. Canopy light interception conversion in upright fruiting offshoot (UFO) sweet cherry orchard. Transactions of the ASABE, 59(4): 727-736.

Zhou J, L He, M Karkee, Q Zhang. 2016. Analysis of shaking-induced cherry fruit motion and damage. Biosystems Engineering, 144: 105-114. 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2016.02.007.

Zhou J, L He, MD Whiting, S Amatya, P Larbi, M Karkee, Q Zhang. 2016. Field evaluation of a mechanical-assist harvesting system. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 9(4): 324-331.

Zhou J, L He, M Karkee, Q Zhang. 2016. Effect of Catching Surface and Tilt Angle on Reducing of Bruise Damage of Sweet Cherry due to Mechanical Impact. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 121: 282-289.

Zhou J, L Khot, RT Peters, MD Whiting, Q Zhang, D Granatstein. 2016. Efficacy of Unmanned Helicopter in Rainwater Removal from Cherry Canopies. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 124: 161-167.

Zhou J, LR Khot, HY Bahlol, GK Kafle, MD Whiting, RT Peters, Q Zhang, DM Granatstein. 2016. In-field sensing for crop loss management: Efficacy of air-blast sprayer generated crosswind in rainwater removal from cherry canopies. Crop Protection, 91: 27-33

Zhu F, L Lavine, S O’Neal, C Foss, D Walsh. 2016. Integrated Management of Insecticide Resistance in Urban Ecosystems. Insects, 7: 2.

Zhu X, RT Peters, H Neibling. 2016. Hydraulic Performance Assessment of LESA at Low Pressure. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, 65: 530-536.

Zhu X, RT Peters, WH Neibling. 2016. Hydraulic Performance Assessment of LESA at Low Pressure. Irrigation and Drainage. 65: 530-536 DOI: 10.1002/ird.1982.

PatentsDe Kleine ME, M Karkee, Y Ye. 2016. Harvesting Machine for Formally Trained Orchards. US Patent No. 9,468,146.

Karkee M, H Long, C Mo, Q Zhang. 2016. Robotic Harvesting Solutions for Fresh Market Blueberries. Provisional invention disclosure.

Mo C, Q Zhang, M Karkee. 2016. An exoskeleton type wearable, lifting-walking robot for orchard operations. Provisional invention disclosure.

Sadeghi SH, RT Peters, V Shelia. 2016. Energy Grade Line Assessment for Tapered Micro-irrigation Laterals. ASCE’s Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, 142(7): 04016020.

Sadeghi SH, RT Peters, B Shafii, MZ Amini, C Stockle. 2017. Continuous Variation of Wind Drift and Evaporation Losses under a Linear Move Irrigation System. Agricultural Water Management 182(39-54).

Salazar MR, Chaves B, Hoogenboom G. 2016. The freezing tolerance of apples flower buds. Scientia Horticulturae, 198:344–351.

Salazar-Gutierrez MR. 2016. Predicting Key Phenological Stages for 17 Grapevine Cultivars (Vitis vinifera L). American Journal of Enology and Viticulture.

Salazar-Gutierrez MR, B Chaves Cordoba, G Hoogenboom. 2016. The freezing tolerance of apples flower buds. Acta Horticulturae, 198: 344–351. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304423815303241.

Santiago WE, NJ Leite, BJ Teruel, M Karkee, CAM Azania, R Vitorino. 2016. Development and testing of image processing algorithm to estimate weed infestation level in corn fields. Australian Journal of Crop Science. 10(9): 12232-1237.

Shewmaker GE, M Bohle, SC Fransen. 2016. Pasture and grazing management extension programming in Northwestern USA. Agronomy Journal.

Silwal A, J Davidson, M Karkee, C Mo, Q Zhang, KM Lewis. 2016. Design, integration, and field evaluation of a robotic apple harvester. Journal of Field Robotics.

Silwal A, M Karkee, Q Zhang. 2016. A hierarchical approach of apple identification for robotic harvesting. Transactions of the ASABE. 59(5): 1079-1086.

