Faculty and Researchers

What I Do

I focus on research and development of machine vision, artificial intelligence and robotics solutions for future of farming that would reduce the input including farm labor while increasing crop yield and quality. In addition, my research effort focuses on autonomous decision making and field operations of machines (with remote operation and supervision as needed) to not only reduce the labor use but also improve worker health and safety. In my educational program, I focus on training next generation engineers and scientists with the knowledge and expertise on intelligent systems and technologies as well as agricultural systems for the future of farming. Finally, my program also involves extension and outreach programs and activities to educate growers and other stakeholders about new farming technologies and to understand the research and development needs of the farming industry.

What it Means for the State

Over the past 13 years, my research program has demonstrated various automation and robotic technologies and their practical feasibility, which has led to public private partnership in further developing and potentially commercializing those technologies. For example, I have been collaborating with FFRobotics (an Israeli company) to develop a full-scale apple harvesting robotic. This machine is now being evaluated in Washington orchards, which is expected to lead to a commercialized product in recent future. Similarly, I am working with Vine Tech Equipment (Prosser, WA) in commercializing an automated green shoot thinning machine for vineyards.  There are many other technologies I am researching currently with potential for making positive impact to Washington farming industry including robotic pollination, pruning and thinning, robotic weeding, precision nutrient application, and cell-phone based applications for crop load estimation and spatial variability mapping in crop fields.

What it Means for the World

Our center, Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems (CPAAS), is a relatively new center, but has been recognized as one of the top 20 research programs on precision agriculture around the world. We are developing solutions that are making positive impact to Washington ag industry as well as the similar industries around the world. We are focusing on developing technologies for future of farming (Ag4.0) to solve some of the greatest challenges the world is facing today including production of sufficient food, feed, fiber and fuel to support increasing global population under the pressure of changing global climate.

What I Do

My research and extension program at WSU CPAAS focuses on “Sensing and automation technologies for site specific and precision management of production agriculture.” Program scope addresses stakeholder precision agriculture technological needs via complimenting the on-going efforts within WSU CAHNRS. In the past 6 years, I have focused my efforts towards development, evaluation and promotion of:

• Ground and aerial sensing technologies for biotic and abiotic crop stressors monitoring;
• Data enabled smart decision support tools/technologies for crop production and loss management;
• Site- and canopy-specific chemical and crop input application technologies.

What it Means for the State

The state of Washington is the U.S. leader in the production of several perennial specialty crops. However, stakeholders continue to face enormous challenges to deliver high quality produce due to crop losses caused by biotic and abiotic stressors. My program specifically aims to research, development, promotion, and commercialization of pertinent technologies to precisely measure the crop variability and manage the orchard/field production. It thrives to meet the stakeholder needs and promotes the environmental stewardship.

What it Means for the World

Agricultural technologies to measure and manage the crop production are evolving rapidly. My program at WSU CPAAS is at forefront of researching and education of these technologies. As we transition in to the big-data driven ‘decision (or digital) agriculture’, we are making steady progress in the R&D of novel crop sensing, cyber physical infrastructure driven decision support tools and futuristic chemical application technologies that are suitable for the implementation of the ‘farms (orchards)-of-the-future’. Persistent efforts are also made to educate/train the skilled workforce needed to realize/advance this notion in the state of Washington, within U.S., and globally.

What I Do

Irrigation-related extension and research.  I especially focus on irrigation management, design, and efficiency-related research.  This includes deficit irrigation, irrigation water hydraulics, irrigation scheduling and management, irrigation automation, sprinkler irrigation efficiency, low energy precision application (LEPA), low elevation spray application (LESA), crop water use estimation, the development of simple and usable irrigation management tools, and remote sensing of evapotranspiration.

What it Means for the State

In the arid west where water is scarce and limited, irrigation consumes 80-90% of the fresh water resources! Better irrigation efficiency and management can save huge amounts of water, conserve pumping energy, and farmers get better yields!  The environment also benefits!  Good irrigation management and using efficient methods can reduce runoff and deep percolation of water and therefore less off-field movement of sediments, fertilizers, and pesticides.  In addition, there is more water available for fish and wildlife habitat restoration, recreation, and municipal and industrial uses.  In short learning to use water in agriculture more efficiently can have a large and positive impact for everybody.

