Jim Owen
Assistant Professor
Nursery Crops Research and Extension
15210 Miley Road
Aurora, OR 97002
Tel: 503-678-1264 ext 124
Fax:503-678-5986
Email: Jim.Owen@oregonstate.edu

Ph.D. Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, 2006
M.Sc. Environmental Science, University of Rhode Island, 2002
B.Sc. Plant and Soil Science, University of Kentucky, 1999

          The United States nursery industry is one of the leading crop sectors in U.S. Agriculture with 3.97 billion dollars in gross sales in 2003. Forty three percent of multibillion dollar US nursery industry is located along the western seaboard in California (25%), Oregon (16%) and Washington (2%). The west coast is a national leader in water quality protection with regional concerns in San Diego County (CA), Willamette Valley (OR) and Puget Sound (WA) resulting in legislation that brings new challenges to west coast growers affecting cultural practices and management decisions. Water protection is at the forefront of Oregon legislation with the implementation of Oregon Senate Bill 1010 for agricultural water quality management and Water Rights governed by Oregon Water Resources Department. The Oregon nursery industry is striving to keep up with current national and state regulations, but needs additional research and knowledge to continue environmental stewardship while maximizing profits through increased production efficiency. Ninety percent of the $877 million dollar Oregon nursery industry is consolidated in the Willamette valley, located within a 50 mile radius of the North Willamette Research and Extension Center (NWREC). Oregon State Universities' North Willamette Research and Extension Center serves the Oregon nursery industry, educating and conducting research. My research and extension program focuses on environmentally sound management practices in nursery production including substrate, nutrient, and water management with the goal of increasing crop efficiency. My goal is to assist nursery growers to increase production efficiency while minimizing environmental impact through basic and applied research that can be readily utilized.

          My position (FTE: 70% Research / 30% Extension) is to develop a progressive, forward-looking research and extension program for the Oregon nursery crop industry with an emphasis on research on environmental issues related to nursery production as well as biotic or abiotic factors limiting plant production or quality. This program will emphasize integrated container production systems: propagation, production, and post-production problems of plants in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.