A team of researchers is developing a Smart Sprayer, which will be demonstrated at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 14 at Hans Nelson and Sons Nursery, 31020 S.E. Waybill Road, Boring, Oregon. The sprayer, which is still being tested, uses a laser to detect the height, width and volume of the plants in a row. With […]
1-866-INVADER’s Greatest Hits
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It takes many eyes to spot all the invasive pests, plants and pathogens that might possibly come into Oregon and cause damage. That’s why, 15 years ago, the founders of the Oregon Invasive Species Council decided to enlist the public’s help. They set up a hotline at 1-866-INVADER, where people could call in and report […]
Website educates public on invasive pest threats
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Although the agriculture community is well aware of invasive pests and pathogens — including the emerald ash borer, sudden oak death, the giant African snail, the citrus psyllid, the Asian longhorned beetle and many others — agriculture cannot fight them alone. These pests can be transported unwittingly by the general public; therefore, public awareness is needed to […]
Researchers: Plants can make complex decisions
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Is the phrase “smarter than a potted plant” an insult? Not necessarily. Researchers at the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research (UFZ) and the University of Göttingen, both in Germany, have concluded that plants can evaluate risks, consider changing circumstances and make complex decisions. They reached this conclusion after studying barberry shrubs that were aborting their […]
Conifers, health care and Coulter featured in December Digger
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The December issue of Digger has been mailed to subscribers, and the cover story this month is on ground-hugging conifers (PDF). Other articles in this issue include: • “Bee-ing aware of insecticides” (PDF) — Columnist Mike Darcy discusses insecticides containing neonicotinoids and ways garden centers can inform their customers.• “Meet the Leader: John Coulter” (PDF) — […]
Ault: Respect for plant’s origins key to plant breeding
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“Plant geek breeders,’” as horticulturist Jim Ault calls his tribe, gathered for an information-packed lecture Friday morning at the Farwest Trade Show. Ault is the Director of Ornamental Plant Research at the Chicago Botanic Garden and Manager and Plant Breeder, Chicagoland Grows® Plant Introduction Program. He brings an extensive background in botany and ecology to […]
High fructose corn syrup may harm honeybees
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What is causing honeybee colony collapse disorder? Scientists have been trying to find the answer to that question. A new study suggests that feeding high fructose corn syrup to honeybees might compromise their immune systems and diminish their ability to fight off toxins. Earlier studies, done decades ago, had suggested that feeding these pollinators corn […]
New USDA zone map released
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released its first new climate zone map in more than new decades. The new 2012 map, downloadable here (various other versions here), replaces the previous map published in 1990. According to USA Today, the new map is much more localized — in fact, it’s accurate down to one-half mile. […]
Study: Climate change reshaping Northwest forests
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As you drive around the Pacific Northwest or other regions, have you ever noticed that the makeup of the forest changes when you drive from region to region, gain or lose elevation, or cross over a mountain pass? This phenomenon is real, and it happens due to microclimates. Scientists at three Northwest universities took this […]
Researchers study turning poplar leaves into biodegradable plastic
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As noted in the upcoming April issue of Digger, various researchers have looked at such disparate ingredients as cow manure, bamboo, corn starch resins, recycled paper, feathers and coir fiber as the basis for constructing alternatives to the plastic nursery pot. Now one could add the leaves of hybrid poplar trees to the list. As […]