Presented by Dr. Kirti Rajagopalan, Assistant Research Professor, Washington State University. Warming and elevated carbon dioxide concentrations have direct and indirect effects on various aspects of agricultural production—both positive and negative. This talk introduces our ongoing work in relation to changing crop yields, irrigation demands, and pest pressures in the Columbia River Basin.

Presented by Eric Lee-Mäder, Pollinator Conservation Program Co-Director, the Xerces Society. Join the Xerces Society’s Eric Lee-Mäder for a contemporary review of farm-based pollinator and beneficial insect conservation. Specific topics include the latest science, public policy, and business trends that are driving this work, as well as specific challenges that arise when working in intensively managed agriculture. Case studies featuring large-scale habitat projects such as hedgerows, beetle banks, flowering field borders, and cover crops will be highlighted, along with major food…

Presented by Justin O’Dea, Regional Agriculture Specialist Faculty. Justin O'Dea, an Extension Regional Agriculture Specialist in southwest WA, will share his work on two exploratory on-farm trials he led while working with Extension in New York State, which may eventually give rise to future trials here with WSU in western Washington. Justin will first discuss a trial where cucurbit growers in New York attempted to mitigate Phytophthora blight using biofumigation with brassica cover crops and reduced tillage strategies. Justin will then…

Presented by Dr. Tim Miller, Associate Weed Scientist, Washington State University Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center (WSU NWREC). Annuals are the most common type of weeds in cultivated ground. Perennial weeds also impact weed management. In this hands-on field class, identification characteristics of the many annual and perennial weeds present in the area will be discussed, as well as their biology and aspects of control. Meet at the back door and then move immediately into the field. *One (1) Pesticide License…

Presented by Geraldine A. Wright, Professor of Insect Neuroethology, Newcastle University. Bees feed on floral pollen as a source of protein, fat, and micronutrients like vitamins, minerals, and sterols. In this talk, Dr. Wright will describe the chemical nature of pollen collected from across the UK. She will also show how bees refine the chemical nature of their food starting with pollen, then bee bread, and finally how bee bread is converted to royal jelly. Dr. Wright will also report…