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Washington further loosens COVID housing restrictions
Washington authorities have pulled back many of the temporary farm labor housing restrictions designed to
Blueberry councils hire Joe Vargas as director of business intelligence
Joe Vargas has been hired as the director of business intelligence for the U.S. Highbush
USDA announces disaster relief funds available for 2020 and 2021 losses
On May 16, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the availability of approximately $6 billion
Growers reduce Northwest cherry crop estimate at five-state meeting
Northwest sweet cherry growers are predicting a 2022 crop of 13.6 million 20-pound box equivalents,
Pear industry to gather in Portland on June 1 and 2
The Pear Bureau Northwest is inviting pear growers to its 90th annual meeting, which will
Northwest Cherry Growers releases first crop estimate
Editor's note: This story has been updated to the correct 2021 volume shipped. After mid-April
Washington Wine allocates nearly $1 million for wine research
The Washington State Wine Commission announced in a press release it has awarded almost $1
Wafla hires CEO, communications director
Wafla, a nonprofit farm labor association based in Lacey, Washington, has named Enrique “Rick” Gastelum
How to check for apple bud damage on the tree — Video
Looking for apple bud damage? See how to quickly cut and evaluate apple buds on the tree and identify flower part damage.
Wendy Powers named WSU ag dean
Wendy Powers Wendy Powers of the University of California has been named the next dean
CIAB names Heather Weber new executive director
The Cherry Industry Administrative Board (CIAB), the tart cherry industry’s federal marketing order, has named
NCAE to hold heat stress webinar April 28
The National Council of Agricultural Employers will hold a webinar in late April about the
Growers huddle to discuss cold strategies
Snow covers cherry blossoms in Selah, Washington, on April 12, after a cold front brought
WAVEx webinar April 20 to focus on phylloxera
Washington wine grape growers are invited to learn about the latest phylloxera research findings during
Oregon orchards needed for wasp release
Oregon State University entomologists have some parasitic wasps in need of a home. The researchers
Blueberry industry leadership program launched
The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council announced in a news release the launch of a new
Oregon and Washington spray program workshop April 5; registration deadline March 28
Oregon and Washington grape growers can still register for the “Building Better Spray Programs for
Washington state to survey growers about perceptions of commodity commissions
The Washington State Auditor’s Office is conducting an audit of the effectiveness of the state’s
Blueberry council seeks nominees for eight state member positions
The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council announced in a news release the council is seeking nominations
Precision Viticulture Demo Day April 13 in Salinas, California
In partnership with the National Grape Research Alliance, the American Society for Enology and Viticulture
USApple publishes pollinator best-practices guide for apple growers
The U.S. Apple Association announced in a news release the publication of a new guide,
CMI Orchards announces certification with Equitable Food Initiative
A major Washington grower, CMI Orchards, recently announced that one of its primary growers, McDougall
Bruce Hollabaugh: 1980–2022
Pennsylvania grower leaves a lasting legacy.
Record price of $375 per ton set for canning pears is welcome news to start the season
Northwest Bartlett pear growers and processors are all going into the 2022 growing season with
NOSB spring meeting comment period now open
The Northwest Horticultural Council announced in a news release the National Organic Standards Board will
USApple launches online game to show the importance of ag labor
The U.S. Apple Association announced in a news release the launch of Apple Quest, an
Yakima Valley fruit company E.W. Brandt & Sons announces expansion
E.W. Brandt & Sons, a Yakima Valley, Washington, fruit company that owns RemBrandt Masterpiece Fruit,
WSU releases Asian giant hornet guide for beekeepers
Two Washington State University entomologists have released a guide for beekeepers to recognize and even
War in the heart of Europe’s apple production region may change the global picture for apple exports, according to Washington Apple Commission
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is not just a humanitarian and political crisis, it’s also
Okanogan County apple maggot boundaries to remain unchanged in 2022
Apple maggot quarantine boundaries in Okanogan County, Washington, will remain the same this year, while
Year of the Apple Art Contest for Washington high school students
The Washington Apple Education Foundation announced in a news release a May 1 deadline for
Spotted wing drosophila advisory group forming
Washington State University Extension announced in a news release the formation of a spotted wing
“Feeling the Heat” webinar for Pacific Northwest tree fruit Feb. 28
The Okanagan Horticultural Advisor’s Group and BC Fruit Growers’ Association announced in a news release
Russel Gleason: 1929–2022
Russel Scott Gleason, longtime Yakima Valley orchardist, died Feb. 6. Russel Gleason According to an
WSDA workshop March 8: IPM Practices for Tree Fruit in Washington State
The Washington State Department of Agriculture Plant Protection Division and Yakima County Horticultural Pest and
Amelanchier rootstocks lead OSU winter hort meeting
Various Amelanchier rootstocks seem to resist the phytoplasma that causes pear decline much better than
IFTA Day 3: Pennsylvania by conference room
Michigan State University Extension specialist Anna Wallis discusses chemical thinners at the International Fruit Tree
IFTA Day 2: Pennsylvania by bus
Pennsylvania grower Blake Slaybaugh, right, discusses pruning techniques and rootstocks with members of the International
Industry awards cap WineVit conference
Todd Newhouse, owner of Upland Vineyards, receives the Erick Hanson Memorial Winegrape Grower of the
Washington State Fruit Commission board position up for nomination
One Commissioner position to the 17-member Washington State Fruit Commission board of directors will be
Washington’s own sustainability program kicks off at WineVit
It was a packed house on Wednesday, Feb. 9, at WineVit for the session focused on the launch of Washington’s new sustainability certification program, SustainableWA. That’s a great sign, speakers said.
Apple Root to Fruit webinar March 1
The Cornell Cooperative Extension fruit team announced in a news release a nationwide Specialty Crop
WineVit opens with grand tasting of disease-resistant cultivars and updates from breeding programs
Washington State University viticulturist Michelle Moyer leads a grand tasting focused on disease-resistant cultivars on
WSU to hold organic decay management workshop online March 9
Washington State University will hold a postharvest decay management workshop focusing on organic techniques, online
Processed Pear Committee nominations on March 2
Nominations for positions on the Washington/Oregon Processed Pear Committee will take place during an industry
Northwest Horticultural Council welcomes new technical communications manager
The Northwest Horticultural Council has hired Dan Langager as its new technical communications manager. For
Blueberry council launches Alexa “skill”
Alexa now knows her blueberries. In mid-January, the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council launched a “skill”
Abundant reboots: A new startup launches crowdfunding to resurrect vacuum apple harvester technology
A venture capital fund and technology incubator hopes to resurrect the apple harvesting robot formerly
Washington Apple Education Foundation hires new executive director
Faviola Barbosa The Washington Apple Education Foundation announced in a news release the hiring of
New York set to lower overtime threshold to 40 hours
On Jan. 28, New York’s Farm Laborers Wage Board decided to lower the state overtime