Pest management transition fundedThe Washington State legislature approved $550,000 in funding over the next two years for a project to help the state’s tree fruit growers transition away from the older pesticides and employ new strategies and products to manage pests. Jim Hazen, executive director for the Washington State Horticultural Association, which represents the tree fruit industry at the state capital, said funding for the pest management transition project was a “win-win,” since it should benefit growers, orchard workers, and consumers, and should ultimately save the state money by reducing the need for cholinesterase testing of workers who handle organophosphates. […]