Project Description
Orchard Equipment and Irrigation
Featured stories covering tree fruit and grape orchard equipment, and irrigation techniques appear in this issue.
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Promising pear rootstocks
Researchers study Amelanchier and quince selections as pear rootstocks for Pacific Northwest.
Irrigation effects on wine
Deficit irrigation enhances color and fruitiness of wines.
Honeycrisp is still an enigma
Growers have yet to unlock the horticultural secrets of growing Honeycrisp in a warm climate.
Automated pruning with robotics
Robots can follow pruning rules as well as humans, but a key was writing the rules.
Kennewick packer earns certification
Columbia Fresh Packing, an apple and cherry packer in Kennewick, Washington, has received U.S. Department of Agriculture certification for Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling
Good to Know: Maintain good soil structure
Weed mulch plus gypsum keep surface soil soft, permeable, and well-aerated
New Zealand wind machine is now available in U.S.
The Tow & Blow wind machine. Chamberlin Agriculture A portable wind machine developed and manufactured in New Zealand is now being distributed in the
Soil moisture can be depleted by spring
“In years when we have dry winters, you may need both a fall and early spring irrigation.” — Hemant Gohil
Soil moisture critical at bud break
Sap flow, or bleeding, is a good thing in your vineyard in early spring. Washington State University Even a two-week delay in filling
Growers get tree audits
Fruit Rights Australia Inc., a company set up a year ago to deter illegal propagation of stone fruit varieties, announced recently that growers Steve and
Percolation barriers could enhance water retention
Subsurface Water Retention Technology could revolutionize irrigated agriculture.
Nova Scotia revisited
Nova Scotia has earned a reputation for producing the best Honeycrisp apples.
Timing is everything when fine tuning grape irrigation
Research suggests Washington red wine grapes could benefit from new irrigation regimes.
WSU to rerelease WA 2
WA 2, which stays crisp and improves in flavor, has good potential for late-season sales.
Irrigation management key to growing Honeycrisp
Honeycrisp trees don’t like excessive water, says veteran Washington tree fruit grower.
Consumers are ready for more cherries
Don’t be afraid of larger cherry crops.
B.C. growers elect board
Members of the B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association in British Columbia, Canada, reelected Fred Steele as president for 2015, with Bhupinder Dhaliwal as vice president. Also
Microwaves control brown rot
Scientists in Spain showed that microwaving peaches and nectarines prevents rot without harming the fruit.
Preparing for lift-off
WA 38 is different from most other managed varieties in that access will be limited to Washington growers for the first ten years.TJ Mullinax/Good
Arctic apple Q&A: Expect more GMO apples in the pipeline
Okanagan Specialty Fruits plans to submit more GMO apple varieties for deregulation within the year.
Washington Wine Commission releases marketing videos
The Washington Wine Commission has released a new educational marketing video called “Our Story” to visually tell about the state’s wine industry, its history, people,
Ballard retires from clean plant program
Gary Ballard, shown here during a field day in 2012, led operations for Washington State University’s clean grape plant program for more than 12
Growers partner to buy orchard
Fourteen families joined the venture with their cooperative Scotian Gold.
Sean Tudor, Young Grower from Grandview, Washington
grower / Grandview, Washington age / 28 crops / Apples, cherries, wine and juice grapes business / Owner Rustic Vineyards, 2dor Wines other
Big hopes for small apple
Isaaq is being promoted as a snack apple. Kiku Variety Management The Italian company Kiku Variety Management has big hopes for its small
Dick Bartram, 1920-2015
Dick Bartram (wearing the dark coat and hat) was an authority on orchard economics. Here, he explains how to get new trees off to