Ross Courtney is an associate editor for Good Fruit Grower, writing articles and taking photos for the print magazine and website. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Pacific Lutheran University.
Courtney worked as a writer, photographer and video producer for the Yakima Herald-Republic starting in 2000, covering agriculture, education and local government. He was the author of the Herald-Republic‘s popular Crop Lines blog.
Earlier in his career, he worked as a communications specialist for a Pasco, Washington, company representing agricultural groups. Before that, he covered sports for the Tri-City Herald.
Courtney joined the magazine in 2015. He lives in Prosser with his family.
Follow the author — Contact: 509-930-8798 or Email
My Recent Articles
Mission: Blue nutrition
Researchers adapt organic blueberry nutrition guidelines for arid Eastern Washington.
Vaccination resources available for Washington and Oregon ag employers
The Washington State Tree Fruit Association is urging all industry employers to contact a local
Washington House passes overtime bill
The Washington agricultural overtime bill passed the state House of Representatives on April 12, offering
How stressed are hot grapes?
Researcher studies heat effects on wine grapes.
New day for DAS
Decision Aid System enters new chapter with new leader.
Fight the blight with an endophyte?
Microbes from native plants may inhibit fruit tree diseases.
Nurseries playing the guessing game
Nurseries struggle to anticipate grower demand as they adjust to the sluggish apple economy.
Mason bees ready for buzzness
Mason bee suppliers begin marketing to tree fruit growers.
Cold coat commercialization
WSU researchers move toward market for spray-on frost protection.
Washington wine industry unveils sustainability certification timeline
The Washington wine industry announced an ambitious timeline for rolling out its sustainability certification program during a March 23 webinar for WineVit, the virtual annual conference of the Washington Winegrowers Association.
COVID-19 positivity rate low for incoming Washington farmworkers
The Washington State Department of Health has contracted with Medical Teams International, a Seattle-based nonprofit,
Microwaving the weeds away
Australian engineer invents trailer-mounted weed cooker.
Washington farmworker vaccinations have begun
Fruit production companies in Washington have begun scrambling to make COVID-19 vaccination appointments for their employees, after Gov. Jay Inslee declared all agricultural workers eligible. Oregon is not far behind.
COVID rules, continued
Growers are gearing up for another season of work under coronavirus regulations.
WineVit Day 1: Wine industry offers research shout-outs, economic analysis at virtual annual meeting
In five years, the Washington wine industry’s stepped-up investment in research has yielded a new
Fungicide resistance is noticed
Researchers ask cherry growers to temporarily avoid two cherry powdery mildew fungicide groups.
Releasing research on sterile insect release
Michigan team studying sterile insect release in two states.
Drone business is on the rise
Company peaks its capacity for sterile insect release by drone.
Judge tosses Washington wage survey, rebukes ag employers
A federal judge in Washington state has thrown out the results of a Washington agricultural
Vaccination motivation
Groups spread message of coronavirus vaccine importance among farmworkers.
Help from above for tree fruit growers
Changes in climate and wages may fuel a surge in aerial applications.
Crisis communication: Engage, don’t duck
Media experts recommend proactive and transparent communication during a crisis.
Wanted: Bacterial pathologist
WSU endowment shifts priority hiring target.
X disease-free cherry trees
As X disease epidemic spurs more orchard removal, spotlight turns to protecting a healthy tree supply for replanting.
California cuts back wine grape acreage
Vineyard removals and a short 2020 crop ease the pressure, but “structural oversupply” remains.
AEWR expected to rise again
Editor's note: The U.S. Department of Labor has finalized the 2021 Adverse Effect Wage Rate
Trade authorities decline blueberry relief request
Federal trade officials have determined that imported blueberries are not hurting domestic growers, denying the
App delivers new language for labels
UW researchers develop phone apps to translate pesticide labels.
Collaborative robotics tested in tree fruit
Researchers develop platform that mixes automation with human hands.
WA 38 details shared via webinar
Managers of the commercialization of the WA 38, the Washington State University apple marketed as