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Oregon State University launches COVID-19 response study
Farmers, orchardists and packing house managers in Oregon’s Hood River, Wasco and Klickitat counties are
H-2A rules remain the same, after proposed changes and lawsuits
After more than a year of proposed changes, lawsuits and “final” changes that ended up
Ohio Wine’s Donniella Winchell honored with Rich Smith award for service to the wine industry
The American wine and grape industry recognized Donniella “Donnie” Winchell, executive director of the Ohio
New York, Mid-Atlantic shows release full online schedules
Full schedules are now available for the upcoming New York Tree Fruit Conference running Feb.
2021 Cherry Institute spotlights Northwest cherry successes
Of all produce, cherries showed the highest percentage of dollar growth in March to September
Ohio Apples rebrands as Fresh Forward
Ohio Apples has rebranded as Fresh Forward, according to a news release. In recent years,
Tree Fruit Day in Olympia to go virtual this year
Add the annual Tree Fruit Day in Olympia, Washington, to the list of events going
Ag groups seek higher vaccine priority for farmworkers
Washington tree fruit industry groups joined a coalition of agricultural organizations in asking Washington Gov.
Federal government finalizes streamlined H-2A rules
After more than a year of discussions, the U.S. Department of Labor has revised H-2A
Ag groups appeal Washington’s extension of COVID-19 rules
Groups that represent agricultural employers are appealing Washington’s extension of emergency rules designed to protect
Cherry Institute and Tree Fruit Days go virtual
Series of webinars next week organized by WSU Extension feature cherry, apple and pear priorities.
Federal funding bill aids fruit industry
The recently passed legislation that funds the federal government contains a couple of nuggets that
WAVEx webinar to help grape growers do the mechanization math
The Washington State Wine Commission invites grape growers to a free webinar about the economics
Endowment allows tree fruit physiologist more research flexibility
Todd Einhorn Todd Einhorn has been named the Michigan State University Department of Horticulture’s Martin
IFTA shares details on virtual February meeting
What’s a winter IFTA meeting without that tingling sensation of cold toes during a snowy
Susan Brown awarded for work developing new apple varieties
The National Academy of Inventors has named Susan Brown as an NAI Fellow, according to
National food safety survey seeks input from produce industry
Washington State University is part of a national team of food safety researchers working on
Washington state fines Gebbers Farms $2 million for COVID-19 violations
Summer deaths of two H-2A employees spurred investigations of health and safety violations in housing and transport.
EEOC says employers may mandate the COVID-19 vaccine
Pfizer workers move the BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine into cold transport containers before it is distributed
Soil amendment Agro Gold banned in Washington, Oregon and California due to unlabeled herbicide content
Similar orders issued after testing in California and Oregon.
Grower input wanted for Penn State survey on anthracnose diseases
Penn State University is asking for grower input to help researchers understand the role of
Washington farms asked to complete COVID-19 survey by Dec. 31
The University of Washington, Washington State University and the Washington State Department of Agriculture have
AgWeatherNet looking for station thieves
AgWeatherNet officials at Washington State University suspect thieves have recently stolen two weather stations worth
WSU launches water management survey
This winter, Washington State University scientists and collaborators will survey owners of irrigated farms in
Cherry Institute to be held online Jan. 21
The 78th Annual Cherry Institute will be held Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, via electronic format,
WAEF sprayer auction goes online Dec. 1
The Washington Apple Education Foundation, WAEF, announced in a news release the start of an
NuPhy gives new life to Phytelligence tissue culture technology from WSU
The reboot, backed by Spokane-based Cowles Co., aims to focus on tree fruit industry needs for propagation and genetic testing.
Crop estimates and smoke taint talks at Day 2 of the Grape Society meeting
Grape harvest in 2020 fell far below recent averages for both juice and wine grapes
Syngenta announces scholarship program
Agricultural students in post-secondary education are eligible to compete for up to $15,000 in total
Grape Society annual meeting starts off with soil and weed management talks
A Washington State University soil scientist and a Cornell University weed scientist kicked off the
WSU finishes Plant Sciences Building in Pullman
On Nov. 16, Washington State University celebrated the opening of its new $66 million Plant
Individual and alumni volunteers recognized by Washington Apple Education Foundation
The Washington Apple Education Foundation, WAEF, presented the nonprofit’s 2020 Individual Volunteer of the Year
Washington dings more than 20 farms for COVID-19 violations
Coronavirus-related violations account for about 15 percent of Washington’s farms dinged by health and safety
“Bid for Bottles — Holiday Edition” online wine auction announced
The Auction of Washington Wines, AWW, will hold its first-ever “Bid for Bottles — Holiday
Karen Lewis named director for WSU Extension’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Unit
After more than 30 years working with tree fruit growers as an extension specialist in
WA Supreme Court rules ag overtime exemption unconstitutional
In a 5–4 vote, the state Supreme Court of Washington has ruled that agricultural workers,
CMI Orchards named 2020 WAEF Volunteer Organization of the Year
CMI Orchards receives the Washington Apple Education Foundation 2020 Volunteer Organization of the Year Award,
H-2A wages to be frozen, then tied to labor cost index
The federal government has announced plans to freeze most Adverse Effect Wage Rates at 2020
X-disease, little cherry disease impact survey needs grower input
Washington State University and Oregon State University researchers are asking for cherry growers’ help completing
USApple donates to emergency program to feed students
The U.S. Apple Association has donated $20,000 to the School Nutrition Foundation’s “Help Feed School
MSU project will update blueberry pollination recommendations
Meghan Milbrath, left, an assistant professor in the Michigan State University Department of Entomology, will
Blueberry groups hire two executives
A couple of national blueberry groups have collectively hired two new executive-level staff members. Adam
Operation eradication
The Washington State Department of Agriculture’s Asian giant hornet eradication team, wearing hornet-proof protective suits,
Oregon extends farm housing rules through winter
The state of Oregon has extended through the winter its temporary farm labor housing restrictions
Oregon COVID-19 reimbursement deadlines near
Oregon growers have until Oct. 25 to apply for reimbursement for any extra costs they
Dead spotted lanternfly found in Oregon nursery
First Pacific Northwest find illustrates the threat of the invasive vineyard pest.
US government forgoes ag wage survey
This year, the federal government will not conduct the annual Agricultural Labor Survey used to
Washington’s Candy Mountain earns AVA
Candy Mountain, located near West Richland, was deemed Washington’s newest American Viticultural Area on Sept.
Trade authorities agree to investigate blueberry imports
Blueberry associations throughout the nation have convinced U.S. trade authorities to investigate whether imports are
Wine industry seeks wildfire relief
The West Coast wine industry is asking Congress to extend a federal program that provided