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Citing funding shortfall, advanced.farm shuts down work on apple harvester
Due to a lack of funding, advanced.farm, developers of an automated apple harvester that was close to commercialization, closed its doors last week and scuttled plans for a 2025 harvest season in Washington...
California farmer tells cautionary tale for Washington ag — Video
Cherry Institute speaker warns Washington to not follow California on policies.
Survey seeks grower costs associated with regulatory burdens and other challenges in Washington
Washington growers, here is your chance to let the state know how its regulations impact the bottom line of your business...
Employer incentives help bring injured employees back to work
Washington raises limits on employer return-to-work incentive programs.
To tariff or not to tariff? Fruit industry navigating North American export uncertainty
How would a North American tariff war impact Washington apple exports?
UPDATED: Mass layoffs of federal workers will include scientists working for the fruit industry
On Thursday, Feb. 13, the Trump administration began serious cutbacks to the federal workforce, laying off recently hired employees across numerous agencies...
Washington Agriculture Safety Day covers all things wellness on the farm
Hundreds of growers, managers, human resource employees and workers gathered Feb. 5 in Yakima, Washington, for the 21st annual Agriculture Safety Day...
Attorney offers advice for employers concerned about immigration enforcement activities
A Yakima, Washington, attorney familiar with the tree fruit industry has been dispensing some advice for employers concerned that federal immigration agents will show up at their workplaces...
Washington tree fruit industry to have its day in Olympia
As they do every year, tree fruit growers and industry officials will visit Olympia next week to bend the ear of Washington lawmakers on issues they consider critical....
Widespread wage increases for US growers
Northwest growers face a 2.9 percent rise, many other regions see steeper increases.
Growers grappling with laws, labor and lawsuits
New laws push farm labor union efforts in New York and California.
Growers getting lawmakers to tune in to labor problems
Michigan groups band together to fight rising H-2A wages.
New economic assistance fund created for specialty crop producers
On Dec. 10, the U.S. Department of Agriculture opened a new $2 billion economic assistance program for specialty crop producers..
Effects of election and judge rulings highlight labor session on final day of Washington hort show
—by Ross Courtney and Shannon Dininny Natalie Smeller of Wenatchee High School, center, judges Red
A new look at labor costs for apple growers
By crunching apple growers’ financial records, Northwest Horticultural Council hopes to draw attention to critical need for H-2A policy reform.
Longtime industry leader highlights opening morning of Washington State Tree Fruit Association Annual Meeting
Gary Grove, a soon-to-be professor emeritus of plant pathology at Washington State University, told growers they face “significant but surmountable challenges” at the Washington State Tree Fruit Association Annual Meeting at the Yakima Convention Center...
2024 pesticide residue study released for Washington apple growers
The Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission announced in a news release the recent completion of its annual study of maximum residue levels (MRLs) in apples...
DeVaney: Growers are not OK
Sometimes, it’s necessary to admit that.
Hort Show preview: Uninformed foodie fight
WSTFA keynote speaker to discuss how to push back against critics who don’t understand farming.
Rise of the orchard manager: 2024 Good Fruit Grower of the Year
Outside investment and increased need for management mark Grower of the Year Tom Gausman’s career.
More federal judges block provisions of H-2A rule
Two more federal judges have blocked parts of the new H-2A regulations intended to grant workers more protection from potential abuses and give them rights to conduct union-like activities...
Survey used to set 2025 AEWR released; Northwest growers facing $19.82 base wage
This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its annual wage survey which serves as the basis for the Adverse Effect Wage Rates the Department of Labor will set for 2025...
Good Point: Navigating a season of adversity
Northwest fruit industry gathers next month to learn from a challenging 2023–24 crop and chart better paths forward.
Judge rules Glory and Staccato cherries the same
A federal judge has decided a cherry sold as Glory is really Staccato under a different name...
Semillero de Ideas boosts prize money for second contest
Semillero de Ideas, a Washington nonprofit helping farmworkers commercialize their own inventions, is gearing up for its second innovation contest and has significantly boosted its prize money...
Penn State offers online food safety course for apple packers
Penn State Extension is offering a new online course for apple packing house operators that want to provide food safety training to employees...
Research commission releases 2024 cherry MRL report
The Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission has published its 2024 report on pesticide residues for Northwest sweet cherry production...
Despite lawsuit, most tree fruit growers subject to new Farmworker Protection Rule
While a judge’s order prompted a pause to the enforcement of new federal farmworker protection regulations for some states last month, growers in tree fruit states including Washington, Oregon, California, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania must start complying with changes related to H-2A applications at 9 p.m. on Sept. 11...
Washington launches support program for agricultural fuel users
The Washington State Department of Licensing launched its Agriculture Support Program in late August to help eligible industry members impacted by requirements in the Climate Commitment Act...
Ag tech apps with a small-farm focus
Labor apps expand reach to help growers with smaller operations.
Cloud-powered packing
New tools help fruit packers manage increasing amounts of data.
Federal judge’s ruling reinstates Washington prevailing wages for H-2A workers
A federal judge has mandated that Washington growers pay H-2A employees prevailing wages while a lawsuit over the process of determining those wages lingers on...
Low labor supply keeps Smallwood stone fruit crop small
Labor crunch limits scale of Washington stone fruit grower.
Farmers facing more worker reworkings
For third time in four years, fruit industry adjusts to H-2A changes.
Nonprofit center cultivating innovation with ag workforce
Fruit worker aims to patent picking harness with help of new nonprofit.
Apple growers facing a crisis in rising guest-worker wage rates
Michigan growers struggle to afford H-2A wage increases.
New H-2A regulations to take effect June 28
The U.S. Department of Labor has enacted updated H-2A regulations that will affect everything from terminating worker contracts to union access to bus seat belts...
Fruit industry groups focused on preventing sexual harassment
Ag safety center funds push for more training throughout the industry.
Michigan vineyards moving toward mechanization
Grape growers turn to technology and H-2A to make up for labor shortfalls.
Internship program introduces students to ag careers
Fruit company partners with local school district to launch new approach to internships, with hopes to inspire other ag employers.
High costs and low prices causing double bind for apple growers
New York growers feel squeeze on labor costs.
New tools track worker-safe weather data
Washington university experts partner to develop tools to help growers comply with new heat safety rules.
Ladder businesses still standing in orchard industry
Orchard ladder manufacturers see little business decline despite platforms and dwarfing trees.
On the spectrum, on the farm
Autistic workers can thrive in a fruit-growing environment.
Good Point: Bulletin basics for pesticide applications
New EPA program — “Bulletins Live! Two” — aims to protect endangered species from pesticides.
Disaster declaration approved for Washington cherry growers
On March 18, the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved Washington’s request for a natural disaster designation due to losses during last year’s cherry crop...
Kurrle: Taking the cause to Capitol Hill — Video
The apple industry heads to Washington, D.C., to talk trade, Farm Bill and ag labor.
Oregon disaster declaration gives cherry growers access to emergency loans
The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved Oregon’s request for a natural disaster designation after the state’s cherry growers lost an average of 35 percent of their crop...
NOSB spring meetings and comment period announced
The National Organic Standards Board will hold its annual spring meeting April 29–May 1 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with a virtual option available for those unable to travel...
Hansen: Mealybug focus for Washington vineyards
Sustainable management of grape mealybug a top priority for Washington wine industry.