Project Description
New Equipment & Technology
Featured stories about new equipment and technology appear in this issue.
Alaska’s fruit pioneers
Goodland apples at Dan Elliott's orchard, Wasilla, Alaska.Photo by Julie Riley, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Cooperative Extension Service Alaskan apples? Spurred by a long warming
What type of new technology do you need most?
The national Tree Fruit Technology Road Map underlined the need to produce higher quality fruit at lower cost, if the U.S. tree fruit industry is
Orchard platforms gain in popularity
Gilbert Orchards in Yakima, Washington, in their first full season with orchard platforms, will use them for pruning, thinning, training, and pheromone application. They
Keeping sprays on target
Wooden donuts attached to airblast sprayers are being used to reduce air in-take in field trials as Oregon State University researchers look for ways
Another tool to manage codling moth: ULV ground pheromone sprays
Technician Duane Larson uses an ATV to apply an ultra-low volume spray. Photo courtesy of Dr. Alan Knight Growers have been clear and
Lessons in research from Australia
It's no coincidence that Australia's wine production and exports have skyrocketed in the last ten years. The accomplishment is a result of a 30-year strategic
Research: New packaging developed for ripe Bartletts
A newly developed suspended tray package (Hammock pack) is capable of protecting ripe Bartlett pears from transport vibration damage. The system can be designed for
Old technology is new in Washington State
The mog remover, owned by Jerry Czebotar, is a series of spinning rubber star wheels attached to the top of the grape harvester's conveyor
Computer on-line service connects vineyardists
Using aerial imagery maps, Ryan Wells, left, viticulturist for Icon Estates, and Brian Carter, winemaker for Apex Cellars, identify the boundaries of Apex's Outlook
Extension is key in Australian research
Australia's grape and wine research and extension, viewed by many as a model program, sets the standard for putting research into practice. For the last
Reflective material shines in trial
Washington State University scientists observed earlier harvests and larger fruit in a Rainier sweet cherry trial using white reflective material made by an Australian
Woolly apple aphid treated as quarantine pest
Woolly apple aphid colony in the greenhouse, showing merging of colonies and heavy wool production.Photo by Dr. Elizabeth Beers, WSU Wenatchee The woolly
Mud into magic
The pottery creations of Trudi Klinger are inspired by the fruit orchards of Oregon¹s Hood River Valley. Photo courtesy of Mystic Mud Studio Potter Trudi
Awards
Heuser named to IFTA Hall of Fame Wally Heuser played a major role in forming the Dwarf Fruit Tree Association. Its first meeting was held
Australia rejects cherry debris
Australia wants Pacific Northwest cherries, but not the leaves and spurs, thank you. Dr. Mike Willett, vice president for scientific affairs at the Northwest Horticultural
Wooing the global customer
The formula for success in an ever-expanding global sweet cherry market is easy to define: deliver to the consumer, with style, an extraordinary product at
California cherry acreage expands, despite constraints
Cherry plantings are likely to increase in southern California as production increases to meet demand. The state has 30,000 acres of sweet cherries, according to
Ontario vineyards fight cold with technology
Wind machines are one option growers in the Niagara region of Ontario, Canada, are pursuing as they seek to protect their vines against future bouts
Wine industry works to build research funding
There are plenty of shortcomings when examining research and development for the nation's wine and grape industry-funding cutbacks, a disconnect between industry and researchers, areas
Asian lady beetle taints wine
The multicolored Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis) is a voracious predator, feeding on aphids as well as other pests. According to information compiled by Minnesota
Choose grape varieties for region
Grape Growers of Ontario CEO Debbie Zimmerman believes the severe winter cold that's caused short crops in recent years is a wake-up call to Ontario
Pests on packed fruit
Agricultural Research Service scientists in Yakima, Washington, are testing food-grade surfactants as a new method of ridding packed sweet cherries of mites, thrips, and other
Happy crews
In addition to saving money in labor costs by using platforms in a Selah, Washington, orchard, Dave Jacques says they have happier workers. "The workers
Platforms are adaptable
In less than two years, Northstar Attachments, LLC, has manufactured ten orchard platforms for Pacific Northwest growers, each with different specifications. "No two have been
Apple Matters
The apple industry is constantly changing, and these changes can make the business of growing and selling apples even more challenging-increased pressures from international competitors,