Sinha RR, LR Khot, B Schrodner. 2016. Rapid and non-destructive detection of P. cartovorum caused soft rot in stored potatoes through volatile biomarkers sensing. Crop Protection, 93: 122-131.

Thiessen LD, JA Keune, TM Neill, WW Turechek, GG Grove, WM Mahaffee. 2016. Development of a grower-conducted inoculum detection assay for management of grape powdery mildew. Plant Pathology, 65: 238–249.

Trapp J, P Miklas, J Zhou, LR Khot, S Sankaran. 2016. Selective phenotyping traits related to multiple stress and drought response in common bean. Agricultural Engineering International.

Walsh DB, SD O’Neal, AE George, DP Groenendale, RE Henderson, GM Groenendale, MJ Hengel. 2016. Evaluation of Pesticide Residues from Conventional, Organic, and Non-treated Hops on Conventionally Hopped, Late-Hopped and Wet-Hopped Beers.

WSU IAREC graduate students are the future of agricultural science. Originating from North and South America, Asia, Africa, and Europe, they come to study with world-class faculty mentors and to work directly with irrigated crops and those who farm them in proximity to our research station and around the state and region.

Students working with the Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems (CPAAS) develop cutting edge technology that will modernize agricultural production.

Entomology students create the integrated pest and pollinator management strategies that will control arthropod pests while preserving and enhancing beneficial pollinator populations.

Plant pathology students delve into the genomes of the pathogens they study to help identify and manage plant disease.

Horticulture students craft new methods to manage orchard and vineyard systems to optimize yields, enhance product quality, and reduce inputs.

Students in crop and soil science discern how plants interact with their environment; gaining resources from air, water, and soil to grow.

In the field and in the laboratory, WSU IAREC graduate students are motivated, creative, and diverse, bringing a wide range of backgrounds and skill sets and sharing their talents with one another as they forge their professional careers.

With the establishment of the Prosser Graduate Student Association (PGSA) in November 2015, IAREC students enjoy an enhanced student experience, with greater social and community engagement opportunities as well as access to activities designed to promote leadership and professional development. PSGA officers for 2016 were: President, Katherine East; Vice President, Nataliya Shcherbatyuk; Secretary, Raphael Adegbola; Treasurer, Ben-Min Chang; Social Coordinator, Mohammad Zaman Amini; and Academic Coordinator, Parish Nalavade. Dr. Michelle Moyer serves as the faculty advisor for the PGSA.

THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE2016 GraduatesName Degree Advisor DepartmentEric Gale MS Michelle Moyer HorticultureJacqueline Gordon MS Matthew Whiting HorticultureCourtney Grula MS Doug Walsh EntomologySpencer Marshall MS Naidu Rayapati Plant PathologyParish Nalavade MS Lav Khot Biological Systems EngJohnathan O'Hearn MS Doug Walsh EntomologyJoel Perez MS Markus Keller HorticultureNadia Valverdi MS Matthew Whiting HorticultureProbir Kumar Das MS Ag Matthew Whiting HorticultureJustin Ruiz MS Ag Joan Davenport Crop & Soil SciencesPatrick Scharf MS Ag Manoj Karkee Biological Systems EngMohammad Zaman Amini PhD Troy Peters Biological Systems EngGolnaz Badr PhD Gerrit Hoogenboom Biological Systems EngJeff Bullock PhD Ken Eastwell Plant PathologyBhanu Priya Donda PhD Naidu Rayapati Plant PathologyMadhu Kappagantu PhD Ken Eastwell Plant PathologyJosephine Mgbechi-Ezeri PhD Nnadozie Oraguzie HorticultureSwarnalatha Moparthi PhD Gary Grove Plant PathologyAbid Sarwar PhD Lav Khot Biological Systems EngAbhisesh Silwal PhD Manoj Karkee Biological Systems EngYunxiang Ye PhD Qin Zhang Biological Systems Eng

2016 IAREC STUDENT NUMBERS

Interns 6

MS Students 15

MS Ag Students 6

PhD Students 36

FAC

ULT

YDavid James

Dr. James is an Associate Professor in the Department of Entomology and has been with WSU since 1999. He received his Ph.D. on the winter biology of Monarch butterflies from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. Dr. James’ current research focuses on the sustainability of IPM and conservation biological control in viticulture, insect conservation, and community research and education projects with Washington grape growers, Washington State Penitentiary, and Cowiche Canyon Conservancy.

