Oregon State University Extension Service Stories http://extension.oregonstate.edu/index.php Research-based, objective information to help people solve problems, develop leadership, and manage resources wisely. en-us OSU Extension Service http://extension.oregonstate.edu/logos/osueslogo1.jpg http://extension.oregonstate.edu 160 32 Oregon State University Extension Service Herbs to the rescue: fend off deer with aromatic plants http://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/story.php?S_No=1182&storyType=garden Many deer and other animals find herbs to be unpalatable. For that reason, herbs are some of the best plants to fend off uninvited garden nibblers, according to Oregon State University horticulturist Linda McMahan. She has advice on how to use aromatic herbs to our advantage. Oregon State University Extension Service Mar 04 2011 Eat from the garden all year http://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/story.php?S_No=1183&storyType=garden Eating fresh out of the garden any time of the year is what motivates Teresa Welch to use cloches. But the benefits reach beyond stretching Oregon's normal growing season. Cloches also keep off winter's "endless deluge" and lessen nitrogen loss from the soil. Deer and slugs can't get inside the hoops, and only digging pests, such as moles and gophers, can tunnel underneath. Oregon State University Extension Service Feb 25 2011 OSU-recommended vegetables provide best yields in local gardens http://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/story.php?S_No=1181&storyType=garden The OSU Extension Service recommends varieties of vegetables and melons for home gardens. Oregon State University Extension Service Feb 18 2011 Stumped over which succulent to grow? Go native http://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/story.php?S_No=1184&storyType=garden Broadleaf stonecrop, also known as Sedum spathulifolium, is one of the best succulents to grow in Oregon, and many varieties of it are sold at most nurseries. They grow well in rock gardens, raised beds, pots, old troughs and any location that has full sun and good drainage. Oregon State University Extension Service Feb 11 2011 Threat of ban provokes need for sterile shrubs http://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/story.php?S_No=763&storyType=news Ryan Contreras and his lab at Oregon State University have begun a breeding program to save the cherrylaurel plant from a potential ban due to invasiveness. A recent $20,500 research grant could lead to a sterile cherrylaurel variety for sale in Oregon nurseries. Oregon State University Extension Service Mar 07 2011 Unmanned aircraft used to inventory Oregon nurseries http://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/story.php?S_No=764&storyType=news Starting this year, a team of researchers from Oregon State University, the University of Florida and the University of Arkansas will test a new remote sensing system in three Oregon nurseries using an unmanned multi-rotor aircraft. Oregon State University Extension Service Mar 07 2011 Something for everyone in two new OSU potato varieties http://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/story.php?S_No=765&storyType=news The two new tubers reflect the wide range of interest in potatoes. The light-brown 'Sage Russet' can meet the needs of the largest market for potatoes: processing French fries, while the red fingerling called AmaRosa keeps its rosy color during cooking and appeals to the upscale potato specialty market. Oregon State University Extension Service Feb 24 2011 OSU to study farming methods in bid to curb, adapt to climate change http://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/story.php?S_No=762&storyType=news Oregon State University has been named a partner on a $20 million grant that aims to ensure the long-term viability of cereal-based farming in the inland Pacific Northwest amid a changing climate. OSU will receive $4 million of the total award, which comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The other participants are the University of Idaho, Washington State University and the USDA's Agricultural Research Service. The five-year grant will take a holistic approach to studying the relationship between climate change and cereal crops, primarily winter wheat. Researchers will study how climate change might affect cereal crops and, conversely, how practices for growing those crops might contribute to or help curb climate change. They'll identify farming methods that help cereal crops withstand climate change and they'll determine which factors influence farmers' decisions about how to manage their crops. Oregon State University Extension Service Feb 18 2011 OSU invites public to view new lambs http://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/story.php?S_No=760&storyType=news The public is invited to view the birth of lambs at Oregon State University's sheep barn from Feb. 15 to March 2. Oregon State University Extension Service Feb 11 2011 Pheromone increases foraging honey bees, leads to healthier hives http://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/story.php?S_No=761&storyType=news New work by OSU College of Agricultural Sciences professor, Ramesh Sagili, has found that the application of brood pheromone to honey bee colonies affects the division of labor within adult bees leading to increased hive health and resiliency to disease. Oregon State University Extension Service Feb 11 2011