What it Means for the World

Global conflicts often start because of shortages.  Food, clean water, and energy are limited and can precipitate conflict.  Good irrigation water management increases crop yields, strengthens rural economies, makes more food available for everyone, while simultaneously conserving large amounts of water and energy for alternative uses.  It can simultaneously also preserve and can even enhance the environment.  In short, everybody wins!  The research that we are doing here at IAREC have found simple ways to save large amounts of water and energy.

What I Do

As a Research Entomologist and Extension Specialist, I conduct research on the biology of insect and mite pests to determine and understand potential weaknesses that may be exploited in their management. I then develop Integrated Pest Management programs from this information that utilizes multiple strategies, including biological control, chemical ecology, habitat restoration, pesticides and cultural practices. I then extend newly developed management programs to growers and industry personnel through multiple extension strategies. I also research the biology and ecology of important and threatened pollinators including the Monarch butterfly with the aim of developing conservation programs that can be incorporated within agriculture.

What it Means for the State

Over 20 years I have developed and extended new pest management programs for insects and mites in viticulture and hops that have reduced pesticide inputs, preserved beneficial insect populations and minimized environmental contamination. The new programs are more effective, sustainable and friendly to people and the environment. I have researched the life histories of all of the Pacific Northwest’s butterflies and co-authored an acclaimed book on the subject. Our knowledge of our endemic butterflies including the Monarch has been greatly improved by my research and has identified effective and sustainable conservation measures for these threatened insects. I established the ground-breaking collaboration between Washington State Penitentiary at Walla Walla which has seen inmates rear, tag and release more than 7,000 Monarch butterflies since 2012. This collaboration has improved our understanding of Monarch migration in the PNW as well as improved the mental health of inmates.

What it Means for the World

Our research has often led the way in worldwide research on biological control of pest insects and mites. Research conducted at IAREC pioneered the use of plant volatiles in attracting beneficial insects to crops and the use of native plants to improve sustainability of conservation biological control. Information on the incredible migration of the iconic Monarch butterfly, loved throughout the world, was obtained from the citizen scientist-based tagging program based at WSU-Prosser.

Dr. James published his book, ‘The Lives of Butterflies’ on January 9th, 2024.

You can purchase the book through Princeton University Press here: The Lives of Butterflies | Princeton University Press.

To read the article WSU Insider published about the book, click here: New butterfly book culmination of author’s lifelong work | WSU Insider | Washington State University.

What I Do

My key research objectives encompass aspects of commodity protection technologies, with a research and extension focus on providing guidance to agricultural producers, environmental groups, state and federal agencies, and university faculty, staff and students on sustainable crop and pollinator protection via integrated pest management.

What it Means for the State

My research and Extension efforts over the past 25 years are documented to have reduced organophosphate, organochlorine, and carbamate use by over 100,000 pounds (45,360 kg) per year in the Pacific Northwest.

Wine Grapes – Led the team that developed and implemented a barrier spray technology, resulting in an annual 25,000 lb (11,340 kg) reduction in organophosphate use in wine and juice grape vineyards.

Hybrid Poplars – I co-led the team that developed a pheromone confusion strategy for Western poplar clearwing moth, resulting in an annual 54,000 lb (24,500 kg) reduction in organophosphate use and 5,400 lb (2,450 kg) reduction in organochlorine use.

Carrots – Led a team that demonstrated the effectiveness of seed treatments with targeted reduced-risk insecticides that eliminated the use of 7,000 lbs (3,175 kg) per year of diazinon for seed corn maggot control.

What it Means for the World

Hops are the key flavor ingredient in beer. Washington wine grapes are used to make fine wines. Mint is a key flavor component in toothpaste and other oral hygiene and confection products. Alfalfa is the primary dietary ration in lactating cows. Milk, cheese, and ice cream are important end products from alfalfa. Hybrid poplar fiber is a major component of toilet paper. I am the scientist whose research benefits many people every day.

