In today’s Ag News Roundup, wildfire smoke impacts indoor air quality, field trips available online, KN95 masks distributed to Oregon ag workers, potato industry may face economic impacts, and an Asian giant hornet found in Washington.
2018 Wildfire Smoke Increased Indoor Air Pollution
In a preliminary study conducted by Oregon State University, air pollution inside of southern Oregon homes contained high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons during the 2018 wildfire season. While many residents suspected that keeping their doors and windows shut would keep indoor air free of fire pollutants, the new findings suggest otherwise.
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OSU Extension Field Trips Available Online
Informational trips into the Hopkins Demonstration Forest in Oregon’s Willamette Valley are now being offered online. While the tours must be scheduled beforehand, they offer schoolchildren and others the chance to interact with a guide who knows the area.
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KN95 Masks Being Distributed to Oregon Ag Workers
Oregon State University Extension Service has begun handing out KN95 masks and hand sanitizer to farmworker communities. The distribution took place at 18 distribution sites in late May thanks to help from the Oregon Army National Guard and Oregon Department of Agriculture.
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Difficult Times May be Ahead for Potato Industry
Due to the coronavirus pandemic and cuts in potato contracts, some fear additional hard times may be ahead for the potato industry. The Washington State Potato Commission says COVID-19 has already had a large, negative impact on the industry as a whole.
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Asian Giant Hornet Found in Washington State
The Washington Department of Agriculture has reported the first confirmed sighting this year of an Asian Giant Hornet. It was found dead on a roadway near Custer, Washington. State labs confirmed that it was an Asian giant hornet.
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