Kym Pokorny

Beneficial bats help control insects in the garden

Their voracious appetite for insects turns them bats into a living pesticide that saves farmers billions of dollars a year and helps rid our backyards of insects like mosquitoes, moths, grasshoppers, flies and beetles

Kym Pokorny | May 12, 2023 | News story

Bernadine Strik remembered as 'amazing person, mentor and friend'

In 2021, Bernadine Strik received the highest honor bestowed by the International Society for Horticultural Science for her industry-changing program on berries.

Kym Pokorny | Apr 21, 2023 | News story

OSU breeding program produced series of purple tomatoes with healthy antioxidants

People liked the tomato’s novelty but the benefits from the anthocyanins in the skin were the draw.

Kym Pokorny | Apr 21, 2023 | News story

Growing peppers adds flavor to ethnic dishes

Ezequiel Lopez-Reyes, Oregon State University Extension Service Open Campus and Juntos student success coordinator, has been growing his home garden for five years. All of his bounty goes into meals he cooks with culturally important foods.

Kym Pokorny | Mar 31, 2023 | News story

Let soil temperature guide you when planting vegetables

This year, however, paying attention to soil temperature is the best way to go for knowing when to plant vegetables. An inexpensive soil thermometer helps keep planting time in perspective.

Kym Pokorny | Mar 20, 2023 | News story

OSU Extension Master Gardeners plant plots to help save Oregon silverspot butterfly

OSU Extension Master Gardeners have planted two small silverspot butterfly beds at the Master Gardener demonstration gardens in Lincoln City and Yachats to draw the silverspot to a friendly place for food and shelter.

Kym Pokorny | Mar 15, 2023 | News story

Resiliency is the theme at 23rd OSU Small Farms Conference

The conference is the premiere event organized by the OSU Extension Small Farms Program.

Kym Pokorny | Mar 3, 2023 | News story

El libro 'Su Propio Cultivo' de El Servicio de Extensión de OSU está disponible en español

The new version of Growing Your Own continues Extension’s commitment to expanding language access and accessibility,

Kym Pokorny | Mar 3, 2023 | News story

Five tips for properly planting a conifer tree

When it comes to planting conifers, timing is everything.

Kym Pokorny | Feb 17, 2023 | News story

New Oregon State agricultural economists help farmers and ranchers with their bottom line

Dan Bigelow and Tim Delbridge are assistant professors in the Department of Applied Economics and have statewide Extension responsibilities. Bigelow started Aug. 17 and Delbridge came on board Sept. 1.

Kym Pokorny | Feb 16, 2023 | News story

OSU Extension digs into the possibility of growing high-value Asian herbs and vegetables

The COVID-19 pandemic added to an increased interest in Asian medicinal herbs, but a steady increase in Asian, Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations in the Portland metro area also contributes to the rise in demand.

Kym Pokorny | Feb 7, 2023 | News story

Are you thinking of raising chickens because of record-breaking egg prices? Do your research

Raising and keeping chickens isn’t cheap so you’re not going to save money compared to buying eggs at the market.

Kym Pokorny | Feb 3, 2023 | News story

Fruit trees need attention this time of year

Whether you have one or several, or plan to plant your first fruit tree, it’s time to give them the attention needed to keep them healthy and bearing fruit.

Kym Pokorny | Jan 27, 2023 | News story

Dogs sniff out destructive voles to help farmers with control

Because of vole activity in the Willamette Valley from 2018-2021, crops disappeared, pastures were ruined and young blueberries and orchard trees girdled.

Kym Pokorny | Jan 19, 2023 | News story

7 winter-blooming plants to nourish bees

Even a small amount of habitat will sustain bees, even rare species.

Kym Pokorny | Jan 13, 2023 | News story

OSU Extension quickly mobilizes to respond to emerald ash borer discovery

Extension curated and disseminated essential information about the devastating pest and assist with initial monitoring efforts to determine how far and fast the insect is spreading in Oregon.

