Pacific Northwest Vegetable Extension Group

of Washington State University, Oregon State University, and University of Idaho

About the Team


The Pacific Northwest Vegetable Extension Group includes members from the University of Idaho, Oregon State University, Washington State University and USDA-ARS. Specialists contribute their expertise in plant pathology, horticulture, and entomology.

award-2-2012
The Pacific Northwest Vegetable Extension Group received the 2012 Interdisciplinary Team award from the WSU College of Agriculture, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS); from left, Carol Miles (horticulturist), Dan Bernardo (CAHNRS Dean), Debbie Inglis (plant pathologist), and Lindsey du Toit (plant pathologist).


The PNW VEG was started in 2001 by Debbie Inglis (dainglis@wsu.edu), WSU Vegetable Pathologist, with eight members from WSU. The team has expanded significantly over the years to include vegetable specialists in Oregon and Idaho. Debbie Inglis and Lindsey du Toit (dutoit@wsu.edu), WSU Vegetable Seed Pathologist, co-led the team for many years until Debbie retired from WSU in December 2018. Lindsey now leads the team. Other members include:

– Chris Benedict (chrisbenedict@wsu.edu), Extension Educator, Washington State University Extension, Whatcom Co., 360-676-6736.

– Rachel Bomberger (rachel.bomberger@wsu.edu), WSU Plant Diagnostician, WSU Plant Pest Diagnostic Clinic, WSU Pullman, 316 Johnson Hall, Pullman, WA 99164-6430. 509-335-3292, .

– Kristine Buckland (kristine.buckland@oregonstate.edu), Assistant Professor, Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University North Willamette Research and Extension Center, 15210 NE Miley Rd, Aurora, OR 97002-9543, 503-506-0955.

– Mike Derie (derie@wsu.edu), WSU Scientific Assistant in the Vegetable Seed Pathology Program (with Dr. Lindsey du Toit), WSU Mount Vernon NWREC, 360-848-6141.

– Jeremiah Dung (Jeremiah.Dung@oregonstate.edu), OSU Assistant Professor, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, OSU Madras COARC, 850 NW Dogwood Lane, Madras, OR 97741, 541-475-7107.

– Ken Frost (kenneth.frost@oregonstate.edu), Assistant Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University Hermiston Agricultural Research & Extension Center, 2121 South 1st Street, Hermiston, OR 97838. 541-567-8321 x105.

– Jenny Glass (jennyglass@wsu.edu), WSU Plant Diagnostician, Plant & Insect Diagnostic Laboratory, WSU Puyallup REC, 253-445-4582, .

– Babette Gundersen (gunde@wsu.edu), WSU Agricultural Research Technologist, WSU Mount Vernon NWREC, 360-848-6135.

Phil Hamm (Philip.B.Hamm@oregonstate.edu), OSU Extension Plant Pathologist, Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center, 541-567-8321 ext 110.

Clive Kaiser (Clive.Kaiser@oregonstate.edu), Professor, Department of Horticulture, and Interim Director, Oregon State University Hermiston Agricultural Research & Extension Center, 2121 South 1st Street, Hermiston, OR 97838. 541-567-6337 x135 or 541-656-8090.

– Kasia Kinzer (kkinzer@uidaho.edu), Assistant Professor and Extension Seed Potato Specialist, University of Idaho - Idaho Falls REC, 208-529-8376, extension 16.

Dierdre Griffin LaHue (d.griffin@wsu.edu), WSU Assistant Professor and Soil Scientist, WSU Mount Vernon NWREC, 16650 State Route 536, Mount Vernon, WA 98273-4768, 360-848-6127.

Gabriel LaHue (gabriel.lahue@wsu.edu), Clinical/Research Assistant Professor of Soil Science, WSU Mount Vernon NWREC, 16650 State Route 536, Mount Vernon, WA 98273-4768, 360-848-6146.

Scott Lukas (scott.lukas@oregonstate.edu), Assistant Professor, Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University Hermiston Agricultural Research & Extension Center, 2121 South 1st Street, Hermiston, OR 97838. 541-567-6337 x135 or 541-656-8090.

– Don McMoran (donaldm@co.skagit.wa.us), WSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, WSU Extension Skagit County, 360-428-4270 ext. 225.

– Justin O’Dea (justin.odea@wsu.edu) Regional Agriculture Specialist, Washington State University Clark, Cowlitz, and Skamania County Extension, Vancouver, WA, 360-397-6060 ext. 5701 (office).

Hanu Pappu (hrp@wsu.edu), WSU Virologist, WSU Pullman, 509-335-3752.

Ed Peachey (peacheye@hort.oregonstate.edu), OSU weed scientist/horticulturist, Corvallis, OR, 541-737-3152.

– Lyndon Porter (lporter@pars.ars.usda.gov), USDA-ARS Research Plant Pathologist, WSU Prosser IAREC, 509-786-9237.

– Melodie Putnam (putnamm@science.oregonstate.edu), Director, Oregon State University Plant Clinic, 1089 Cordley Hall, 2701 SW Campus Way, Corvallis, OR 97331-2903, 541-737-3472.

– Naidu Rayapati (naidu@mail.prosser.wsu.edu), WSU Virologist, WSU Prosser IAREC, 509-786-2226.

– Stuart Reitz (Stuart.reitz@oregonstate.edu), Professor and Extension Faculty, Cropping Systems, Department of Crop and Soil Science, Malheur County Extension, Oregon State University, (541) 881-1417.

Hannah Rivedal (rivedalh@oregonstate.edu), Plant Disease Diagnostician, Oregon State University Hermiston Agricultural Research & Extension Center, 2121 South 1st Street, Hermiston, OR 97838, 541-567-8321 ext. 120.

Silvia Rondon (silvia.rondon@oregonstate.edu), OSU Assistant Professor and Extension Entomologist, Plant Pathology Diagnostic Lab, Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center, 541-567-8321, .

– Kylie Swisher (Kylie.Swisher@ARS.USDA.GOV), Plant Pathologist, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research Unit, 24106 N. Bunn Rd., Prosser, WA 99350; 509-786-9362.

– Mike Thornton (miket@uidaho.edu), UI Superintendent, Southwest Idaho R&E Centers, 208-722-6701 ext 211.

– Tim Waters (twaters@wsu.edu), WSU Area Extension Educator, WSU Benton/Franklin County Extension, 509-545-3511.

– Erik Wenninger (erikw@uidaho.edu), Assistant Professor, Department of Plant, Soil and Entomological Sciences, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Idaho, Kimberly Research & Extension Center, 3806 N 3600 E, Kimberly, ID 83341-5076. (208) 423-6677.

– Carrie Wohleb (cwohleb@wsu.edu), WSU Extension Educator, Horticultural crops, including potatoes, vegetables and vegetable seed crops, WSU Grant & Adams Counties Extension, 509-754-2011 ext 413.

– James Woodhall (jwoodhall@uidaho.edu), Plant Pathologist, Parma Research & Extension Center, University of Idaho, 208 722-6701.



Photo of Original PNW Vegetable Pathology Team
Original members of the ‘WSU Vegetable Pathology Team’ initiated in 2001, which expanded into the tri-state ‘PNW Vegetable Extension Group’. Back row (l-r): Debra Inglis, Carol Miles, Ellen Bentley, Dyvon Havens, Erik Sorensen, Babette Gundersen, and Gary Pelter.
Front row (l-r): Jenny Glass and Lindsey du Toit.

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WSU Mount Vernon NWREC, 16650 State Route 536, Mount Vernon, WA 98273-4768, 360-848-6120
Contact Us: Lindsey du Toit and Carol Miles