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CapitalPress.com
Friday, January 22, 2021
People & Places
WSU entomologist seeks biocontrol for weeds
By DON JENKINS
Capital Press
Washington State Univer-
sity entomologist Jennifer
Andreas plans to soon peti-
tion the USDA to allow a
non-native insect be turned
loose on an invasive weed
that she calls, respectfully, “a
beast.”
Flowering
rush,
an
aquatic plant native to Eur-
asia, has escaped in the West,
presenting a choking hazard
to irrigation systems. Hard to
pull and tough to poison, the
weed has no natural North
American predator to check
its growth.
For almost 10 years,
Andreas and other research-
ers have been studying how
to beat back flowering rush
with “classical biocontrol,”
the science of importing a
foreign bug to fight a foreign
weed.
It’s not done lightly. Sci-
entists spend years studying
whether introduced insects
will do harm by straying off
target and killing beneficial
native plants. The payoff is
weed control without annual
herbicide applications.
“There is no zero-risk
option. If you spray there’s a
risk in that. If you do noth-
ing, there is a risk,” Andreas
said. “Biocontrol is quite low
risk.”
Andreas said she hopes
this spring to submit a peti-
tion to release Bogous nodu-
losus, a.k.a. “flowering rush
weevil.” A technical panel
will review the petition and
advise the USDA Animal
and Plant Health Inspection
Service. A decision is likely
Western
Innovator
Jennifer Andreas
Job: Director of Wash-
ington State University
Integrated Weed Control
Project
Courtesy of Jennifer Andreas
Washington State University entomologist Jennifer
Andreas directs the college’s Integrated Weed Control
Project and is involved in biocontrol research.
to be years away.
With APHIS approval,
the weevils could be let go,
probably first at Flathead
Lake in Montana, the source
of flowering rush root frag-
ments floating west into
Idaho and Washington.
In Eurasia, the weevil eats
flowering rush rhizomes, or
rootstalks, “hitting it where
it hurts,” Andreas said. She
said she’s excited to see
how the weevil will work in
North America.
“Flowering rush is sort of
a beast of a plant, and we’re
kind of losing the battle to
get rid of it,” she said.
Andreas, based at WSU’s
research center in Puyallup,
directs the WSU Integrated
Weed Control Project, a pro-
gram primarily funded by
the U.S. Forest Service.
She also leads the inter-
national Flowering Rush
Biocontrol
Consortium
and co-chairs the biocon-
trol committee of the North
American Invasive Species
Management Association.
For a question-and-an-
swer session on the associ-
ation’s website recently, she
named flowering rush her
“favorite invasive species.”
“You have to respect a
weed that is besting us at
almost every turn,” she said.
Andreas said the remark
was somewhat tongue-in-
cheek, but also true.
“I would say I have a cer-
tain respect for some of these
invasive species that are
challenging for us,” she said.
A native of Canada,
Andreas went to the Univer-
sity of Lethbridge in Alberta
Positions: Biocontrol
committee co-chair of
the North American
Invasive Species Manage-
ment Association; lead
of the Flowering Rush
Biocontrol Consortium
Education: Bachelor’s
degree University of
Lethbridge (Alberta,
Canada); master’s degree
University of Idaho in
entomology
and with the help of a “great
professor” was introduced to
the wonders of entomology.
“I think insects are incredi-
ble,” she said.
After graduating from
Lethbridge in 2000, she
enrolled at the University
of Idaho and earned a mas-
ter’s degree in entomology
in 2004.
She went to work for
WSU Extension in King
County in 2005 and later
moved to Puyallup.
The WSU program
Andreas directs promotes
controlling weeds by all
means, including biocontrol.
Most biocontrol exper-
iments fail, according to
APHIS. Sometimes trans-
planted insects don’t repro-
duce in their new environ-
ment or aren’t that effective.
According to the Centre
for Agriculture and Biosci-
ence International, the last
biocontrol agents to have
notable success in the west-
ern U.S. were a wasp and a
midge introduced in 2008
and 2009 to control Russian
knapweed.
Recently,
however,
APHIS has authorized some
promising releases.
“We did have a kind
of quiet, nothing-happen-
ing phase, but we’re taking
off again,” Andreas said. “I
think we’re getting excited
again.”
APHIS in 2019 permitted
the release of a weevil, Cer-
atapion basicorne, to attack
yellow starthistle, a weed
that damages grazing lands
in Washington, Oregon,
Idaho and California.
