Crop Management
Ridgefest 2025: Michigan apple growers hit the mark with orchard strategies
Innovative tricks of the trade took center stage in apple growers’ orchards during the annual Ridgefest, held July 17 near Kent City, Michigan. Ridgeview Orchards’ Dan Dietrich used his Freeman Farm tour to review his... more »
Ridgefest: soil, water considerations spur orchard success
Soil monitoring, crop rotations and consistent irrigation patterns are among key control points for managing a successful apple production system. Nick Rasch of Rasch Family Orchards near Kent City, Michigan, outlined the operation’s approach in... more »
Fresh Views: Sustainability for the future of farming
As the global population continues to grow and concerns for the health of the environment increase, the pressure on farmers to adopt sustainable growing practices has never been greater. Sustainability is about developing systems to... more »
UF new host for major plant breeding accelerator program
The University of Florida (UF) is the new home for a plant breeding improvement program. Breeding Insight (BI) is a USDA Agricultural Research Service-funded program that supports public breeding efforts via more than 61 USDA... more »
Washington State Wine Commission opens research grant portal
The Washington State Wine Commission (WSWC) is accepting viticulture and enology research proposals for the coming year. The Washington Wine Research Grant Portal will accept new and continuing research grant applications for Fiscal Year 2027... more »
Apples at a turning point: Orchard removal, better varieties required for grower survival
Optimism tempered with realism fueled discussions at this year’s USApple Outlook conference. Growers, packers, marketers and large retail buyers assembled at the event in Chicago on Aug. 13-15, which enjoyed record attendance. More than 370... more »
USDA, Labor department investigating high farm input costs
The USDA and Department of Justice (DOJ) are investigating high farm input costs. The agencies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to immediately begin jointly scrutinizing input costs for farmers. U.S. farm production inputs... more »
Michigan Apple Committee hosts virtual orchard tour
The Michigan Apple Committee (MAC) virtually welcomed a registered audience of more than 20,000 elementary-aged students to virtually visit Wittenbach’s Orchard in Belding, Michigan, northeast of Grand Rapids. The live-streamed “field trip” followed Elizabeth Pauls,... more »
Current Issue
Ridgefest 2025: Michigan apple growers hit the mark with orchard strategies
Ridgefest: soil, water considerations spur orchard success
Michigan Viticulture Field Day’s air, ground approaches aid vineyard management
Fresh Views: Sustainability for the future of farming
GLEXPO preview: Bringing innovation and tradition to the Great Lakes EXPO
New MSHS leader follows father’s tree fruit leadership
40 Under 40 class
Farm Market & Agritourism: What to do when market fluctuation affects prices
Ag Labor Review: A light at the end of the tunnel
see all current issue »
