MOUNT VERNON, Wash. – WSU’s Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center in Mount Vernon will hold its annual Field Day, beginning 3 p.m. Thursday, July 12. Farmers, families and anyone curious about what happens in the fields and labs at the extension center are welcome.
Faculty and graduate students host a walking or tractor-driven wagon tour of nearly 150 acres of research plots at the center.
Helping farmers, improving food
Research at Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center (NWREC) runs the gamut of Pacific Northwest agriculture, from grains and potatoes to spinach, cider, berries, corn and watermelon.
This event will offer presentations on more than a dozen topics including:
- NWREC’s Cider Education Program, which helps new cider makers develop their craft.
- Use of plastic mulches in red raspberry.
- How WSU is fighting devastating Fusarium wilt in the region’s valuable spinach seed crops.
- How to improve pollination and yield in blueberries.
- Production of bulb fennel.
Following the tour, visitors can meet scientists, learn about current research projects, and see how work at the center helps growers, consumers, agricultural business and the local economy.
“The field day gives our scientists and graduate students a chance to share not only the work they do, but why it’s important,” said Steven Seefeldt, NWREC researcher and organizer of this year’s field day. “Supported by the people of Washington, we’re solving agricultural challenges. We want people to see firsthand how their investment is working for them.”
Meet new Dean
The field day also offers the opportunity to meet André Wright, new dean of WSU’s College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences, who will discuss the future of WSU agricultural research and partnerships.
A world renowned researcher in animal sciences, Wright is the former director of the School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences at the University of Arizona. For more than 20 years he has researched ways to help animals use nutrients more efficiently, reduce methane and increase food production, sustainably. Wright began his duties June 1.
Following the tour and presentations, a locally prepared barbecue dinner will conclude the day at 5:30 p.m. in the Center’s Sakuma Auditorium.
No RSVP is necessary.