Kym Pokorny | Jan 12, 2023 | News story

Teenage Master Melittologist creates artwork for new Oregon license plate celebrating pollinators

Marek Stanton, 15, worked with Andony Melathopoulos, OSU Extension pollinator health specialist, and Sarah Kincaid, faculty research assistant, on the inspiration behind the drawing.

Kym Pokorny | Jan 11, 2023 | News story

Top 10 stories of 2022 cover a wide range of topics

Catch the Top 10 gardening stories of 2022.  

Kym Pokorny | Dec 30, 2022 | News story

Rare western bumblebee discovery will help scientists determine reason for decline

The discovery allows research collaborators in OSU Extension, the Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and University of Oregon to research the western bumblebee to help determine why it is disappearing and how to stop its measurable decline.

Kym Pokorny | Dec 22, 2022 | News story

Harvesting peat moss contributes to climate change, Oregon State scientist says

Decomposition  releases carbon back into the atmosphere, contributing to a warming climate.

Kym Pokorny | Dec 9, 2022 | News story

New Extension website helps solve pest and disease problems

Solve Pest and Weed Problems focuses specifically on the Pacific Northwest and prioritizes low-risk approaches.

Kym Pokorny | Nov 11, 2022 | News story

Large increase of brown marmorated stink bugs poses serious threat to Oregon crops

It’s unclear why the population of brown marmorated stink bug exploded this year. Like other insects, the population of the shield-shaped brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) varies from year to year depending on climatic factors.

Kym Pokorny | Nov 9, 2022 | News story

Control slugs now as they lay eggs to hatch in spring

Slugs aren’t crazy about winter and summer. They bail from cold or hot weather. But fall and spring are agreeable seasons for slugs.

Kym Pokorny | Oct 28, 2022 | News story

Master Beekeeper program adds groundbreaking Spanish-language track as it celebrates 10th year

It's the first program of its kind in the United States.

Kym Pokorny | Oct 6, 2022 | News story

Now’s the time to plant winter cover crops to prepare soil for next year’s vegetable garden

These hardworking plants can add organic matter and aerate the soil, protect it from compaction caused by rain, suppress weeds and reduce erosion.

Kym Pokorny | Sep 9, 2022 | News story

OSU study of native plants and pollinators presented at the largest nursery industry show in the West

Four Extension faculty and one research assistant gave presentations at the Farwest Show, which annually draws an estimated 5,000 attendees to the Oregon Convention Center and nursery tours.

Kym Pokorny | Sep 2, 2022 | News story

Lukas brings new perspective to Extension's Willamette Valley berry program

Funded in part by an endowment, Scott Lukas' new position takes on the research, teaching and outreach led for 34 years by recently retired Bernadine Strik.

Kym Pokorny | Aug 23, 2022 | News story

Don’t worry, maggots help break down compost pile

Soldier fly larvae are voracious consumers of high nitrogen materials such as kitchen food scraps and manures, as they decay.

Kym Pokorny | Aug 19, 2022 | News story

OSU Extension research shows that plastic tunnels are very good for strawberries

Field trials at NWREC and other research locations have shown that the tunnels are successful at extending the strawberry season for day-neutral cultivars.

Kym Pokorny | Aug 11, 2022 | News story

Eco-friendly lawns require forethought to attract pollinators

Transitioning from an all-grass lawn to a flowering lawn is challenging.

Kym Pokorny | Jul 15, 2022 | News story

OSU Extension outreach results in special issue of Rangelands journal

The special issue is an urgent call to action among rangeland managers and practitioners.

Kym Pokorny | Jul 4, 2022 | News story

Get ready, get set for summer weather with these tips from OSU Extension

Take a lesson from the 2021 historic heat dome and be prepared to help plants through hot and dry weather as the season progresses.

Kym Pokorny | Jun 24, 2022 | News story

OSU Extension set to release tiny wasp that targets destructive fruit fly

U.S. Department of Agriculture has permitted release of the wasp (Ganaspis brasiliensis), which attacks destructive spotted wing drosophla.

