Letter from the Director
We are pleased to present the Fiscal Year 2000 Annual Report of the Washington State University Agricultural Research Center (ARC). In this web document, we feature the portfolio of projects of the ARC and the peer-reviewed publications resulting from the outstanding work of faculty and staff having ARC appointments. Also included in the report are plant variety releases, patents, congressional initiatives and a summary of financial data associated with the Center. The scholarly work of our talented faculty and staff impacts the lives and work of the citizens of Washington, the Pacific Northwest, the nation and internationally. Many ARC projects incorporate aspects of both basic and applied research and are directed toward broad state and national goals. The ARC portfolio includes projects incorporating such diverse areas as protection of soil, water, and natural resources; integrated pest management; breeding plants and animals to achieve desired characteristics; food quality and new food processing technologies; food safety and security; aquaculture; resource economics; the relationship of food and nutrition to health; and a new thrust in precision agriculture. In the human sciences, projects address economic and social challenges facing youth and families, particularly the impacts of change on rural communities and community development.

The year 2000 was both an exciting and challenging time. With the Safe Food Initiative passed and the majority of its positions filled, we look forward to major accomplishments in the areas of food safety, quality and security. The establishment of the Center for Precision Agriculture Systems with funds from the Washington Advanced Technology Initiative portends the future economic robustness of irrigated agriculture with increased production efficiencies along with environmental stewardship. We continue to be successful in the national competitive granting programs including the USDA Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems, the National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program, the National Science Foundation and other federal programs. Our initiatives to Congress have also yielded several new projects. Commodity commissions have been generous in their support of our faculty and with projects associated with the Agricultural Research Center. In spite of our success nationally, we have again experienced downsizing and restructuring in the ARC. As a result, we continue to focus more sharply on progress and projects having high impact in the lives and work of our constituents.

My first year as Director of the Agricultural Research Center has been both challenging and rewarding. I look forward to continue serving the people of Washington alongside the excellent faculty and staff of the WSU College of Agriculture and Home Economics.

Ralph Cavalieri, Associate Dean and Director
Agricultural Research Center