Pete Jacoby

Pete Jacoby is a Professor and Plant Ecologist at Washington State University (WSU), affiliated with the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, the Viticulture & Enology Program, and the Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems. He leads research on water use efficiency, precision agriculture, and sustainable irrigation strategies for specialty crops, particularly grapevines. His work integrates remote sensing technologies with agronomic practices to optimize resource use in semi-arid environments.

Education: PhD (1971, University of Wyoming, Rangeland Ecology), M.S. (1968, University of Wyoming, Rangeland Remediation), and B.S. (1966, Texas A&M University, Rangeland & Forestry Sciences).

Research Interests: Jacoby’s lab focuses on subsurface micro-irrigation systems, crop water productivity, and sensor-based irrigation scheduling. Innovations like Direct Root-Zone (DRZ) irrigation have shown significant water savings (up to 85%) while maintaining yield. His team collaborates with vineyards in Washington’s Columbia Valley and Red Mountain AVAs, emphasizing practical applications for growers.

Grants & Funding: Recent grants include a National Science Foundation award ($1.2M) for sensor networks and multiple state-funded projects totaling over $700K. Research is supported by commodity groups like the WA State Grape & Wine Research Program and federal programs like USDA-ARS.

Labs & Collaborations: The Jacoby Lab is based at WSU Pullman and the Irrigated Agriculture Research & Extension Center (Prosser, WA). Collaborators include UC Davis, Oregon State University, and Shandong Agriculture University (China). Undergraduates and graduate students work on projects ranging from irrigation engineering to vine physiology.