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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
Pear Bureau Northwest board meeting June 2
A virtual meeting of the Pear Bureau Northwest board of directors will be held Wednesday,
Northwest cherry growers predict 238,000-ton harvest
Bloom is barely over, but Northwest cherry growers have already made their first 2021 crop
Washington’s annual Wine & Music event May 18–23
Auction of Washington Wines announced in a news release their annual Wine & Music event
Ag engineer Lav Khot to lead WSU’s AgWeatherNet
Lav Khot Washington State University announced that professor Lav Khot will serve as interim director
Oregon extends bunk bed ban indefinitely
Oregon workplace safety and health authorities have indefinitely extended temporary agricultural labor housing rules intended
Full extent of freeze damage unknown for Great Lakes fruit
Snow on apple blossoms at Beasley’s Orchard in Danville, Indiana, on April 21. Freezing temperatures
Judge limits some of Washington’s COVID-19 rules
In a ruling on April 21, a Yakima County judge struck down a few emergency
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
5-state cherry meeting to be held virtually May 19
Due to the ongoing limitations regarding the coronavirus pandemic, the annual 5-state meeting of the
Agriculture and Artificial Intelligence Study seeks survey participation
The University of Oklahoma invites participation in a survey as part of the Agriculture and
John Giumarra Jr. honored posthumously by California Fresh Fruit Association
John Giumarra Jr. The California Fresh Fruit Association, CFFA, has honored John Giumarra Jr., posthumously,
WSDA raises alarm about Japanese beetle reports in Yakima Valley
Residents and growers asked to report sightings, even from last season.
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,
U.S. House approves the Farm Workforce Modernization Act
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act with bipartisan support on
Native American Agriculture Fund applauds passage of American Rescue Plan
The Native American Agriculture Fund, NAAF, applauded the passage of the American Rescue Plan, the
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.
Fruit Logistica 2021 canceled
The Fruit Logistica Special Edition 2021, scheduled May 18–20 in Berlin, Germany, has been canceled
National Organic Standards Board meetings upcoming, NHC urges growers to comment
The National Organic Standards Board has scheduled its spring meetings in April with discussion to
Produce Safety Rule trainings available in Yakima and Wenatchee
Registration is open for Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training courses in March and April, subsidized
WineVit session focused on rootstock solutions for Washington
Wine growers around the globe rely on rootstocks to provide pest resistance, control vigor and help them adapt to site conditions. But for Washington growers who have traditionally planted own-rooted vines, trying to select rootstocks for new plantings in light of recent findings of phylloxera, rootstocks can seem like a bit of a brave new world.
AgWeatherNet to offer frost forecasts for the Washington tree fruit industry
Observed low temperatures from AgWeatherNet stations, such as these seen on March 11, will be
Washington State Senate advances overtime bill that prevents retroactive pay claims
Washington growers concerned about retroactive overtime pay liability got one step closer to certainty on
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
Northwest Farm Credit Services donates $2 million to support WSU ag research and students
A recent $2 million donation by Northwest Farm Credit Services will benefit students, bees, wine
Oberholster of UC Davis receives ASEV Extension Distinction Award
Anita Oberholster, associate specialist in enology for the University of California, Davis, Cooperative Extension has
Auction of Washington Wines plans virtual and live events in 2021
Auction of Washington Wines, a nonprofit devoted to advancing awareness of the Washington wine industry,
Judge tosses Washington wage survey, rebukes ag employers
A federal judge in Washington state has thrown out the results of a Washington agricultural
Kalcsits named endowed chair for tree fruit environmental physiology and management at WSU
Washington State University physiologist Lee Kalcsits has been named WSU’s endowed chair for tree fruit
March 16 webinar will cover modern stone fruit training systems in the Northeast
Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program is hosting a webinar on modern
IFTA meeting ends with tech talks from companies serving the tree fruit industry
Seen here in screenshots from the virtual meeting held Feb. 24, Washington State University’s Karen
Honeycrisp focus on Day Two of IFTA virtual tour
Editor's note: This story was updated to say the session recordings will be available in
Michigan ag workers eligible for vaccine starting March 1
Michigan agricultural workers, like those seen here picking apples, will become eligible for the COVID-19
AEWR expected to rise again
Editor's note: The U.S. Department of Labor has finalized the 2021 Adverse Effect Wage Rate