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Science in Action to Improve the Sustainability of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Food Systems
Welcome!
Welcome to the website of Washington State University’s Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources (CSANR)! We are a university center that develops innovative solutions to some of the most important problems we face in society today, by leading research and educational efforts in agriculture, food and natural resources systems that are economically viable, environmentally sound and socially responsible.
Climate Change and Agriculture FAQs Part 3
The third in a series of web posts addressing frequently asked questions about climate change and agriculture is now posted. CSANR Director Chad Kruger answers the question: Is organic farming "climate-friendly"? See FAQs Part 1 and Part 2, and read the latest part here.
Organic Agriculture Continues to Grow
The newly released retail sales figures from the Organic Trade Association show solid growth for organic foods once again. In Washington, CSANR’s Elizabeth Kirby and David Granatstein have been compiling and publishing statistics on WA State’s organic sector for the past 7 years. This information is intended to help growers make more informed decisions on their organic production, alert businesses to production trends of the key crops grown here, and provide others interested in organic agriculture a picture of its development. Their work is featured and linked in a new WSU News Center article here.
In addition, the first organic crop enterprise budget at WSU on ‘Gala’ apples was recently published, and a paper comparing the costs of organic and conventional apple production will be published soon. A comprehensive report on organic tree fruit, the largest organic sector in the state by value, will be available soon (Status of Organic Tree Fruit in Washington State, EM046E), and an update on Trends in Washington State Organic Agriculture, last done in 2009, is underway.
Climate change and climate science resource now available
A new, narrated extension presentation on climate science and climate change is now available. The presentation was prepared by Craig Cogger at WSU Puyallup and covers the basics of climate science, evidence of climate change, projections of future climate change, and mitigation strategies. The presentation consists of 10 parts, each about five minutes long, so that it can be viewed in short sittings. View the presentation here.
Climate Solutions blog highlights REACCH Project
Patrick Mazza of Climate Solutions discusses the REACCH Project (Regional Approaches to Climate Change) on his organization's blog. REACCH is a multi-institutional $20,000,000 research effort aimed at understanding 1) How farming in the region can become more economically and environmentally sustainable under anticipated climate changes, and 2) How farming can help stem climate change by reducing and soaking greenhouse gas emissions. Read the blog post here.
New statistics on organic agriculture are now available
Data is now available on organic agriculture for 2011 in Washington State. Read more here.
Struvite webinar recording and now available online
On Feb 21, 2012 WSU scientists Craig Cogger and Rita Hummel, along with struvite specialist Keith Bowers of Multiform Harvest presented a webinar on the production and use of struvite. The webinar was recorded and is now available for viewing online here.
Irrigated Ag Information Service launched
A new WSU Extension website for agricultural industry professionals is designed to provide users witha customizable source of timely information on all aspects of irrigated agriculture. The service is completely free and was developed by a team of WSU Extension irrigation and agronomy experts. Read more...
Join the discussion on high residue farming under irrigation
Get the latest information and take part in the conversation on the new site: Information and Discussion of High Residue Farming under Irrigation.
New camelina production fact sheet available
Camelina Production in the Dryland Pacific Northwest is a new publication produced by researchers at WSU and Oregon State University. "Camelina is emerging as a biofuel oilseed crop for the dryland farming regions of the Pacific Northwest (PNW). Biofuel user groups are excited about camelina because the oil is well suited for fuel production. Camelina has lower input requirements than other crops currently used to make fuel, like corn, and can be used to make high energy density fuels such as biodiesel and jet fuel. Cropping systems specialists are excited about camelina because it has the potential to improve the overall sustainability and productivity of the predominantly cereal-based dryland cropping systems. Good camelina yields have been achieved following cereal crops on fields which would otherwise have been fallow." Read more...
CSANR News Archive
View stories previously posted on the home page here.
News & Events
WSARE 2013 Call for Proposals now posted!
Know Soils, Know Life Dig it! The Secrets of Soil Lecture Series at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture in Spokane, WA. May 19
The 2012 Farm Walk Schedule is now posted!
2nd International Organic Fruit Research Symposium