Markus Keller

Dr. Keller is the Chateau Ste. Michelle Distinguished Professor of Viticulture in the Department of Horticulture and has been with WSU since 2001. He received his Ph.D. in natural sciences from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich. His research focuses on environmental factors and management practices as they influence crop physiology and production of wine and juice grapes. He is the author of the textbook The Science of Grapevines – Anatomy and Physiology and the science editor for the publications of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture.

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Michelle Moyer

Dr. Moyer is an Assistant Professor and Statewide Viticulture Extension Specialist and has been with WSU since 2011. She received her Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from Cornell University. Her extension responsibility covers all aspects of viticulture production in Washington, including creation of educational materials, instructing courses, development of workshops, and timely dissemination of information to growers. Dr. Moyer’s industry-driven research responsibilities focus on the applied aspects of canopy management on fruit quality and vine health, mechanized approaches to production, and integrated vineyard management.

Rob BlakeyDr. Blakey is an

Assistant Professor and Regional Extension Specialist with WSU Extension. As affiliate faculty in the Department of Horticulture, he will be focusing on tree fruit post-harvest information and technology transfer (ITT). He received his Ph.D. from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa in 2011, worked in private industry in South Africa and the UK between 2010 and 2016, and joined WSU in August 2016. He has worked extensively on non-destructive quality determination and improved storage of fruit. He is focused on assisting the Washington tree fruit industry with postharvest management issues with high quality and innovative publications and events. He is the first ITT hire from the $32 million WSU Tree Fruit Endowment.

Qin Zhang

Dr. Zhang is the Director of CPAAS, a Professor in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering, and has been with WSU since 2009. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has focused his teaching and research activities on agricultural mechanization, agriculture automation, and intelligent agricultural machinery. He is the author of two books: Basics of Hydraulic Systems and Mechatronics and Intelligent Systems for Off-road Vehicles. He currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief for Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, and the Chair for Section III (Plant Production Equipment) of CIGR, International Commission of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering.

Doug WalshDr. Walsh, a Professor

and the Research Director of the Environmental and Agricultural Entomology Laboratory, has been with WSU since 1998. He received his Ph.D. at the University of California, Davis. Dr. Walsh is the Extension IPM Coordinator for WSU and the State Liaison Representative to the USDA IR-4 Program. He also serves on the Governing Board of the Entomological Society of America and is Chair-elect of the National IPM Committee. Commodities of interest include hops, alfalfa, grapes, mint, and seed crops. Dr. Walsh was appointed the Associate Director of IAREC in May 2016.

Matthew Whiting

Dr. Whiting is an Associate Professor and Extension Specialist and has been with WSU since 2002. He received his Ph.D. from Washington State University. He leads the tree fruit physiology program at IAREC that addresses the key horticultural and physiological issues facing the industry. His research efforts are leading the integration of mechanization and automation in the tree fruit industry through the development of planar orchard systems that are productive, precocious, profitable, and sustainable.

Department of Biological Systems Engineering

Manoj Karkee

Dr. Karkee is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering and has been with WSU since 2010. He received his Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering and Human Computer Interaction from Iowa State University. Dr. Karkee received tenure on July 1st, 2016. His research focuses on crop load estimation, tree fruit harvesting and pruning, crop monitoring, and weed control in vegetables. Dr. Karkee is the advisor of the Agricultural Automation and Engineering Student Club.

Lav Khot

Dr. Khot is an Assistant Professor of Precision Agriculture and one of the core faculty members of CPAAS. He has been with WSU since 2013. He received his Ph.D. from North Dakota State University. His program focuses on sensing and automation technologies for site-specific and precision management of production agriculture with special emphasis on integration of proximal and remote sensing for data-enabled decision support systems and information delivery technologies and on development of next-generation precision applications technologies of various production inputs.

