Faculty

Extension Small Farms Program

My responsibilities include to develop and lead research and outreach programs that integrate chemical, cultural, and mechanical weed control measures using new or novel approaches for weed management in the wheat-based production systems of eastern Oregon. They will focus on weed management issues of critical importance in dryland cropping systems, including fallow based systems, with the intent to foster adoption of best practices leading to effective weed control, while preserving the environment and maintaining or improving crop yields.

My research program focuses on development and support of weed management tactics that address grower economic growth while enhancing environmental stewardship for a viable and sustainable agriculture. I believe that understanding weed biology and ecology is a key to effective weed management in agricultural fields. Currently, we have ongoing studies on weed management in dry bulb onions, sugar beets, corn, potato, alfalfa, and dry beans in the irrigated fields of Eastern Oregon.

Dryland Cereal Production

Stephen Machado leads the OSU's long-term research activities at CBARC Pendleton, CBARC Moro, and in Heppner in eastern Oregon. He is the Dryland Cropping Systems Agronomist for the semiarid Northcentral and Northeast Oregon. His responsibilities include establishing research priorities, developing and executing comprehensive research leading to more sustainable dryland cropping systems in semiarid eastern Oregon. Stephen conducts cropping systems research to develop economically and biologically sustainable agricultural practices for cereals, legumes, and new crops. Specific research work includes but is not limited to crop rotations, long-term experiments, soil organic matter, alternate crops, drought tolerance/resistance and disease interactions, site-specific farming, organic farming, and biochar. His main carrier interests are in solving agricultural problems to ensure sustained food production and to alleviate hunger in the world without adverse effects to the environment.

The focus of my position is to conduct applied research and to develop nutrient and lime recommendations that improve nutrient use efficiency by large acreage crops grown in Oregon. The crops of primary focus are on grass grown for seed, cereals, and potatoes, with a secondary focus on minor crops (other seed crops, peppermint, forages, vegetables, berries, etc.).

My research program is focused on developing soil fertility research efforts that are statistically sound and address current soil fertility needs in Oregon large acreage field crops. Research interests include fertilizer response, nitrogen mineralization, acidification caused by nitrogen fertilizers, lime response, plant nutrient uptake, and soil nutrient dynamics.

Nutrient & water management, crop production, cropping system, cover crops, organic amendment, environmental quality, soil health, soil fumigation, roots, & tillage systems

Responsible for research and extension programming related to cropping systems in Malheur County

IPM

Ecology and management of insect vectors of plant pathogens

My applied research and extension program focuses on developing practical, science-based solutions to weed management challenges in Oregon field crops. My research interests include herbicide resistance, herbicide fate in the environment and non-target impacts, integrated weed management, and weed biology and ecology.

Extension Agronomist with field crop responsibilities in Union, Baker, and Wallowa Co.