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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.
Ladder businesses still standing in orchard industry
Orchard ladder manufacturers see little business decline despite platforms and dwarfing trees.
High-tech weed terminators targeting specialty crops
New machines find creative ways to kill weeds.
Tech aims to turn burn piles into profits for tree fruit growers
Can new technology help growers get paid for climate-smart practices?
WSU to hold Ravenholt symposium on sustainable wine production May 9–10
Washington State University’s Viticulture and Enology department will host a two-day symposium on sustainable wine production, new technologies and climate resilience...
Underground watering spreads across vineyards
Grower agreements help Washington State University professor scale up subsurface irrigation method.
Dialing in a more affordable soil moisture sensor
Engineering researcher developing a less expensive soil moisture sensor that uses radio waves.
Ag waste that isn’t waste
New partnership will recycle old trees and dairy waste to foster more climate-friendly farming in Eastern Washington.
Keeping pollen cool during hot weather
Overhead irrigation during blueberry bloom can mitigate extreme heat and protect the crop.
Orlando Howe, a young grower from Wenatchee, Washington
Orlando is pursuing a graduate degree in horticulture at Washington State University. He is the son of Alison and Erik Howe; his biological mother is Maria Mendoza.
Inversion conditions help inform frost forecasts
Precision frost protection research project looks at inversion events with weather towers and drones to build better models for growers.
The value of variable orchard inputs
New technology helps to make precision nutrient management easier to execute.
Washington State University launches name contest for WA 64 apple
Washington State University is seeking the public’s help to select a brand name for its latest apple release...
X-ray visions for sterile insect technique
Ag tech company pursues new codling moth sterilization method.
Research revealing grapevine root relationships
Penn State University scientists find complexity in the interactions between grapevine roots and soil microbes.
Travis and Jacob Pearson, young growers from Woodville, Nova Scotia
The brothers are third-generation farmers in the Annapolis Valley of Central Nova Scotia, Canada. They are the sons of Janette and Timothy Pearson and the grandsons of Janette’s father, Pieter van Oostrum.
Crop load comes first when managing common apple storage disorders
Nutrient plans matter, but crop load is Job 1 for avoiding bitter pit and green spot.
A new hive home for Michigan bee research
MSU center focuses on honey bee health and pollination research.
Glowing light at night helps fight fire blight
Anti-microbial UV-C light applications can fight fire blight and other diseases.
Researchers shine a light on fruitlets to guide thinning decisions
North Carolina researchers study another way to predict thinning accuracy.
Dialing in crop load data with machine-learning management
International Fruit Tree Association meeting dives into sensor systems making progress on providing accurate, actionable crop load data.
Better bee activity from hives that thrive
Good blueberry pollination requires strong honey bee hives.
Orchard pests also pose problems in the lab
Fickle pests vex entomologists studying how to kill them.
Pushback on cherry powdery mildew
After a dry-season respite in recent years, powdery mildew pressure is back in Northwest cherry orchards.
Good to Know: Sanitizing beyond the surface
New research evaluates sanitizing strategies for harvest bins and picking bags.
Mapping innovation for the Washington tree fruit industry
Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission updates its Technology Roadmap.
Entomologists study enemies of your enemy
Parasitoids pursue spotted wing drosophila to North America.
Evidence for inaction with psylla control
New thresholds for pest and predator monitoring can give growers more data for IPM decisions.
Hansen: Mealybug focus for Washington vineyards
Sustainable management of grape mealybug a top priority for Washington wine industry.
Canker menace makes a comeback
Northwest cherry growers fight against oozing outbreaks and signs of antibiotic resistance.
Kyler Riggleman, a young grower from White Salmon, Washington
Kyler, a fourth-generation farmer in the White Salmon Valley, graduated from Washington State University with a fruit and vegetable management degree. He’s married to Payton and is the son of Dena and John Riggleman.
Season-long sprays support organic storage success
Researchers offer best practices for ensuring long-term health when storing organic apples.
Swipe right for easier pathogen detection in the vineyard
Powdery mildew project strengthens framework for fungicide resistance testing.
New tool will help growers keep better track of chilling hours
Purdue University’s Midwestern Regional Climate Center has launched an interactive tool fruit growers can use to more closely monitor accumulated chilling hours...
Science puts a spotlight on leafhopper species
One leafhopper species appears responsible for most of Washington’s X disease transmission. Scientists are studying it from every aspect to offer growers more sustainable control strategies.
It pays to prevent further X disease infections
A new economic analysis shows the value of removing trees infected with X disease.
Washington’s Smart Orchard gets a new home
Tree fruit industry researchers, growers and technology vendors have selected a young, modern apple orchard near Mattawa, Washington, for the next iteration of the Smart Orchard Project...
Improved virus detection for imported planting stock
New technology could move new varieties through quarantine much quicker.
IFTA honors leaders amid research updates
On the final day of the International Fruit Tree Association’s annual meeting in Yakima, Washington, Feb. 14, the group took a break from orchard innovation and technology talks to honor members for their significant contributions to the industry...
Mind your sprayer maintenance —Video
Even smart technology and computer vision requires sound gauges, nozzles and fans on sprayers.
DIY vineyard rootstock trials
Experts encourage wine grape growers to seek their own rootstock answers.
Hansen: Smoke science research advances
Website will provide latest smoke resources to the wine industry.
Survey to help develop sustainability metrics for Pacific Northwest apple industry
Apple growers in the Pacific Northwest are needed to participate in a survey that will support the development of a life cycle assessment and help develop region-specific solutions to address climate change challenges...
Discolor diagnostics for storage disorders
Cornell studies storage disorders in MAIA-1 apple.
Apple industry investigating benefits of dynamic storage technology
Grant will support research into best practices for dynamic controlled atmosphere storage.
Checking out cherries in storage
Successful storage of Washington cherries needs more study. Washington State University’s Carolina Torres is leading the way.
Planar peaches ripe for robotic picking
California farm readies for robots with vertical trellis system.
New optical sorter has cherry research lining up with the industry
Washington State University cherry breeding team ready for data from new sorting line.
Elusive solutions for storage disorders
Nova Scotia studies ethylene inhibitors in Honeycrisp and Ambrosia.
Automation advancements in apple harvesting — Video
Robot harvest startups make strides.