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Growers make H-2A work
Washington is the fourth largest employer of H-2A workers in the country after North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
Behind the scenes with our labor issue cover
(Courtesy Tim Hull) On the cover of the May 1, 2014, issue about
USApple president visits the other Washington
Jim Bair, USApple president Jim Bair, president of the U.S. Apple Association, visited
Nematode-resistant rootstocks available
Improved rootstocks are available, though more field testing is needed.
New approach needed for nematodes
Avoid white varieties if planting in a site with root knot nematodes.
Labor shortage favors imports
New study says a shortage of labor is hampering expansion of U.S. fruit production.
Grower focuses on one variety, one market
If fruit doesn’t meet gift grade quality, it may be left on the tree.
Evaluating technology for orchard use
New orchard technologies must be compatible with high production, said grower Jerry Haak.
Be careful in adopting summer hedging to build fruiting walls
A Pennsylvania researcher warns growers south of New York, where trees grow more vigorously, that they might want to take a cautious approach on adoption of summer pruning and shearing to create fruiting walls.
New tests measure soil health
New measuring tests allow growers to track the impact of soil management changes.
Managing orchard weeds
Fruit growers are always looking for better, cheaper ways of controlling vegetation under the trees in their orchards, but, in general, weed control gets more expensive and more complicated.
Chlorosis in Concords
Dr. Joan Davenport is looking for cost effective treatments for chlorosis in Concord grapes.
Not enough canned pears
Pacific Northwest pear processors are raising grower prices to $300 per ton this season in hopes of sourcing more Bartlett pears for the processed market.
Calculate target yield
Hitting the target: This six-year-old, two-hectare (five-acre) Pink Lady block on Malling Merton 106
Uncertain future for Meyer Orchards
Ron Meyer, nearing retirement and without a transition plan, sees a murky future for his pear orchard.
Growers face land constraints
Fruit growers in British Columbia , Canada, may still stand tall as leaders in high-density orchard systems, but they can only wonder at the enormity of the Washington apple industry across their southern border.
Strong cherry crop possible
Fruit Commission expands export efforts
Chardonnay’s future in Washington
Chardonnay is at a crossroads in Washington State as the state becomes a red-dominated wine state.
Pay attention to the soil
Growers should pay more attention to the soil.
Managing Honeycrisp nutrition
Balancing the crop load is particularly important with Honeycrisp, which is more susceptible than other
Which is better for growing apples, angled or upright?
Growers and researchers weigh in.
Honeycrisp: Grow it, then crop it
Although growers want to reap early returns from their Honeycrisp plantings, they need to let the trees grow first.
Spreading shoots of young apple trees
Proper spreading of shoots and branches is an important step in developing a productive orchard.
Choose the right rootstock for Honeycrisp
(Source: Dr. Terence Robinson, Cornell University) The ideal rootstock for Honeycrisp is one
Are you the employer of choice?
Three apple producers look to mechanization to help deal with potential labor shortages.
The good and bad of deficit irrigation
Partial root zone drying deficit irrigation has potential for white varieties.
Nursery is going out strong
Family operated Columbia Basin Nursery is selling its last trees.
Opal apple verified non-GMO
FirstFruits heads off confusion with a GMO-apple that might be approved.
Cherry marketer finds his niche
Jesus Aguilar helps growers add value to their crops.
Application deadline looms for viticulture scholarship
The April 15 deadline approaches for viticulture students to apply for the Washington State Grape
Ryan Swanson, Young Grower from Nova Scotia
Ryan Swanson/ grower / Centreville, Nova Scotia, Canada age / 37 crops /
Rootstocks do fine in Washington
Differences in rootstock trial were due to yearly climate variation, not rootstocks.
Wine grape yields not affected by early leaf removal
Early leaf removal in white grape varieties has several benefits.
Organic apple growers are optimistic
Washington State will run out of organic apples this season.
Control psylla early
Returning winterforms are more susceptible to pesticides than they were in the fall.
WSU announces drawing for WA 38 apple trees
Tom Auvil, research horticulturist with the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission, is impressed with
Fire blight control without antibiotics
Lime sulfur and fish oil can help as part of an integrated strategy.
Pear grower Laura Naumes blazes a trail
Laura Naumes is the first woman to chair the Pear Bureau Northwest.
Is there a better crab apple pollinizer?
No research is under way to evaluate pollinizers to replace Manchurian crab apple.
Control leafhoppers to avoid virus
The risk of grapevine redleaf virus makes controlling leafhoppers all the more important.
Protecting your high-value crop
Orchard netting may be cost effective for high-value varieties like Honeycrisp.
Commission: More MAP dollars mean cherries go farther
New commissioners, Jill Douglas and Doug Field joined the board on Wednesday, March 12,
Growers asked to report irrigation issues near Wanapum Dam
An irrigation pump is exposed south of the Rock Island Dam after water was
Video: IFTA members visit century-old farm
Day’s Century Growers Inc. at Kelowna is one of the oldest and biggest pear producers in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley.
Bryan Mrachek, Young Grower, March 1, 2014
Bryan Mrachek / grower / Malaga, Washington age / 27 family farm / Lucky
Pruning demonstrations on stopping postharvest disease
Three Northwest industry groups have organized pruning demonstrations on how to stop postharvest diseases spread by infected Manchurian crabapple trees.
New varieties stabilize the market
Consumers are buying more apples and paying more for them.
New pests threaten IPM
Pest management programs have become softer and more stable over the past few decades, but new invasive pests could change that.
A humble leader (Video)
Throughout his career, WSU entomologist Jay Brunner has turned science into economic reality for Washington State tree fruit growers.
Save money by applying pesticides where it’s needed
Perimeter sprays: Growers can save money applying pesticides only where they’re most needed.