Pacific Northwest

Irrigation to be focus of July 21 WSU Smart Vineyard field day

Precision irrigation sensors and technologies to mitigate heat stress are scheduled to be on display at the Washington State University’s Smart Vineyard field day. At the field day, scheduled for July 21 from 10 a.m.... more »

Sensors help trees tell growers when they are thirsty

The traditional method of using technology to alert growers of the need to irrigate involves soil-based sensors, which do well at relaying moisture data at a specific depth and location. Dendrometers, which measure the expansion... more »

USDA ends Washington apricot marketing order

The USDA is terminating the marketing order that regulates the handling of Washington apricots. The marketing order was established in 1957 but has been operating without handling requirements since 2014, when they were suspended to... more »

Naturipe blueberry production hits summer supplies

Ahead of National Blueberry Month — July — Naturipe Farms is kicking off the summer season with promotable volumes of its flavorful blueberries from New Jersey, Michigan and the Pacific Northwest. Following a strong start... more »

Pear marketing order to have election for two seats

The Washington and Oregon pear marketing order’s Fresh Pear Committee is seeking two grower member alternates from the Wenatchee, Washington, district. The election for the two alternates from the Wenatchee district (Chelan and Douglas counties)... more »

WSU to plant vineyard mechanically, public invited

Washington State University is inviting the public to a demonstration on mechanized vineyard planting. The event is 10 a.m. to noon Pacific on June 2 at the WSU-Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Prosser.... more »

Washington State Wine Commission awards research grants

The Washington State Wine Commission (WSWC) awarded almost $1 million in research grants for the upcoming year. The research projects target a variety of challenges that directly impact Washington wine grape growers and winemakers. The... more »

Technology revolutionizes cherry, small fruit grading, packing

Technology upgrades have swept through West Coast fruit packinghouses, with everything from stone fruit, apples and citrus processed on more sophisticated equipment than a generation ago. That includes cherries, which present several special handling needs:... more »