The Air Curtain Burner burns forest slash, agricultural vegetative waste, debris resulting from land clearing and storms, and invasive weeds with very little air pollution due to the advanced technology which produces an “air curtain”. The smoke particles are trapped and re-burned within the system, reducing smoke production. The remaining material can be made into biochar, or further processed to reduce overall biomass into ash.

Filbert aphids mate in the fall and then lay eggs, which will overwinter on hazelnut trees. The aphids then hatch in the spring and move onto developing buds and shoots to feed. Here are some photos of filbert aphids mating, and also eggs that have been deposited at the bases of buds.

Parts of the Willamette Valley were hit hard by a weather system that brought snow and freezing rain mid February. Some orchards were devastated by the damage when branches and even entire tree trunks were split by heavy accumulations of precipitation.

This video discusses the amazing little samurai wasp that attacks brown marmorated stink bugs. Much of the footage was filmed at the North Willamette Research and Extension Center!

Click HERE to watch the video and learn more about the parasitoid wasp Trissolcus japonicus.

David Lowenstein accepted a position with Michigan State University Extension last spring and is now a consumer horticulture extension educator based out of Clinton Township. Congratulations David!

KGW news interviewed Nik about Brown Marmorated Stink Bug and samurai wasps. Video here.

The Wiman lab welcomes Rachele (Pronounced: RAH-Kelly) Nieri as a new postdoctoral research associate. She comes to the Wiman lab from Italy with a background in the study of insect communication. Rachele’s research will focus on spotted-wing drosophila behavior in an effort to improve management strategies.

Congrats to Heather, Aaron, and David on receiving Clackamas County Innovative funds! Heather’s project will set up a high-quality photo system. Aaron’s project will develop a network  and workshop on growing hard cider apples. David’s project will study wild pollinators in our experimental peach and cider apple plots.

Field season is underway. Check out the lab Facebook pages for research and event updates on hazelnuts and cider apples.

There are two upcoming workshops on hazelnut production. Both will be held at the North Willamette Research and Extension Center.

1. Establishing equitable leases for Hazelnut orchards. Aug 9 from 1-3 PM.
2. Hazelnut Integrated Pest Management workshop. Aug 23 from 1-4 PM.

More information and registration link here.

Welcome to the Wiman Lab!

The Orchard crops extension lab’s primary focus is research and extension in hazelnuts. The lab is based in the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University with space in the main Corvallis, OR campus and in the North Willamette Research and Extension Center (NWREC) in Aurora, OR.