What I Do

My position focuses on reducing foodborne pathogen (Listeria, E. coli, and Salmonella) contamination throughout the produce supply chain through integrated research and extension activities. My extension program aims to equip stakeholders with the resources they need to make science-based decisions aimed at mitigating food safety risks through development of educational content to address emerging produce safety concerns while delivering courses required for regulatory compliance. My research program focuses on understanding the ecology and epidemiology of foodborne pathogens in produce production environments, investigating technologies for system-wide reductions in risk, and developing predictive models in an evolving digital agricultural space. Through both field (e.g., sampling commercial packinghouses or harvesters) and laboratory (e.g., benchtop, growth chamber) experiments, my research and extension activities aim to complement each other in order to directly addressing stakeholder needs.

What it Means for the State

An outbreak of foodborne illness related to produce would not only have substantial implications on public health but also the economic viability of the industry. My research and extension program trains and educates growers, packers, and other stakeholders in the produce supply chain on topics including, but not limited to, worker health and hygiene, sanitation programs, and pre- and postharvest water usage. These activities are providing Washington stakeholders with science-based information and practical solutions to prevent outbreak and recalls related to foodborne illnesses.

What it Means for the World

Washington State is one of the largest produce growing regions, providing fruits and vegetables to consumers worldwide. Thus, ensuring the safety of Washington produce goes beyond ensuring safe and quality products within the state. Additionally, since grower, packers, and producers outside of Washington State are also concerned about reducing the risk of foodborne pathogen contamination of their produce, the work that we conduct related to enhancing the food safety is applicable to the industry as a whole.

What I Do

I accepted a tree fruit pathology position at the Washington State Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center in Wenatchee, WA, in 1986 where I had responsibility for aerial diseases of pome and stone fruits.  I added wine grapes to my responsibilities in 1997 and in 2000 and then transferred to IAREC.   My program is designed to provide scholarly benefits to the science of plant pathology and practical benefits to Washington’s growers and the state economy. My research focuses on the epidemiology and management of powdery mildew diseases of pome and stone fruits, specifically how meteorological variables influence disease epidemiology and the adaptation of new technologies for disease management. My program has contributed significantly to the understanding of the basic epidemiology of powdery mildews in perennial specialty crops and developed multiple innovative disease management approaches. We recently identified widespread resistance of Podosphaera cerasi (the incitant of powdery mildew of cherries) to Group 3 and Group 11 fungicides and developed mitigation strategies for this unfortunate development.  A projecting commencing in 2023 is a new project on branch dieback of cherries.

I served as Director of WSU’s Agricultural Weather Network (AgWeatherNet or AWN) 2006-2010 and again 2016-2018.  I served as Director of IAREC 2013-2018.  I recently became involved in classroom instruction and find it to be perhaps the most rewarding endeavor of my professional career.

What it Means for the State

The Washington tree fruit industry ranks first in the nation for production of apples, pears and sweet cherries.  In 2014, estimated production volume was approximately 140 million boxes of apples, 12 million boxes of pears and 18 million boxes of sweet cherries. The total farm-gate value of the state’s three major tree-fruit commodities often exceeds $2 billion annually and the tree fruit industry contributes over $7 billion to the state’s economy.  Washington apples and cherries are susceptible to significant losses due to powdery mildews and canker fungi.  My program has made significant contributions to industry success by ensuring affordable disease management programs for growers and thus healthy, disease-free fruit for consumers.

What it Means for the World

My program has made significant contributions to the worldwide understanding of the epidemiology and management of powdery mildews.  About one-third of Washington’s tree fruit crop is exported.  Through the development of innovative disease management approaches, my program also helps to ensure the availability of nutritious, disease-free tree fruit to multiple export markets.

What I Do

Washington State possesses the largest apple, cherry, and hop industries in the U.S., and my research program is focused on understanding virus and virus-like diseases that harm these crops. My lab performs basic and applied research to study:

• The biology of new and emerging pathogens
• Pathogen epidemiology
• Pathogen detection and management

In all cases we aim to understand which pathogens cause disease, how they do so, and what steps can be taken to manage them. Working with WSU extension staff I translate this research into practical solutions for sustainable crop production.

What it Means for the State

Ensuring sustainable production of specialty crops is essential to the Washington state economy, and my research program is aimed at helping producers understand and manage pathogens that threaten their crops.

