WSU Center for Sustaining Agriculture & Natural Resources

09/22/2026

“The better the technology becomes, the more it points us back to the people who will use it and the agricultural systems it represents.”

In a new story, WSU PhD candidate Amin Norouzi Kandelati reflects on a tillage-mapping project launched with seed funding from CSANR’s BIOAg Program. When models developed elsewhere struggled with eastern Washington’s diverse cropping systems, the team used nearly 600 roadside observations and information about crop type to improve the approach. Median overall accuracy rose from 69% to 84%.

Amin explains how agricultural expertise, conversations with conservation professionals, and attention to the model’s uncertainty helped turn research maps into something people can use.

🔗 Read the story: https://csanr.wsu.edu/mapping-tillage-practices

09/21/2026

Mapping tillage across eastern Washington took more than satellite data and machine learning. This project, which began with seed funding from a CSANR BIOAg grant, brought WSU researchers and conservation district staff together to improve the maps and make them useful for conservation work.

In this video, PhD candidate Amin Norouzi Kandelati and his adviser, Kirti Rajagopalan, explain how hundreds of field observations gathered during roadside surveys improved tillage predictions. Ryan Boylan and Bradley Johnson of Palouse Conservation District discuss how they’re already using the maps.

This video was made possible with funding from Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education.

09/17/2026

Congratulations to Washington State Department of Agriculture Director Derek Sandison, a valued member of CSANR’s Advisory Committee, on his election as president of NASDA.

Over the years, Derek has helped bring CSANR’s expertise into important statewide conversations and has remained a strong supporter of the center. We’re grateful for his partnership and look forward to his leadership in this national role.

WSDA Director Derek Sandison has been elected President of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.

"At a pivotal time for American agriculture, I look forward to bringing people together, fostering important conversations, and supporting the farmers and ranchers who feed and sustain our nation," said Sandison. "And I can’t wait to welcome NASDA to the beautiful state of Washington for the 2027 Annual Meeting!"

👉 Visit our website to read the full news release: https://agr.wa.gov/about-wsda/news-and-media-relations/news-releases?article=47289

09/10/2026

The next session in the Anaerobic Dairy Digester series from Washington State University Energy Program will cover:

- Air quality permitting with Jordan Hanna and Ben Hubertus of Trinity Consultants
- Nutrient management with Kyrre Flege of WSDA
- A farmer's perspective on permitting and nutrient management with Steve Vander Haak of Vander Haak Dairy

🗓️ September 15, 2026
⏰ 10:00 a.m. PDT
🎟️ Free to attend

Register at https://energy.wsu.edu/digester-webinars

09/10/2026

🍇 With Washington’s 2025 wine grape harvest down 28%, growers have little room to absorb an unsuccessful management change. Long-term research can help them weigh the benefits, costs, and tradeoffs of different practices.

Project manager Liz Gillispie and colleagues are comparing five vineyard management systems at WSU's research vineyard in Prosser. They are studying how different practices and soil characteristics affect vine health, fruit quality, and the vineyard’s ability to remain productive over time.

The vineyard is one of six long-term research sites established through the Washington Soil Health Initiative, which CSANR helps lead.

Read the story: 🔗 https://csanr.wsu.edu/healthy-soil-for-vineyards

08/27/2026

🌱 Teaching students how to protect soil? 🌱

The Kaiser Conservation Endowment is offering up to $5,000 for hands-on projects that teach soil conservation in the Palouse & Inland Empire region.

Staff, faculty, or educators affiliated with colleges in WA or ID, NRCS, and Conservation Districts can apply.

🔗 Learn more: csanr.wsu.edu/kaiser

📸 Students gather for the 2025 Soil and Land Judging Competition, hosted by the Conservation Districts in Whitman County.

Photo credit: Palouse Conservation District

08/26/2026

Can a quick reading of plant sap tell you whether insects will attack a crop?

A popular theory says that healthy plants have high Brix levels and that insects cannot feed on plants at 12 Brix or above. It’s an appealingly simple idea, but CSANR Senior Extension Fellow Andrew McGuire found little research to support it.

In his latest Perspectives piece, McGuire traces the history of the Brix-insect story, examines the available evidence and explains why insect biology is much messier than a single number suggests.

🔗 https:/csanr.wsu.edu/brix-insect

08/26/2026

After eight years of dedicated leadership, Melissa Spear is retiring as Tilth Alliance's Executive Director. Read her letter to the community and learn about our search for new leadership.

08/25/2026

🌱 Got a project that teaches students how to protect our soil? 🌱

The Kaiser Conservation Endowment is offering up to $5,000 for hands-on projects that teach soil conservation in the Palouse & Inland Empire region.

Staff, faculty, or educators affiliated with colleges in WA or ID, NRCS, and Conservation Districts can apply.

🔗 Learn more: csanr.wsu.edu/kaiser

📸 Students gather for the 2025 Soil and Land Judging Competition, hosted by the Conservation Districts in Whitman County.

Photo credit: Palouse Conservation District

08/24/2026

We’re Hiring!

Are you interested in an opportunity to bring some social science approaches to helping agricultural producers respond to climate change impacts? The Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources at Washington State University is hiring a one-year Natural Resource Scientist to support projects at the intersection of specialty crop and irrigated agriculture, AI, and how Extension can help growers adapt.

Apply by August 31 for priority consideration!

Remote or hybrid options may be available within Washington state.

Learn more:
https://mydrive.cahnrs.wsu.edu/s/qCQnSTZcXJccnTN