Troy Peters

Dr. Peters is an Associate Professor and Extension Irrigation Specialist and has been with WSU since 2006. He received his Ph.D. in irrigation engineering from Utah State University. He is a certified agricultural irrigation specialist and is a licensed professional agricultural engineer. His research interests are related to increasing irrigation efficiency through improved irrigation management and scheduling, and through increasing the adoption of technologies such as low energy precision application (LEPA), and low elevation spray application (LESA) on center pivots.

Melba Salazar-Gutierrez

Dr. Salazar-Gutierrez is an Assistant Research Professor and is with the Agricultural Weather Network (AWN) and has been with WSU since 2010. She received her Ph.D. in Agronomy Sciences-Crop Physiology from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Her research focuses on crop modeling, impact of climate variability, and the use of applied statistics in agricultural and biological systems. She also works on cold hardiness of tree fruit and grapes phenology.

IAREC Faculty Publications “By the Numbers”

Newsletters/Posters/Abstracts 155

Seminars/Presentations 199

Workshops/Field Days 44

News Articles Fact Sheets 49 6

Department of Entomology

Department of Horticulture

Kylie SwisherDr. Swisher is a scientist with the USDA-ARS who began working in Prosser in 2016. She received her Ph.D. from

the Molecular and Cellular Biology Department at the University of Arizona in 2011 and worked as a postdoc for the USDA-ARS and WSU. Her program is focused on new and emerging diseases of potato, using molecular, cellular, and biochemical tools in the laboratory and utilizing greenhouse and field trials to further our knowledge of important pests and pathogens of potato.

FAC

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Naidu Rayapati

Dr. Rayapati is an Associate Professor of Plant Pathology and has been with WSU since 2004. He received his Ph.D. in Botany, Plant Virology Major, from Sir Venkateswara University in Tirupati, India. His research and extension efforts focus on virus diseases of horticultural, vegetable, and food crops with emphasis on virus characterization, diagnostics, plant-virus-vector interactions, development of integrated crop improvement strategies, virus diseases in international agriculture, and capacity building in developing countries. He teaches the undergraduate course “PlP300: Diseases of Fruit Crops” alternate years in fall semester. Dr. Rayapati served as Interim Director for the Clean Plant Center Northwest for most of 2016.

Lauri GuerraDr. Guerra has been with the WSDA since 1999. He coordinates the Fruit Trees Certification Program and supervises a Nematode Diagnostics Laboratory. Originally from Brazil, he received his Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from the University of California, Davis. The Fruit Trees Certification Program provides growers with nursery trees produced specifically to minimize the risk of distributing virus-infected material. The Nematode Diagnostics Laboratory supports the issuance of Phytosanitary Certificates for interstate and international movement of plants or plant parts and products.

Phillip MiklasDr. Phillip Miklas is a Research Geneticist who has been with the USDA-ARS since 1992. He received

his Ph.D. in Plant Breeding and Genetics from North Dakota State University. His research focuses on identification, characterization, and deployment of novel traits for disease resistance and abiotic stress tolerance in dry edible beans. His project develops germplasm and knowledge to facilitate genetic improvement of dry bean for regional, national, and international production environments.

Rick BoydstonDr. Boydston is a research Weed Scientist with the USDA-ARS and adjunct WSU faculty in Crop and Soil Sciences.

He has been stationed at Prosser since 1985. His research focuses on improving weed management in irrigated cropping systems through a better understanding of weed biology and ecology and the response of crops and weeds to weed management tactics (crop rotation, cultivation, herbicides, cover crops, and other cultural practices). His current focus is on weed manage-ment in pulse crops (dry beans, chickpeas, peas).

