Crop Protection

Mechanical Thinning Brings Larger Peaches with Less Labor

Spring was slow to arrive in Adams County, Pa., this year, but eight growers had already lined up with Penn State Extension to use machines to thin their peaches when blossoms arrived several weeks later.... more »

An Energetic Resolution for the Coming Year

It’s a great year to make New Year’s resolutions. Elections are coming this fall, and from the amount and earliness of the political activity, everybody seems to be getting primed to cast a few important... more »

Prices of Juice Apples Have Gotten Positively … Juicy

After nearly a decade of low and flat prices for juice apples, prices were sharply higher this fall, rising for the second year in a row. Apple juice concentrate, which cost as little as $4... more »

Extension Losing Its Personal Touch in Pennsylvania

This is the seventh and final story in a series about the future of Extension. The image of the county Extension agent riding in a pickup all day, visiting local farmers and doling out general... more »

Fruit Tree Nurseries Shift from Speculation to Contract Growing

In the fruit tree nursery business of the past, the season often ended with a fire sale at the end of winter and a bonfire in spring. This expensive way of doing business has been... more »

Lou Dobbs Discusses Foreign Apple Juice

Supplies of foreign apple juice concentrate continue to be tight. According to the Food Institute Report, Chinese apple juice concentrate prices remain at $9.85 to $10.60 per gallon. European prices continue at $15 to $16... more »

Battle to eradicate plum pox continues in three states, Canada

The battle to rid North America of the plum pox virus, first detected in Pennsylvania in 1999, is proceeding unabated in the four areas where it has been found. The burden imposed on growers by... more »

UC Cooperative Extension Battles Back From Drastic State Budget Cuts

When it comes to agriculture in the United States, it doesn’t get much bigger than California. The Western state stretches hundreds of miles from north to south, encompassing a diverse range of climates, soil types,... more »

New Distribution Center Empowers Growers

A new distribution center in Florida packed up to 50,000 pounds of blueberries a day during the peak season and has the potential to pack even more when it reaches its full capacity, said Jerry... more »

Pursuit of Grants Alters Washington Extension Priorities

This is the fifth story in a series about the future of Extension. Contrary to the opinions of most of his old professors, Tim Smith is not a loser. In fact, he’s quite highly regarded... more »

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