One of Ten & Columbia River Basin Salmon Stocks

The USDA has named WSU’s R.J. Cook Agronomy Farm in Pullman as one of just ten long term agroecosystem research sites in the country. These sites are designated by the USDA Agricultural Research Service to research queries associated with the conditions, trends and sustainability of agricultural systems and resources across the United States. Cook Farm was established by a team of ARS and WSU scientists involved in direct-seed cropping and precision agricultural research.

Over the next two months the Northwest Power and Conservation Council will consider ecoindependent scientific assessments and testimony from an international group of proponents and others regarding the potential value Pacific Ocean research can provide in efforts to recover imperiled Columbia River basin salmon stocks. Research projects have been funded to evaluate salmon once they emerge from the Columbia River as juvenile fish, and identify any factors affecting their survival in saltwater.

Northwest Ag’s Greg Martin has fish return forecasts for 2012.

MARTIN: Favorable ocean conditions are the primary reason for predicted increased salmon returns to the Columbia and Snake rivers. An estimated 317,000 coho are expected to return to the Columbia River this year along with about 742,500 summer and fall chinook. Washington coast coho stock forecasts are generally higher than last year, although Puget Sound coho forecasts are generally lower.

I’m Lacy Gray and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Northwest Ag Information Network.