For example, my program has taken the lead in alerting and educating producers and growers about the parallel outbreak of Little Cherry Disease and X-Disease, which have caused an estimated $120 million in lost sweet cherry production in Washington state in the last five years. Outputs from the collaborative research we perform on topics as diverse as disease symptoms and effects, pathogen spread, and new pathogen host species, are rapidly translated into short-term management options to slow and prevent spread, while developing long-term solutions to save this multi-billion-dollar industry from these diseases.

What it Means for the World

Cherries, apples, and hops are global crops, produced in all over the world, and many of the problems we face here in Washington state are faced by producers everywhere. The solutions we produce to identify, understand, and manage systemic diseases will have widespread and long-lasting impacts on intensive, sustainable agricultural production all around the globe.

What I Do

Our work focuses on finding ways to develop superior new potato cultivars that have better disease resistance, quality and even higher amounts of phytonutrients. We use a mix of disciplines to pursue these objectives including physiological, molecular and biochemical tools. Questions we might address include “how can we make potatoes that produce more of a certain vitamin or have increased amounts of compounds known to promote human health?” Or “what would make a potato resistant to a certain disease or pest?” We look at factors that influence potato quality, such as greening. Sometimes we conduct fundamental research trying to understand the biological basis of a trait, which is often completely unknown and the lack of such knowledge makes it more difficult to breed for new cultivars with the improved trait. So we might attempt to identify regulatory mechanisms that control the trait, such as genes, environment and transcription factors. Other times our research is more applied, for example measuring the amount of phytonutrients in new breeding lines or participating in taste tests of new lines. We participate in the largest potato breeding program in North America, the Tri-State program, which is a collaboration between the USDA-ARS, Washington State University, University of Idaho and Oregon State University.

What it Means for the State

Some estimate that by the year 2050 crop yields will need to double to provide global food security. The Columbia Basin has the highest yields of potatoes in the world and exports over 600 million dollars of potatoes annually, including to the Pacific Rim. Because of their high yields, potatoes produce a lot of calories and phytonutrients per acre, are affordable and storable. These qualities will allow potatoes to play an important role in assuring global food security. New cultivars that require less inputs, have better disease resistance and generous amounts of phytonutrients will increase sustainability and meet consumer needs.

What it Means for the World

Potatoes are grown in 170,000 acres in Washington, create 35,000 jobs and add 7.4 billion to the state economy.  Superior new cultivars that address local and emerging issues protects the competitiveness of the state’s potato industry, while also addressing evolving consumer preferences for different types of potatoes with more novelty, sustainability, visual appeal or an even higher nutritional value.

What I Do

As a Research Plant Pathologist, I am responsible for conducting integrated pest management research focused on solving real-world grower issues associated with pests on legume crops with an emphasis on diseases impacting peas, chickpea, lentil and bean. I share this research with growers, people involved in the legume industry and other scientists through publications, field days, grower and scientific meetings and workshops. I am also instrumental in educating fieldsmen and growers on how to diagnose their own disease issues in their fields.

What it Means for the State

My research has helped to identify chemical management practices that have helped Washington growers to manage Pythium seed rot and Aphanomyces root rot of pea. My research has also helped to identify resistant pea cultivars to Fusarium root rot, Fusarium wilt, Pea enation mosaic virus and Bean leafroll virus, all pathogens that can cause serious problems for dry and fresh pea production in the state of Washington. I have educated growers in Washington, Oregon and Idaho on disease diagnosis and integrated pest management approaches to manage legume diseases commonly found across these states.

What it Means for the World

My research has focused on identifying pea lines with resistant genes associated with Aphanomyces root rot, white mold, Fusarium root rot, Pea enation mosaic virus, and Pea seedborne mosaic virus that are being used by breeders worldwide to develop resistant pea cultivars to these diseases in their respective countries. Pea lines have been sent to India, New Zealand and France. Genes being identified are being used in what is called marker-assisted breeding, where a breeder can rapidly determine in his collection of lines which lines are resistant to a specific pathogen and only use those lines in their selection of lines to develop for growers. This process can accelerate the delivery of new crop plants with improved disease resistance to growers. Providing crop plants with genetic resistance to certain pathogens can reduce grower risks of crop failure and reduce pesticide applications.