Charles BrownDr. Brown is a Research Geneticist who has worked with the USDA/ARS since 1986. He received his Ph.D.

from the University of California, Davis. He has worked exclusively on germplasm development in potato. He and collaborators have examined anitoxidant properties of potato and have overseen the commercialization of ten nutrient-enhanced specialty varieties selected from progeny of crosses made at Prosser. He has developed screening techniques to identify resistance to important viruses, vectors, and diseases of potato.

Lyndon PorterDr. Porter is a Research Plant Pathologist with the USDA-ARS. He has been with the USDA since 2005. His

research focuses on the integrated management of legume diseases in peas, chickpeas, lentils, and beans.

Long-Xi YuDr. Yu is a Research Geneticist with USDA-ARS and adjunct WSU faculty in the departments of Plant Pathology

and Crop and Soil Science. He received his Ph.D. in Plant Molecular Biology from University of Orleans, France. His program focuses on applying genomic tools for enhancing resistance to biotic and abiotic stress in forage crops, and developing molecular markers for marker-assisted breeding to improve alfalfa varieties with resistance to disease, drought, and high salinity.

Roy NavarreDr. Navarre is a scientist with the USDA-ARS and an adjunct WSU faculty in the departments of Horticulture

and Plant Pathology. He has been with the USDA since 2001. He received his Ph.D. from the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology at Oregon State University and was a postdoc at Rutgers. His program uses molecular biology, biochemistry, and physiology to evaluate factors that enhance food security, nutritional value, and disease resistance of potatoes.

AFFILIA

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Brian IrishDr. Irish is a USDA-ARS Geneticist and Curator with the Pullman-based Plant Germplasm Introduction

and Testing Unit located in Prosser. He has been with the USDA-ARS in Prosser since January, 2016. He received a Ph.D. in Plant Sciences from the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Arkansas in 2004. The project he currently leads is responsible for all service and research aspects relating the management of close to 13,000 temperate-adapted forage legume (e.g., alfalfa, clover, and trefoil) germplasm accessions.

WSDA at IAREC

Having scientists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) and the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) co-located at IAREC helps facilitate collaboration.

USDA-ARS at IARECJoan Davenport

Dr. Davenport is a Professor of Soil Science and has been with WSU since 1997. She received her Ph.D. in Soil Chemistry from University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Her research is designed to understand soil variability and how to manage water and nutrients for economically sustainable, environmentally friendly agricultural production, with a primary emphasis on perennial fruit crops. She is a leader in WSU’s online (Global Campus) teaching.

Steven Fransen

Dr. Fransen is an Associate Professor and Agronomist and has been with WSU since 1983 (at IAREC since 2001). He received his Ph.D. in Agronomy from South Dakota State University. His research and extension efforts involve perennial warm-season grasses for biofuels and forage under irrigation in the lower Yakima Valley and Columbia Basin. Current studies include variety, harvest management, and cultural management.

Gary Grove

Dr. Grove is the Director of IAREC, Interim Director of AgWeatherNet, and a Professor of Plant Pathology He has been with WSU since 1986 (at IAREC since 2000). He received his Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from The Ohio State University in Columbus. His program is designed to provide scholarly benefits to the science of plant pathology and practical benefits to Washington’s growers and state economy. His research and extension programs focus on the epidemiology and management of aerial diseases of stone fruits, grapes, and hops.

Scott Harper

Dr. Harper is an Assistant Professor of Plant Pathology and the Director of the Clean Plant Center Northwest. He received his Ph.D. in 2009 from the University of Auckland, New Zealand. He began working with the CPCNW in late 2016. His research focuses on viruses and other systemic pathogens of perennial crops in the Pacific Northwest, particularly those infecting fruit trees, grapevine, and hops. Research interests include how viruses infect plants; virus-virus interactions and how these affect virus movement, transmission, and the expression of disease; and detection and diagnosis of novel viruses.

