Agriculture – The Daily Evergreen

‘Lost’ apple rediscovered near WSU

David Benscoter, founder of the Lost Apple Project, said the Mihalyfi was one of 20 Hungarian apple varieties brought to the then Washington State Agricultural College in the late 1800s.

May 15, 2020

Approximately seven miles southeast of WSU’s Pullman campus on Rocky Butte, a historic apple was rediscovered by the Lost Apple Project. Roy Druffel, a farmer who owns land on Rocky Butte, is a committee member of the Lost Apple Project and discovered the Mihalyfi apple. Project founder David Bensc...

Tags: agriculture, apples, Lost Apple Project, Mihalyfi apple, Rocky Butte

Gardeners continue to find comfort while tending to plants

People are finding solace from COVID-19 at the Pullman Community Garden at Koppel Farm.

LAUREN ELLENBECKER, Evergreen reporter

May 1, 2020

Gardeners tended to their various flowers, produce and herbs in a nature preserve near the South Fork Palouse River where they are protected from the sound of nearby roads. The Pullman Community Garden at Koppel Farm serves as a habitat for various insects, pollinators and wildlife. Tim Paulitz, ...

Tags: covid-19, environment, gardening, nature, Pullman Community Garden at Koppel Farm, self care, social distancing

School district recognized for continued sustainability effort

MADYSEN MCLAIN, Evergreen reporter

April 30, 2020

Teachers and staff at the Pullman School District implement sustainability education through planting trees and creating owl boxes. This effort led to the district being named one of the 2020 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School District Sustainability Awardees on April 22. “I became c...

Tags: Franklin Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, Kamiak Elementary, Lincoln Middle School, Pullman High School, Pullman Public Schools, Pullman School District, sustainability, US Department of Education

Giant hornet makes an appearance in Washington state

The Asian giant hornet is the largest hornet in the world. They eat insects like wasps and honeybees. The hornets can “slaughter” entire honeybee colonies.

ANGELICA RELENTE, Evergreen reporter

April 14, 2020

An invasive, venomous critter that can grow up to 2 inches long has made its way to Washington state. Susan Cobey, bee breeder at WSU’s Department of Entomology, said the Asian giant hornet, also known as Vespa Mandarinia, is the largest hornet in the world. “These are just monsters,” Cob...

Tags: Asian giant hornet, beekeeping, honey, honeybees, WSU Department of Entomology

Frozen leaves cause unusual taste in red wine

Unusual floral aromas are found in red wines when the grapes used to make the wine have been exposed to cold snaps in the early fall. This causes frozen leaves to stick to grape clusters which often end up harvested and bottled.

BROOKLYNN HILLEMANN, Evergreen reporter

February 20, 2020

Unusual floral notes found in red wines are caused by frozen and dead leaves, according to a WSU professor. Jim Harbertson, associate professor of enology for WSU’s Wine Science Center, specializes in the study of wines. He said he was tasked by Washington wine producers with explaining why re...

A ‘berry’ important research project

The $12.8 million research project is being funded by the USDA’s Specialty Crop Research Initiative and led by North Carolina State University. Berries will be bred by various staffing and molecular tools.

LAUREN ELLENBECKER, Evergreen reporter

February 14, 2020

WSU researchers are examining ways to alter genetic traits and breed berries in order to grow better, tastier varieties. Lisa DeVetter, WSU Department of Horticulture associate professor, said the Vaccinium Coordinated Agricultural Project (VacCAP) was created to develop DNA-based tools whic...

Reshaping stream structure to improve habitats

Palouse Conservation District coordinator, Randy Stevens talks about his plan to design a better structural element in streams on Wednesday at Paradise Creek Brewery.

LOREN NEGRON, Evergreen reporter

February 13, 2020

The Palouse Conservation District (PCD) held a presentation about stream structure on Wednesday in the Paradise Creek Brewery Trailside Taproom. Randy Stevens, PCD conservation coordinator, said changing stream structure can produce diverse habitats, which can help address drought and flooding. ...

Bees on the move

“The queens need to be productive,” says entomology professor Steve Sheppard. “During the main part of the season they may be laying 1500 eggs a day, so you need a queen that can really crank out that many eggs.”

ALANA LACKNER, Evergreen reporter

January 29, 2020

After almost 20 years working out of temporary quarters, WSU’s Honey Bee and Pollinator Research and Education program will be moving much of its work to a new facility in Othello. Entomology professor Steven Sheppard said the new building alone will allow for more than double the number of bees cur...

A Wasteful Life: Rethinking Sustainability

Residents of Kooskia, Idaho spend Saturday, Oct. 5 grinding apples for Tahoe Qru, the town’s tiny volunteer EMT building.

SYDNEY BROWN, Evergreen reporter

November 13, 2019

KOOSKIA, ID — Irene Finehout dug through a plastic crate, her fuzzy green hat shielding her from a slight drizzle. In the parking lot of this small town’s volunteer EMT center off the highway, Finehout pulled a handful of shiny apples from the crates and pointed to tiny holes that had formed on their...

Pullman will declutter at annual event

“Depending on the size of their vehicle, people can pay to get in and dump off the junk that’s accumulated around their house, garage or yard,” says PDS President Devon Felsted.

NEPHTALI CALLES, Evergreen reporter

April 26, 2019

The City of Pullman and Pullman Disposal Service have partnered to host the annual Pullman Spring Clean Up from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Pullman Disposal Service. “Depending on the size of their vehicle, people can pay to get in and dump off the junk that’s accumulated around their house,...