Our T

What I Do

As research plant pathologist with the USDA-ARS, my focus is on new and emerging diseases of potato. In this role, I perform diagnostic analyses to identify pathogens associated with disease symptoms and also focus my research on understanding the epidemiology of specific pathogens that are affecting potato crops in the Northwestern United States, as well as around the world. To improve the general knowledge that we have on specific pathogens, I combine different approaches such as molecular laboratory techniques and analyses, greenhouse-controlled experiments and grafting practices, as well as field research. Results obtained from these experimental approaches are disseminated through industry magazines or extension publications, and peer-reviewed research manuscripts.

What it Means for the State

Over the past three years with the USDA, my research has focused on pathogens of economic importance to potato growers in Washington State, ranging from insect vectored diseases to soil borne pathogens. I have conducted field studies to assess haplotype differences of a specific pathogen in tuber disease severity and incidence, have worked to determine if a pathogen was causing purpling leaves, stem lesions, and leaf deformity in grower fields across the Columbia Basin, and am currently working to assess transmission of a pathogen through infected and/or symptomatic tuber seed pieces. I try to work with researchers and extension scientists with backgrounds in entomology, pathology and genetics/breeding to take a comprehensive approach to studying diseases of potato, thereby enabling us to gain knowledge that will be of greatest benefit to the growers throughout our state. To share the findings of my studies, I have published in grower-focused magazines and extension publications as well as presented at local meetings here in Washington State.

What it Means for the World

More than 50% of the United States commercial potatoes are grown in the Northwest, and products from these fields go to different markets both domestically and internationally. Research that improves our understanding of specific pathogens can lead to improved disease management practices, increasing tuber yield and quality at harvest, and thus, enabling growers to meet the market demands across the country and around the globe.

What I Do

As a phytobacteriologist, my goal is to understand how plant bacterial pathogens, such as fire blight pathogen, cause disease on tree fruits, how fruit trees respond to pathogen infection, what should we do to prevent this from happening, and what should growers do to mitigate the problem. I conduct both basic and applied research to understand the bacterium itself and its interaction with plants, to translate our findings into potential mitigation measures, and to recommend science-based practical ways to combat the problem.  I also provide general training to students, growers, and the general public through publications, talks, field days and workshops.

What it Means for the State

Fire blight pathogen is the first bacterium to be known to cause plant disease about 150 years ago.  A favorable weather condition in a year like 2017 could lead to disease outbreak in Washington State, which results in millions of dollars in losses and thousands of jobs in jeopardy. As a member of the tree fruit research and extension team in the state, our research to evaluate and improve the disease management tools for preventing this from happening is vital to the state. By translating the knowledge of bacterial pathogen-plant interaction into effective disease management measures could potentially reduce crop losses and increase crop yields and profitability, thus a much healthy economy of the state.

What it Means for the World

Fire blight has been spread to more than 50 countries and remains a major threat to the pome fruit tree industry nationally and globally. Our basic and applied research address significant challenges facing the tree fruit industry as a whole and specific local issues fronting tree fruit production in Washington by making ground-breaking discoveries, increasing the knowledge base for the discipline and the scientific community, and developing improved disease management strategies. Our collaborative research across the US and around the world strengthens our efforts in developing delivered results with disease management solutions and products, which are applicable to apple and pear growing regions across the globe.

What I Do

My primary role as a research scientist working with grapes is to generate knowledge and develop applications for the benefit of grape growers and society at large. The focus of my research program is on developmental and environmental factors and management practices as they influence crop physiology, productivity, and product quality of wine and juice grapes. My program addresses questions of water supply, including irrigation, as well as vineyard nutrition and mechanization throughout the summer months and cold injury during the winter months. I also teach at both the undergraduate and graduate level, as well as in online certificate programs.

What it Means for the State

My team’s work on vineyard irrigation and plant water use has led to savings of up to 30% in irrigation water while maintaining the productivity of juice grapes and improving the quality of wine grapes. One outcome of this work is the enhanced ability of growers to apply irrigation water strategically at key periods during the growing season while conserving water at other times. This is especially important as Washington’s wine industry has been expanding greatly over the last decades. Our research on the mechanization of juice grape production has led to increased crop yields and significantly reduced costs to growers. The work on grapevine cold injury has resulted in a simulation model that predicts damaging cold events throughout the winter for many grape varieties, which helps growers deploy wind machines only when and where they are needed.

