Field Crops Malheur County - Oregon State University

09/04/2026

08/31/2026

♻️ From used drip tape to fuel!

Drip irrigation plays an important role in agriculture across the Treasure Valley, but managing used drip tape after the growing season continues to be a challenge for growers.

Researchers at Oregon State University are exploring an innovative approach using pyrolysis to convert used agricultural drip tape into a diesel-like fuel. Recently, drip tape pyrolysis was demonstrated at the OSU Malheur Experiment Station, showcasing the research and its potential applications for agriculture. 🚜♻️

And meet The Onionator! 🧅 Researchers developed this pilot-scale pyrolysis system to help take the research to the next level.

For Treasure Valley growers, this research could lead to new options for managing agricultural plastic waste, reducing the amount of used drip tape requiring disposal, and potentially turning that waste into a useful resource. 🌱

What do you think about turning agricultural waste plastic into fuel? 👇

08/28/2026

🧅 Not all onions are created equal!

A look inside the Malheur Experiment Station Onion Field Day, where 47 onion varieties were featured this year, showcasing how different varieties perform under local growing conditions.

From yield and maturity to quality and overall performance, these trials help turn research into practical information growers can use when making production decisions. 🌱

Now the important question: Which do you prefer? Red, yellow, or white onions? 👇🔴🟡⚪️

OregonAgriculture

08/27/2026

🌻 Sharing Sunflowers with Our Community

Our Master Gardener Program had the opportunity to give back to the community through a sunflower giveaway.

Sunflowers grown at our Demonstration Garden were harvested and arranged into bouquets by our Master Gardeners and volunteers, then shared with Ontario Fire & Rescue, the Ontario Police Department, and seniors at our local Senior Center.

The giveaway was a simple way to show appreciation for our local first responders while also bringing a little joy and sunshine to seniors in our community.

A special thank you to our Master Gardeners and volunteers who helped harvest, prepare, and distribute the flowers. Activities like this demonstrate how Extension brings people together through education, volunteerism, and service to our communities.

🌱 Growing knowledge. Growing connections. Growing community.

Sunflowers

08/25/2026

🌻 Help Us Spread Some Sunshine! 🌻

Join the Malheur County Master Gardener Program as we harvest sunflowers from our demonstration garden, create beautiful bouquets, and deliver them to community members, including local first responders!

📅 Thursday, August 27
⏰ 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Interested in volunteering? Contact Russell Smith Ollivierre at 541 881-1417 or [email protected].

Come help us turn locally grown sunflowers into smiles throughout our community! 🌻💐

08/06/2026

Join us this Saturday at the Ontario Saturday Market for a community plant swap! 🪴

This is a drop-in event so stop by the OSU Master Gardener tent anytime between 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. You will receive tickets in exchange for your plants that you can then exchange for new plants as they arrive at the swap table. Browse all the wonderful vendors at the Saturday Market while you wait for the table to fill up! The Malheur Nursery will be donating plants for the event as well. 🏵️🌻🌸🌱

Questions? Give us a call at (541) 881-1417

08/04/2026

🍀Join Our 4-H Team! 🍀

Make a difference in the lives of youth and families.🌱

OSU Extension in Malheur County is hiring a 4-H Outreach Program Coordinator!

✨ Much more than a paycheck ✨
💼 Full benefits
💰 PERS pension/retirement
🌴 Paid vacation, sick leave & federal/state holidays
🎓 Tuition reduction for eligible employees
📚 Professional development opportunities

Salary range: $63,000-$69,700 DOE

Apply now and be a part of a supportive, impactful community! beav.es/YoX 🐮🌾

07/30/2026

🚨 Palmer Amaranth Alert 🚨

The Noxious W**d of the Week is Palmer amaranth, an aggressive annual broadleaf w**d that can quickly overtake gardens, landscapes, and farms. It was identified in Malheur County, Oregon, during the summer of 2023.

🌱 How to Identify It:

✔️Smooth, hairless leaves and stems
✔️Diamond shaped leaves with leaf stalks (petioles) longer than the leaf blade
✔️Single plants can be more branched
✔️Female plants have rough, prickly seed heads
✔️Elongated seed heads up to 24 inches long

⚠️ Why It’s a Problem:

✔️Grows extremely fast, up to 2 to 3 inches per day under ideal conditions
✔️Can reach heights of 6 to 8 feet or more
✔️Competes aggressively with vegetables, flowers, and crops for sunlight, water, and nutrients
✔️ Produces an enormous number of seeds, with one female plant capable of producing 100,000 to 500,000 seeds
✔️ Has developed resistance to several commonly used herbicides

🪏 Management Tips:

✔️Remove plants while they are still small
✔️Pull or dig up the entire plant, including the roots
✔️Bag and dispose of seed producing plants in the trash; do not compost mature plants with seed heads
✔️Clean vehicles, equipment, and footwear after working in potentially infested areas
✔️Contact your local OSU Extension office or county w**d specialist if you suspect you’ve found Palmer amaranth

Early detection is the best way to protect our farms, gardens, and natural areas. Please help prevent its spread by sharing this post!

**ds

07/27/2026

🔥 Wildfire season is here, and smoke may become a concern for many Malheur County residents.

As of May 19, 63% of Malheur County was experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions, with conditions worsening over the previous 30 days. With an increased risk of wildfire smoke this season, the OSU Extension Service in Malheur County is offering FREE N95 masks to community members while supplies last.

N95 masks can help reduce exposure to harmful smoke particles and support healthier breathing during smoky conditions.

📍 Pick up your free masks at:
OSU Extension Service – Malheur County
710 SW 5th Ave, Ontario, OR

🕗 Office Hours:
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
(Closed for lunch from 12:00–1:00 p.m.)

📞 Questions? Call us at 541-881-1417.

Please help us spread the word so our community can be prepared for the upcoming fire season.

05/21/2026

What a wonderful evening at the Nyssa Middle School Family Engagement Workshop! 🌱✨

We are so grateful for the collaboration between the Juntos Program and the Master Gardener Program to create a meaningful experience for families in our community. One of the highlights of the evening was an activity where families planted seeds together and used the experience as an analogy for setting and achieving family goals.

Thank you to all the families, volunteers, and partners who made this workshop such a success. It was inspiring to see families learning, connecting and growing together. 🌿💚