Department of Crop & Soil Sciences

Department of Plant Pathology

IAREC Faculty & Staff Longevity Awards • 2016

Gary Grove 30 years

Elmer J. Wilcowski 25 years

Mike Carrell 10 yearsJose Martin 10 yearsJamie S. Stoneking 10 years

Frances E. Bardessono 5 yearsMichael Bravo 5 yearsGregory F. Wickline 5 years

Country of Origin or Major Influence(USA & 13 countries)

Research, Extension, or Teaching Collaboration (USA & 26 countries)

Visiting Scholar or Intern (USA & 11 countries)

WSU IAREC truly has a global footprint. Considering place of origin, international collaborations, and grant-funded activities, WSU IAREC’s faculty and students are globe trekkers.

Visiting scholars from around the world choose to study with the faculty at WSU IAREC and make good use of the available facilities, resources, and technology.

Students from developing nations learn specific skills at WSU IAREC they can bring home to improve agricultural production. Domestic students learn from these international associations, forming friendships and building the foundation for future projects and collaborations.

Seventeen percent of the world’s arable land is irrigated. This irrigated land produces 40% of the food supply for the human population. WSU IAREC is an ideal site for developing sustainable practices to assist with the agricultural production increase that will be necessary to feed and clothe an increasingly prosperous human population in the future.

Note that each dot indicates one OR MORE connection represented in that country.

GLOBAL FOOTPRINTWSU’s GRAND CHALLENGES are a set of principles that focus the University’s research, innovation, and creativity in specific areas to achieve broad societal impact. WSU IAREC activities align with these overarching goals in a multitude of ways. https://research.wsu.edu/research-initiatives/grand-challenges/

SUSTAINABLE RESOURCES: Supplying food, energy, and water for future generations• Interdisciplinary teams (entomology, plant pathology, soil science, weed science, horticulture, biosystems engineering) address key

issues in hops, grapes, tree fruit, alfalfa, and other crops.

• The Washington State Integrated Pest Management Coordinator is located at IAREC.

• Tools developed at IAREC help growers know when and how to irrigate and when they can turn their water off with confidence, resulting in peak yields with water and energy savings.

OPPORTUNITY AND EQUITY: Promoting an informed and equitable society, expanding individual opportunity, and advancing social justice• IAREC faculty participated in the Leadership and Global Understanding (LGU) Columbia “Utopia” Project to deliver agricultural

research results, technology, and training to farmers in remote areas.

• Researchers at IAREC have been engaged in agricultural research and development programs funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to tackle hunger and poverty in Africa and Asia.

• The Prosser Graduate Student Association provides opportunities for networking, professional collaboration, and social engagement.

SMART SYSTEMS: Harnessing technology to improve quality of life• The Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems (CPAAS), housed at IAREC, develops mechanized and automated

solutions for crop production. CPAAS innovations include development of mechanical and robotic apple and feedstock biomass harvest techonlogy, a robotic system for fruit bin management, and mechanized weed control in vegetable crops.

• CPAAS also works with precision agriculture and decision support such as in-orchard wireless sensor networks, precision and automated irrigation systems, high-throughput phenotyping, automated labor management, and cloud-based farm management.

• Faculty and students at IAREC have developed and deployed pilot projects utilizing unmanned aerial systems (drones) for tasks such as damage assessment in production agriculture.

NATIONAL SECURITY: Fundamental research to protect America and the world• IAREC is strategically positioned to contribute to food security here at home and across the globe.

• IAREC faculty serve as members of USAID’s Feed the Future Innovation Labs, translating science-based knowledge in partnership with research institutions and NGOs in Asia and Africa for crop improvement and betterment of the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

• The engagement of university faculty and federal research scientists in addressing global dimensions of agriculture brings valuable experiences benefiting agriculture in the U.S.

GRAND CHALLENGES

Copyright 2017 Washington State University

Every effort has been made to ensure the information in this publication is correct at the time of printing, but the content may be subject to change. WSU, IAREC, and the authors of this report do not assume and hereby disclaim any express or implied liability whatsoever to any party of loss or damage caused by errors or omissions, whether these errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

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H.P. Singleton Headquarters Unit191 acres

Othello Unit427 acres

Roza Unit320 acres

Pear Acres29 acres

H.P. Singleton Headquarters Unit191 acres

Othello Unit427 acres

Roza Unit320 acres

Pear Acres29 acres