What it Means for the World

Because most of Washington’s grapes are produced in the arid eastern part of the state, our work on water use and irrigation has far-reaching implications for the production of grapes and other horticultural crops in many other dry regions of the world, especially as the ongoing climatic change and population growth are associated with declining water availability in many growing regions. Our work on the changing resistance of grape varieties to cold injury throughout the winter serves as a model for grapes and other crops in many regions with cold winters. Much of this work is used by growers as a basis for decision-aid tools that help them assess and mitigate environmental risks associated with grape or tree fruit production. Financial benefits are also flowing to many rural communities, and consumers enjoy a more reliable supply of healthy grapes and their products.

What I Do

As an extension specialist, my job is to make sure unbiased, science-based information reaches grape growers. I do this through learning what is done in other areas and figuring out if those practices can also be used in Washington. I also conduct original research to provide answers to many questions related to grape production, and grape disease and pest management. In addition, I provide general training and education about grapes and grape production through regular newsletters, webinars, workshops and online certificate programs.

What it Means for the State

My research and extension programs have trained future grape industry members in basic grape production, have provided improved understanding of how to best control grapevine pests and diseases, and how to improve the long-term sustainability and production of Washington’s wine and juice grape vineyards. My program has completed applied research projects on best timing for different disease management programs (grape powdery mildew, trunk diseases, crown gall), have assisted in evaluating new sprayer technologies for pest and disease control, have developed nematode lifecycle models to better deploy nematode management practices in the vineyard, monitored phylloxera outbreaks, and have evaluated the use of rootstocks for nematode management in vineyard replanting scenarios. These activities are providing Washington state grape growers with the information they need to make long-term vineyard production decisions.

What is Means for the World

Washington state is a fairly new player to the world of grape production. But our new status means we get the advantage of learning from others’ mistakes and making innovative improvements on existing practices and technologies. We are breaking ground in understanding key grapevine diseases such as powdery mildew and crown gall, as well as providing much-needed research on nematode management for northern-climate vineyards. This work is readily applicable for grape growing regions across the globe, and are helping people make more informed, sustainable, pest management decisions.

What I Do

I conduct research to generate fundamental and practical knowledge on virus diseases affecting vineyard health and profitability. I collaborate with growers, nurseries and regulatory agencies to strengthen the grapevine planting material supply chain and implement best practices for managing virus diseases in vineyards. I share research-based knowledge with growers, vineyard employees and other stakeholders via extension and outreach for increased awareness of virus diseases and their impacts in vineyards.

I also conduct applied research for mitigating negative impacts of virus diseases in smallholder farms and organize human and institutional capacity building activities in developing countries. I teach a highly popular course, “Diseases of Fruit Crops,” to provide undergraduate students a comprehensive understanding of diseases and their management in perennial specialty fruit crops. My role also includes training graduate students and post-doctoral associates in plant virology, as well as collaboration with local educational institutions to increase opportunities in higher education and career growth for first-generation undergraduate students from impoverished communities in Yakima Valley.

What it Means for the State

Virus diseases are a significant threat to the sustainability of Washington’s grape and wine industry, which contributes an estimated $6 billion dollars to the state economy. My research empowers growers with increased awareness of virus diseases and helps them deploy smarter tactics to control these diseases in vineyards that produce high quality premium grapes. A new generation of high caliber scientists and career professionals from my program are joining the workforce to embolden the grape and wine industry. Overall, my program is contributing to steady growth of Washington’s wine grape industry, the fourth largest agricultural commodity in the state.

What it Means for the World

My research on virus diseases helps the wine industry enhance its competitiveness in an inter-connected global economy. Research-based knowledge generated from my program is advancing the science of grape virology, benefiting the global scientific community and grape industry, and drawing nationwide and international recognition to the state and WSU. My research is benefiting smallholder farmers in developing countries with practical solutions to reduce crop losses due to virus diseases and contributing to the advancement of global food security initiatives to meet the challenges posed by rapidly accelerating global population growth.