Project Description
New Technology
Featured stories about new technology appear in this issue.
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B.C.’s Sterile Insect Release program evolves
To determine sterility, squash a codling moth. The red food dye in their diets gives the guts a pinkish hue. In sterile insect
Good to Know
Brown marmorated stinkbugs feed on the foliage and fruit of grapevines. Grape growers have been closely watching the spread of the brown marmorated
Last Bite
Winemaking in France is believed to date back at least 2,600 years to the founding of Massilia, the city now known as Marseille. So it’s
Good Stuff
New Zealand’s Tow and Blow Tow and Blow is a portable wind machine developed in New Zealand by engineer Kim McAulay. He used to import
Planning for continued success
David Douglas will hand over the presidency of the Hort Association to Jeff Cleveringa during the association's annual meeting in Yakima, December 3–5.
Grape growers to visit Capitol Hill
Washington State diversified farmer Brenton Roy wants to see more of the state’s wine grape industry attend a national grape policy conference held annually in
Seaweeds tested for pest control
Seaweed extracts are typically used by growers with the aim of improving tree growth and enhancing fruit yields and quality. Although the extracts are regulated
In The Box
Missing Pear Fact Dear Good Fruit Grower: I greatly enjoyed your September pear issue of the Good Fruit Grower. The article “A plethora of pears”
Vineyard and winery courses go online
Yakima Valley Community College, through a national science grant, is transitioning its vineyard and winery educational program to an online and hybrid format to better
Students follow grapes from berry to bottle
During the second week of class, having had just two lectures to learn about safety and sanitation, Trent Ball’s students were already gaining practical experience,
Austrian researcher tests seaweed claims
Manufacturers of biostimulants derived from seaweed, or algae, say the products can provide multiple benefits when applied to crops. Purported benefits include better root growth,
Fixed spray system evaluated in New York
For Cornell University entomologist Dr. Art Agnello, the grant funding for research to develop and evaluate the Solid Set Canopy Delivery System (SSCD) for spraying
Growers try it out
Growers delight in using the new DBR during a demonstration in Michigan. Its strong vacuum system and apple handling process impressed the group of
Robotic pruning
Vision Robotics is well along in developing a robotic pruner for grapes, shown at work above, and the robotic shears pictured in the inset
No more airblast spraying?
MSU horticulturist Ron Perry, left, worked with engineers to design and install the system. Here he works with two technicians. PHOTO BY RICHARD LEHNERT Think
Other teaching programs
Washington State has several educational options for students interested in viticulture and enology. A four-year degree is offered at Washington State University, but three community
Good to Know—What growers want in new varieties
Adopting a new scion cultivar is a crucial decision for tree fruit growers, who must consider both horticultural and market performance. Apple growers have mostly
Yeast tested as lure
The spotted wing drosophila. A species of yeast that University of California scientists have found in cherries and raspberries infested by the spotted
New director
Soil Scientist Dr. Rich Koenig has been appointed associate dean and director of Washington State University Extension. He was formerly chair of WSU’s department of
Machines in Quebec
David Guerdin has several years of experience with his Munckhof apple harvester (left) and now owns two. Apple growers in Canada’s Quebec Province
Des Layne joins WSU
Desmond Layne Washington State University has appointed Dr. Desmond Layne, a professor at Clemson University in South Carolina, to the new position of
How cold hardy?
Washington State University scientists hope to find a better way to assess cold hardiness of apple and sweet cherry buds and blooms in early spring.
Research project tackles trunk diseases
Researchers will use nearly $1.8 million in grant money to develop new detection, extension, and research tools for managing wood-canker diseases of grapes and nut
Weather forecasting tested
Washington State University’s automated weather station network, is testing a national forecasting model as a tool to predict weather systems, such as hail or freezes,
AGweathernet will work with mobile devices
Washington State University’s AgWeatherNet is a state-of-the-art automated weather data collection and decision support system. It provides a Web-based suite of weather data and decision-support
Sterile insects get a boost
Peter Teal works with several species of fruit flies. The Caribbean fruit fly has red eyes; the Mexican fruit fly has green. Both are
Cold is hot topic at Expo
Great Lakes region fruit growers won’t soon forget 2012, the year that Mother Nature, for the first time in the lifetimes of all but a
Automated crop estimating
An experimental crop yield estimator travels down an orchard row at a speed of about half a mile per hour. Middle: The raw image
Classes for Hispanics
Wenatchee Valley College will offer two employee educational programs for the 2012-2013 academic year—level one of its Hispanic Orchard Employee Education Program and level one