The prickly plant is
Andreas’ least favorite inva-
sive species. “I hate work-
ing in it. It’s so painful,” she
said.
In 2020, APHIS permit-
ted the release of a psyllid,
Aphalara itadori, to con-
trol Japanese knotweed, as
well as the related Bohe-
mian knotweed and giant
knotweed.
The insect was released
last spring in Grays Harbor,
King and Pierce counties.
Andreas will be checking in
early spring this year to see
how the insect fared over the
winter.
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New executive director joins Washington FFA
By MATTHEW WEAVER
Capital Press
The new executive direc-
tor of the Washington FFA
Association is calling on
farmers and others in agri-
culture to help grow the next
crop of leaders during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
“Hands-on experiences
are hard to deliver in a vir-
tual setting, so if any farmers,
industry reps, or supporters
have opportunities to provide
awareness and an introduc-
tion to their operation ... then
I ask you to contact me so
that I can share your informa-
tion with the teach-
inside and outside
ers,” Jason Bullock
agriculture by giving
told the Capital Press.
them leadership and
Some programs
personal
develop-
ment skills, he said.
are meeting in person,
Bullock
began
while others have not
at the association
seen their students in
Dec. 16. He replaces
person since March
Jason
Abbie DeMeerleer,
2020, he said. The
Bullock
who left in Septem-
organization will fol-
low local, state and national ber after six years.
Bullock worked remotely
health and safety guidelines,
from North Carolina before
he said.
Bullock says a partner- arriving in Lacey Jan. 4.
ship “can and should exist”
Bullock was an FFA
between the organization, member in high school. He
agricultural education and graduated from North Caro-
the industry. FFA helps to lina State University with a
prepare students for careers bachelor’s degree in agricul-
tural and extension educa-
tion and taught agricultural
education for 12 years at St.
Pauls, N.C., High School, his
alma mater.
He also taught agricul-
tural biotechnology at South-
eastern Community Col-
lege in Whiteville, N.C., then
worked as a practice manager
at a pet hospital and veteri-
nary assistant.
He began pursuing his
doctorate in agricultural and
extension education at NCSU
in 2018, and will graduate in
May 2021.
He said he will continue
Washington FFA’s current
strategic plan, and begin pre-
paring for a new plan in 2023.
“Another goal is to work
to ensure that the association
is providing opportunities to
its members, supporters and
leaders that foster diverse,
inclusive and equitable prac-
tices,” he said. “The vast dif-
ferences in schools’ sched-
ules and educational delivery
across the state will be a chal-
lenge, but it is the goal and
mission of the Washington
FFA board of directors to
work together to find a way to
provide opportunities to the
students during this unprece-
dented time.”
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From suffering to opportunity: Former refugee empowers people to farm
By SIERRA DAWN MCCLAIN
Capital Press
PORTLAND — African
refugees have started farm
businesses near Portland in
recent years that are growing
in popularity and profit.
Much of their success,
they say, can be traced to
the man who trained them
behind-the-scenes:
Eca-
Etabo Wasongolo.
Wasongolo is community
organizer at Village Gardens,
a nonprofit that promotes
economic and food resil-
ience. Each year, Wason-
golo trains about 15 refugees
how to grow and market
food. Refugees start by sell-
ing produce at Village Mar-
ket, a small grocery store.
A few have gone on to start
farm businesses, and more
are considering it.
“I want people to dis-
cover they have the poten-
tial to make some-
a massive refugee
thing, that they have
influx as 4.5 million
a certain power
people from Burundi
inside them,” said
and Rwanda fled to
Wasongolo.
the Congo.
Wa s o n g o l o ’s
Wasongolo, who
many assets equip
at the time helped
him for this work — Eca-Etabo Burundian
and
university training Wasongolo Rwandan refugees,
in agriculture, sci-
was seen as a trai-
ence and development, and tor for this work and became
his ability to speak Swahili, a wanted man. Rebels
Kibembe, Nyanja, Kirundi, searched for him and killed
Kinyarwanda, French and four relatives, including two
brothers.
English.
“It’s hard to talk about,”
His greatest asset, some
say, is his own story — said Wasongolo.
His voice broke.
because once, Wasongolo
As he, his wife Salome
was a refugee, too.
