Challenges to scientists advancing tools and best management practices for agricultural producers across the US include geographic and weather stressors, rapidly evolving pests and pathogens, and…

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Washington State University $3,173,460 under the Hatch Act formula grant program on October 1, 2025, for agricultural research conducted through September 30, 2027.

WSU scientists are developing genetic tools and breeding approaches for crop and livestock improvement targeting resistance to heat, drought, pests, and diseases, with concurrent focus on enhanced nutritional value and yield traits. Work includes molecular evaluation of crop breeding lines, identification of improved rootstocks for perennial plants, and development of enhanced photosynthetic performance and specialty oil yield. The research addresses honey-bee health through genetic approaches, fungal extracts to control parasitic mites, and manipulation of storage conditions to reduce overwintering mite populations. Integrated pest management research examines disease, weed, and pest biology, epidemiology, and ecology alongside beneficial species management and pesticide effects on predators. Soil health analyses throughout Washington characterize soil microbes and evaluate conventional and biodegradable plastic breakdown effects on soil health. Water optimization and input efficiency research support overall crop production resilience.

Research is performed in Pullman, Washington. The assistance type is a formula grant under CFDA 10.203, which distributes funds to eligible State Agricultural Experiment Stations to conduct broad agricultural research, with at least 25 percent of annual funding directed to multistate collaborative projects addressing regional or national problems.

Challenges to scientists advancing tools and best management practices for agricultural producers across the US include geographic and weather stressors, rapidly evolving pests and pathogens, and water limitations. WSU scientists are developing tools that help crop and animal breeders develop cultivars and livestock that are well adapted to many production challenges. These activities include collecting and characterizing the genetics of plants and animal for traits such as resistance to heat, drought, pests, and diseases that also have improved nutritional value. WSU scientists are developing tools to assist in evaluating crop breeding lines through molecular approaches. These tools identify newly improved rootstocks to optimize perennial plants' vigor and production. Traits such as enhanced photosynthetic performance and increased yield of specialty oils are the focus of some of these efforts. Additional in vestigations are using integrated approaches to control diseases, weeds, and other pests by understanding the biology, epidemiology, and ecology of these pests along with potential beneficial species. Genetic approaches are also used to improve honey-BEE health FO r pollinizing valuable crops, the development of fungi and fungal extracts to control parasitic honey-BEE mites, and manipulation of indoor storage conditions to improve overwintering and reduce mite populations that can be fatal to bees. New approaches to reduce harmful pests use biological diversity in insects to manage the effects of conventional and organic pesticides on pests and beneficial predators. In addition to reducing pests and improving pollination, soil health is a key component of a successful crop. The identification of microbes within soil is a major component of soil health analyses performed throughout washington. Soil health research is conducted to determine if the breakdown of conventional and biodegradable plastics in soils may add to soil health. Optimizing water and other inputs in agricultural systems on a small spatial scale is critical to both economic and environmental sustainability, as is reducing farm labor. WSU scientists are testing and integrating sensors that can monitor crop and soil water, fertility, temperature, crop load, and developing assistive mechanization and automated systems for specialty crops. Horticulturalists are working with engineers and computer scientists to integrate sensor data and mechanization into the diverse architecture of specialty crop vineyards, orchards, and fields. In addition to conservation, water research at WSU focuses on aquatic ecosystem improvement, stormwater management, integrated water management involving agricultural and energy production, drought and flood prevention, and economic and societal outcomes. This research generates information on how policy and technology are developed and applied toward decisions on water allocation to competing uses concerned with agricultural productivity, ecosystem health, and community viability. Once crops are harvested, WSU food engineers focus on developing safe, high-quality, nutritious, and healthy food products with little waste. In livestock and aquacultural species, WSU animal scientists are using cell culture and genomic techniques to study muscle development, disease resistance, and fertility for genetic improvement. Genomic resources for plant and animal improvement, like annotated genome assemblies, genotyping platforms, and integrative bioinformatics tools are incorporated into large public databases for sharing with the public and facilitate access to other plant and animal breeders to improve agriculture throughout the US.