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Grant funds available for X-disease and little cherry disease tree removal costs
Washington State University Extension, in partnership with county conservation districts and pest boards, announced availability
NIFA invests $30 million for organic production research
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture announced an investment of
WA 38 preharvest field days scheduled Sept. 17 and 22
Washington State University Extension announced two WA 38 field days scheduled in September. Registration is
Northwest growers anticipate average pear crop of 16.1 million boxes
Northwest pear producers anticipate a crop of 16.1 million standard box equivalents, on par with
Congressmen request USDA support in battle against little cherry disease
U.S. House Republican Reps. Dan Newhouse of Washington and Glenn “GT” Thompson of Pennsylvania wrote
Propane orchard weed burners exempted from Washington burn ban
The state of Washington has exempted orchard weed control by propane burner from a statewide
U.S. Apple revises crop forecast to 244 million bushels
Editor's note: This post was updated on Friday, Aug. 20 with the U.S. Apple Association's
EPA moves to ban chlorpyrifos following court order
This week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to ban the use of the
2021 cherry pesticide residue study now available
The 2021 cherry pesticide residue study from the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission is now
EPA settles chemical accident prevention planning violations at eight Yakima Valley cold storage facilities
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has settled alleged civil chemical accident prevention and preparedness violations
John Carter: 1946–2021
John Carter, a longtime cherry grower in The Dalles, Oregon, and former Good Fruit Grower
Jim Koempel: 1945–2021
Longtime orchardist Jim Koempel died July 26 at his home in Dryden, Washington, following a
Gebbers Farms to invest nearly $2 million in worker housing and local communities as part of mediation agreement
Gebbers Farms announced a successful settlement with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries for alleged
MSU opens West-central Michigan research station
The Earl & Linda Peterson West Michigan Research Station will conduct mainly tree fruit and
Computer vision
Michigan Pomesters held its 10th annual RidgeFest, a tour of orchards on western Michigan’s Fruit Ridge, on July 29.
On hot viticulture field day, cooling system an appropriate highlight
Washington State University researcher Ben-Min Chang, left, warms up a vineyard temperature sensor to trigger
Smart Orchard project hosts field day on Friday
The Smart Orchard project — a collaboration to understand the value of sensors and other
Blueberry exports reach China
A retailer in China held a ceremony this month to mark the first promoted import
WSU’s Tom Collins named ASEV president
Tom Collins, assistant professor at the Washington State University Wine Science Center, has been confirmed
New app available for little cherry disease and insect scouting
Washington State University and Oregon State University announced in a news release the availability of
Risk mitigation strategies for little cherry-driven removal and replant
There’s no down time after harvest for cherry growers battling little cherry disease. They urgently
Northwest cherry growers estimate heat caused 20 percent crop loss
Cherry growers in the Northwest estimate the recent record-setting heat wave will cost them about
Goose Gap is Washington’s 19th American Viticultural Area
The Goose Gap American Viticultural Area is Washington state’s 19th AVA and lies within the
Lake Ontario Fruit Program announces in-person summer tour
After a two-year hiatus, the Lake Ontario Fruit Program’s Summer Fruit Tour will resume with
Private equity firm acquires Ste. Michelle Wine Estates for $1.2 billion
On Friday, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates’ parent company, the tobacco giant Altria, announced its plans
WSTFA annual meeting and NW Hort Expo in person this year
The Washington State Tree Fruit Association and NW Hort Expo announced in a news release
Abundant Robotics closes shop
Abundant Robotics, the tech startup that appeared to be leading the race to commercialize a
State traps hundreds of Japanese beetles in Yakima Valley; asks public to help by reporting and trapping
The Washington State Department of Agriculture caught hundreds of Japanese beetles on the first day of checking the recently placed beetle traps, according to a news release.
Cherry growers harvest at night to beat record-setting heat wave
Cherry growers in the Pacific Northwest are racing to beat a record-setting heat wave, many of them harvesting in the dead of night.
Heat wave hits the Northwest
It’s hot in the Pacific Northwest and expected to get even hotter as the region
Auction of Washington Wines hosting second annual virtual wine tastings
Auction of Washington Wines announced its second annual virtual wine tasting series with Karen MacNeil,
Confirmed sighting of Asian giant hornet in Snohomish County
Entomologists from the Washington State Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed
Drew Lyon named interim chair of WSU department of crop and soil sciences
Drew Lyon Drew Lyon, Washington State University’s endowed chair in small grains extension and research,
Two new AVAs in Washington
The federal government has formally recognized two new American Viticultural Areas in Washington, bringing the
Michigan Apple Committee elects new officers
The Michigan Apple Committee’s board of directors recently elected a new chair and vice chair
Virtual ASEV National Conference and ASEV-NGRA Precision Viticulture Symposium June 21–24
The American Society for Enology and Viticulture announced in a news release it will host
WSTFA annual scholarship golf tournament on Aug. 31
The Washington State Tree Fruit Association announced in a news release its 28th annual scholarship
Blueberry growers needed for pollination survey
As part of a project to improve blueberry pollination, a nationwide research team is trying
Washington tree fruit industry awards over $1 million in scholarships
The Washington Apple Education Foundation (WAEF) announced its 2021 scholarship recipients, with 332 students sharing
Before vaccinations took effect, COVID-19 spread on Washington farm
A total of 45 employees tested positive for COVID-19 on May 27 at Gilbert Orchards
Washington softens COVID-19 restrictions for farmworker housing
In light of high vaccination rates among Washington’s farmworkers and shifting federal guidelines about coronavirus
Washington warns about dry conditions, joining much of the Western U.S. facing dire drought
The state of Washington issued a drought advisory covering most of the state, following an unusually dry spring.
Koenig named interim dean for WSU CAHNRS
Rich Koenig Rich Koenig has been named interim dean of the College of Agricultural, Human,
USApple plans in-person conference in August
Citing widespread COVID-19 vaccinations and the re-opening of Chicago, the U.S. Apple Association's Board of
Cherry growers gather for annual pre-season meeting, predict 222,000-ton crop
Northwest cherry producers estimate they will ship 222,000 tons of sweet cherries in 2021, they
Orchard harvest robots among the 13 tech companies participating in Western Grower’s automation initiative
With a twist and a pull, a three-fingered end effector on FFRobotics’ picker plucks a
Hoard hired as new regional marketing manager for Pear Bureau Northwest
Michele Hoard Pear Bureau Northwest, a nonprofit marketing organization promoting fresh pears grown in Washington
Virtual Honeycrisp meetups scheduled June 3, June 17 and July 1
A three-part series of conversations between Honeycrisp growers and extension/research specialists is scheduled June 3, June
National Black Farmers Association scholarship deadline June 15
The National Black Farmers Association announced in a news release the launch of the 2021–22
Washington extends and updates coronavirus worker housing rules
Washington workplace health and safety authorities have extended emergency rules for operating on-farm worker housing