Coastal Ag News Roundup

In today’s Ag News Roundup, forest health modeled, fire may benefit sagebrush ecosystems, wolf tracking remains active in Washington state, yellowjackets invading back yards, and organic labels being reviewed by FDA.

OSU Models Future Forest Health

Oregon State University has released a study in the journal Forest Ecology and Management, which finds that drought prone soil could help enhance forest health and productivity. Study lead author Chris Ringo states that by identifying forests where the soil cannot hold moisture during the summer months could provide much-needed information to help prevent fires and other damage.

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Healthy Sagebrush Ecosystem Fire Management in Review

A study by Oregon State University found that fire is not all bad for a healthy sagebrush steppe ecosystem. The study sampled eight research plots that had undergone prescribed burns. Researchers found that unburned areas had far more fuel material.

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Wolf-Tracking Data Remains Active

A plan to turn off wolf-tracking GPS data has been scraped by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The department head said the move could have impeded livestock protection.

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Yellowjackets on the Rise Due to Drought

The Oregon drought has brought more yellowjackets into back yards, says Oregon State University Extension Service. Researchers are urging people living in residential areas to not use pesticides to deal with the increase of yellowjackets as the pests often land on garden and flower plants during droughts.

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FDA Reviewing Organic Labels

The FDA is investigating claims made by organic product producers and growers. The move comes following an article in the Wall Street Journal that identified possible false label statements by the organic industry, including GMO information.

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