Crop Protection
Immigration Reform Could Profoundly Affect Farms
There are dozens of bills in the U.S. Congress that address immigration reform in one way or another, but only one deals specifically with agriculture. The Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits and Security Act of 2005... more »
IFTA Conference Features Largest Eastern Fruit Packer
Touring orchards with Mark Rice is an experience to savor. It exposes you to his cryptic combination of broad production expertise and orchard knowledge, facility with English (and several other languages), political insight tinged with... more »
Washington Growers Praise Visit from Mexico’s President
Mexican President Vicente Fox’s visit to Yakima, Wash., was seen as a step in the right direction by many of the area’s produce growers. “Overall, it was a good visit and a good thing for... more »
New York Winery Named Best in State
Osprey’s Dominion Vineyards was named “Winery of the Year” during the 2005 New York Wine & Food Classic. What does it take to be named the best winery in the state? Vineyard manager Tom Stevenson... more »
Virus Found in New York, Michigan
After causing a stir six years ago, plum pox virus (PPV) laid low while government officials conducted mopping up operations in Pennsylvania and Ontario. Then, within a month this summer, PPV was found in New... more »
Lured by Good Market, Mexican Growers Battle Harsh Conditions
Mexico shows its least attractive face to Americans entering from above its northern border. Not only do we carry in our memories the televised images of illegal immigrants sneaking through the deserts of the Southwest,... more »
Research Station Will Likely Lose Its Peach and Plum Fruit Trees
While no official quarantine had been announced, one was expected soon. And when it comes, Michigan State University’s (MSU) Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center (SWMREC) near Benton Harbor, where plum pox was found in... more »
Cloned Food Products? We Just Call Them Apples
As the new year began, FDA proclaimed that products such as meat and milk from cloned animals are safe for human consumption. A person with a science-based education might wonder why anyone would think such... more »
Primocane Raspberries Fit Just Fine on Maryland Farm
If managing raspberries were easy, would they still sell for $4.50 a pint? Nathan Milburn hopes so. In 2001, Milburn Orchards ventured into raspberries for the first time. The Elkton, Md., family was expanding the... more »
Federal Programs Are Worth Billions To Specialty Crops
We’ve been hearing a lot about specialty crops lately, thanks in large part to the 2007 Farm Bill. In anticipation of the new bill, specialty crop representatives have been making their case to lawmakers in... more »