It was 1996. Civil war and their children fled, the
had erupted in the Demo- streets were filled with bod-
cratic Republic of the Congo, ies. They escaped from the
where Wasongolo’s family Congo aided by a priest
lived. The bloody genocide and nun and fled to nearby
was nicknamed “Africa’s Zambia.
Prior to the conflicts,
First World War.”
Ethnic strife before and Wasongolo had studied
during the war propelled social organizing and agri-
culture at the Higher Insti-
tute of Rural Develop-
ment and had subsequently
taught communities how to
improve their profits through
farming and entrepreneur-
ship. He had also worked for
Caritas International, a Cath-
olic relief organization, and
helped refugees.
Himself a refugee, Wason-
golo continued teaching oth-
ers to make a profit through
farming and craftsmanship.
Nearly eight years passed.
Wasongolo’s family grew,
living in camps, before their
request for U.S. asylum was
granted. The family settled
in Portland.
Around 2008, he became
involved with Janus Youth,
parent organization of Vil-
lage Gardens, and in 2010,
he became a community
organizer.
Wasongolo said he’s par-
ticularly proud of one ref-
ugee couple he trained —
Prosper Hezumuryanao and
Rosata Niyonzima, from
Burundi.
Under Wasongolo’s guid-
ance, the couple learned
to navigate American cul-
ture, grew a garden plot,
and in 2012, started their
own organic farm on Sauvie
Island. This they named Hap-
piness Family Farm, after
their daughter, Happiness.
Their business is growing,
and they have sold produce
through farmers markets,
grocery delivery services, a
community-supported agri-
culture program, or CSA,
and in local restaurants.
“You can’t imagine. From
such suffering to such oppor-
tunity. They’re doing great,”
said Wasongolo.
This month, Wasongolo
plans to meet with other ref-
ugees who are interested in
full-time farming.
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MONDAY-THURSDAY
JAN. 25-28
Dairy Forum 2021 (virtual):
Presentations will focus on leader-
ship, technology, global trade, sus-
tainability, product innovations and
navigating the political landscape.
Website: https://www.idfa.org
TUESDAY-THURSDAY
JAN. 26-28
FSCPCA-Preventive Controls
for Human Food: This FSPCA Pre-
ventive Controls for Human Food
course is the “standardized curric-
ulum” recognized by the FDA. This
course covers regulation Title 21
CFR 117 – Current Good Manufac-
turing Practice, Hazard Analysis,
and Risk-Based Preventive Controls
for Human Food. The course will go
in-depth with requirements for Haz-
ard Analysis and Risk-Based Pre-
ventive Controls based food safety
training. Course participants will
get familiar with all requirements
of Preventive Controls based food
safety plan and how to design the
plan, and upon successful comple-
tion of the course become a Pre-
ventive Controls Qualified Individ-
ual (PCQI). Cost: $750 Contact: Jane
Hokanson, 208-616-5191, jane-
hokanson@techhelp.org
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 27
Farm Transition Planning
Four-Part Workshop (virtual): It’s
never too early — or too late — to
begin securing your farm’s future. A
farm transition plan is essential to
protecting your interests and min-
imizing attorney fees, taxes, and
family stress. This free workshop
series will help you understand
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ning process. All classes are 1-4 p.m.
In partnership with the Small Busi-
ness Development Center at Clack-
amas Community College, Tualatin
youtube.com/CapitalPressvideo
SWCD will host four workshops cov-
ering the following topics:
Jan. 27: The estate planning
process and options.
Feb. 10: Strategies for having
difficult conversations.
Feb. 24: Organizing your
finances and business structure.
March 10: Preparing your oper-
ation and heirs for transition.
Information: https://bit.
ly/3gxXD4r
WEDNESDAY-
THURSDAY JAN.
27-28
University of Idaho Bean
School (virtual): 9-11 a.m. The Uni-
versity of Idaho is taking its annual
Bean School online. The Jan. 27 ses-
sion will include updates by the
Idaho Bean Commission and Idaho
Crop Improvement Association, as
well as updates on bean diseases
and the Idaho State Department
of Agriculture licensing program.
The Jan. 28 session will include con-
servation practices related to bean
production and seed-borne bacte-
rial pathogens that have quarantine
significance in the Pacific North-
west. Two pesticide applicator cred-
its are available. Participants must
register before Jan. 25. To register,
visit: https://uidaho.co1.qualtrics.
com/jfe/form/SV_06cfCiLAMJF5yjb
Index
Idaho Innovators ............................... 7-10
Opinion ...................................................6
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