Kym Pokorny | Jun 6, 2022 | News story

Douglas County residents learn about firewise communities from OSU Extension workshop

The event was held in the field to illustrate how two residents prepared their homes and surrounding area to have a better chance of withstanding wildfire and to urge residents to organize a Firewise USA community.

Kym Pokorny | Jun 3, 2022 | News story

Experts: It’s OK to leave up bird feeders as avian flu outbreak reaches state

Currently veterinarians say there is very low risk to native songbirds from the highly pathogenic avian influenza strain.

Kym Pokorny | Jun 3, 2022 | News story

Moles, voles and gophers dig the garden

Moles, voles and gophers all create tunnels and are active underground, but what they eat and the damage they cause varies. They all improve the soil by aerating it and mixing nutrients, but sometimes their habits get them in trouble with gardeners.

Kym Pokorny | May 16, 2022 | News story

Rev up for gardening season with a plant sale

The sales are held statewide, with 19 counties holding an event this year,

Kym Pokorny | Apr 26, 2022 | News story

Extension activity book ‘a perfect fit’ for nexus of pollinator, nutrition education

"Explore the Bees of Oregon," geared to all ages, specifically provides knowledge to kids while they’re having fun

Kym Pokorny | Apr 13, 2022 | News story

Controlling perennial bindweed takes persistence

This invasive perennial makes itself at home by sinking roots as much as 9 feet into the soil and can stay as an unwanted guest for up to 20 years.

Kym Pokorny | Apr 1, 2022 | News story

Climate change results in projected shifts in plant hardiness zones

With climate change, the USDA plant hardiness zones are shifting. For instance, the 2012 map zones changed in many areas by 5 degrees.

Kym Pokorny | Mar 18, 2022 | News story

Old-fashioned sweet peas fill the garden with fragrance

Sweet peas grow best when planted during the early spring in western Oregon and a little later in the higher elevation areas east of the Cascades.

Kym Pokorny | Mar 4, 2022 | News story

Give overgrown trees a makeover with new OSU pruning video series

Knowledge is everything when it comes to pruning mature trees.

Kym Pokorny | Feb 18, 2022 | News story

OSU Extension features women in conference for beef ranchers

Funded by a grant from the OSU Women's Giving Circle, RancHER drew 120 attendees.

Kym Pokorny | Feb 17, 2022 | News story

Like diamonds, clay soils are forever

Bark, manure, leaf mold and compost are among the organic amendments commonly used to improve clay soil.

Kym Pokorny | Feb 5, 2022 | News story

Online course extends reach of OSU Extension Land Steward Program

In 2021, the Land Steward Program expanded to 18 counties led by five regional OSU Extension instructors.

Kym Pokorny | Feb 4, 2022 | News story

What are short-day and long-day plants?

To understand plant flowering, you need to get a handle on “photoperiodism,” or amount of light and darkness a plant is exposed to.

Kym Pokorny | Jan 29, 2022 | News story

OSU Extension Master Gardeners see big success with free Level Up Series

The webinars are free and geared toward experienced gardeners but with plenty of information for beginners, too.

Kym Pokorny | Jan 26, 2022 | News story

Prescribed fire training builds foundation for effective landscape restoration

OSU Extension's controlled burning curriculum, modeled after practices used by Indigenous peoples for millenia, supports wildlife habitat and plays an important part in the traditions, culture and sovereignty of tribes.

Kym Pokorny | Jan 14, 2022 | News story

Stay on top of moisture and insect damage or pay the price

What should you do if you find an ant or termite infestation? First, don't panic. Chances are the damage has been there awhile and a few more months isn't going to make any difference.

Kym Pokorny | Jan 7, 2022 | News story

OSU Extension Small Farms Program will use grants to strengthen Oregon’s food systems

OSU Center for Small Farms & Community Food Systems and the Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network received more than $800,000 in grant money.

Kym Pokorny | Dec 21, 2021 | News story