Steve Castagnoli has been named the new director of the Mid-Columbia Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Hood River.  Castagnoli has been an Oregon State University Extension faculty member at MCAREC for almost 17 years, conducting outreach and applied research in pear horticulture and integrated pest management.  Castagnoli will oversee 11 research and administrative employees and several temporary employees during the growing season, and will direct operations on the station’s 55-acre experimental farm south of Hood River.  Castagnoli has served as MCAREC’s interim director since last November, following the resignation of Brian Tuck, who served as MCAREC Director for six years.  Tuck currently serves as regional administrator for OSU Extension in Wasco and Hood River counties.