Extension Network Sites > Pacific Northwest Vegetable Extension Group > Team Members

Team Members

The Pacific Northwest Vegetable Extension Group includes members from the University of Idaho, Oregon State University, Washington State University and USDA-ARS. Specialists contribute their expertise in plant pathology, horticulture, entomology, and weed science.

PNW-2017 workshop

PNW VEG Quarantine Workshop 2017, Hermiston, OR

  • Cassandra Bates (cass.bates@wsu.edu), Associate in Plant Pathology and Plant Diagnostician, Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Johnson Hall 345, Pullman, WA 99164.
  • Chris Benedict, Extension Educator, Washington State University Extension, Whatcom Co., 360-676-6736.
  • Brook Brouwer (brook.brouwer@wsu.edu), Director of WSU San Juan County Extension, 221 Weber Way Suite LL, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. 360-370-7667.
  • Kristine Buckland, Assistant Professor, Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University North Willamette Research and Extension Center, 15210 NE Miley Rd, Aurora, OR 97002-9543, 503-506-0955.
  • Justin Clements (justinclements@uidaho.edu), Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in Entomology, Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, 29603 U of I Lane, Parma, ID 83660. 208-291-6217.
  • Charles Coslor, (ccoslor@wsu.edu), Entomology Coordinator, Horticultural Pest Control Board, WSU Skagit County Extension, Burlington, WA. 360-395-2366, 509-339-5721.
  • Mike Derie, WSU Scientific Assistant in the Vegetable Seed Pathology Program (with Dr. Lindsey du Toit), WSU Mount Vernon NWREC, 360-848-6141.
  • Kasia  Duellman (kduellman@uidaho.edu), Assistant Professor and Extension Seed Potato Specialist, University of Idaho – Idaho Falls REC. 208-529-8376 extension 16.
  • Lindsey du Toit (dutoit@wsu.edu), Professor & Extension Plant Pathologist, Vegetable Seed Pathology Program, WSU Mount Vernon NWREC, 360-848-6140.
  • Jeremiah Dung, OSU Assistant Professor, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, OSU Madras COARC, 850 NW Dogwood Lane, Madras, OR 97741, 541-475-7107.
  • Joel Felix (joel.felix@oregonstate.edu), Associate Professor of Weed Science, OSU Malheur County REC, 595 Onion Avenue, Ontario, OR 97914. 541-889-2174.
  • Ken Frost, Assistant Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University Hermiston Agricultural Research & Extension Center, 2121 South 1st Street, Hermiston, OR 97838. 541-567-8321 x105.
  • Jenny Glass, WSU Plant Diagnostician, Plant & Insect Diagnostic Laboratory, WSU Puyallup REC, 253-445-4582.
  • Babette Gundersen, WSU Agricultural Research Technologist, WSU Mount Vernon NWREC, 360-848-6135.
  • Dierdre Griffin LaHue, WSU Assistant Professor and Soil Scientist, WSU Mount Vernon NWREC, 16650 State Route 536, Mount Vernon, WA 98273-4768, 360-848-6127.
  • Pam Hutchinson (phutch@uidaho.edu), Associate Professor and Potato Cropping Systems Weed Scientist, University of Idaho Aberdeen R & E Center, 1693 S. 2700 W. Aberdeen, ID 83210. 208-397-4181.
  • Alex Karasev (akarasev@uidaho.edu), Professor of Virology, Department of PSES, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83843-2339. 208-885-2350.
  • Navneet Kaur (Navneet.Kaur@oregonstate.edu), Assistant Professor and Extension Entomologist, Crop and Soil Science Department, Oregon State University, 2750 SW Campus Way, Corvallis, OR 97331, 541-737-5884, 352-233-9639.
  • Gabriel LaHue, Clinical/Research Assistant Professor of Soil Science, WSU Mount Vernon NWREC, 16650 State Route 536, Mount Vernon, WA 98273-4768, 360-848-6146.
  • Don McMoran, WSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, WSU Extension Skagit County, 360-428-4270 ext. 225.
  • Justin O’Dea, Regional Agriculture Specialist, Washington State University Clark, Cowlitz, and Skamania County Extension, Vancouver, WA, 360-397-6060 ext. 5701 (office).
  • Hanu Pappu, WSU Virologist, WSU Pullman, 509-335-3752.
  • Ed Peachey, OSU weed scientist/horticulturist, Corvallis, OR, 541-737-3152.
  • Lyndon Porter, USDA-ARS Research Plant Pathologist, WSU Prosser IAREC, 509-786-9237.
  • Melodie Putnam, Director, Oregon State University Plant Clinic, 1089 Cordley Hall, 2701 SW Campus Way, Corvallis, OR 97331-2903, 541-737-3472.
  • Naidu Rayapati, WSU Virologist, WSU Prosser IAREC, 509-786-2226.
  • Stuart Reitz (Stuart.reitz@oregonstate.edu), Professor and Extension Faculty, Cropping Systems, Department of Crop and Soil Science, Malheur County Extension, Oregon State University, (541) 881-1417.
  • Silvia Rondon, OSU Assistant Professor and Extension Entomologist, Plant Pathology Diagnostic Lab, Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center, 541-567-8321.
  • John Spring (john.spring@oregonstate.edu), Assistant Professor, Integrated Pest Management – Weeds, Oregon State University Central Oregon Agricultural Research & Extension Center, 850 NW Dogwood Lane, Madras OR 97741. 360-477-0658.
  • Kylie Swisher, Plant Pathologist, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research Unit, 24106 N. Bunn Rd., Prosser, WA 99350; 509-786-9362.
  • Mike Thornton, UI Superintendent, Southwest Idaho R&E Centers, 208-722-6701 ext 211.
  • Tim Waters, WSU Area Extension Educator, WSU Benton/Franklin County Extension, 509-545-3511.
  • Erik Wenninger, Assistant Professor, Department of Plant, Soil and Entomological Sciences, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Idaho, Kimberly Research & Extension Center, 3806 N 3600 E, Kimberly, ID 83341-5076. (208) 423-6677.
  • Carrie Wohleb, WSU Extension Educator, Horticultural crops, including potatoes, vegetables and vegetable seed crops, WSU Grant & Adams Counties Extension, 509-754-2011 ext 413.
  • James Woodhall, Plant Pathologist, Parma Research & Extension Center, University of Idaho, 208 722-6701.
PNW-VEG team
The Pacific Northwest Vegetable Extension Group received the 2012 Interdisciplinary Team award from the WSU College of Agriculture, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS); from left, Carol Miles (horticulturist), Dan Bernardo (CAHNRS Dean), Debbie Inglis (plant pathologist), and Lindsey du Toit (plant pathologist).
PNW-VEG team 2001
Original members of the ‘WSU Vegetable Pathology Team’ initiated in 2001, which expanded into the tri-state ‘PNW Vegetable Extension Group’. Back row (l-r): Debra Inglis, Carol Miles, Ellen Bentley, Dyvon Havens, Erik Sorensen, Babette Gundersen, and Gary Pelter. Front row (l-r): Jenny Glass and Lindsey du Toit.

The PNW VEG was started in 2001 by Debbie Inglis, WSU Vegetable Pathologist, with eight members from WSU. The team has expanded significantly over the years to include vegetable specialists in Oregon and Idaho. Debbie Inglis and Lindsey du Toit (dutoit@wsu.edu), WSU Vegetable Seed Pathologist, co-led the team for many years until Debbie retired from WSU in December 2018. Lindsey now leads the team.