apples

On Wednesday, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture announced that applications are currently being accepted for the 2025 Specialty Crop Block Grant.   ISDA anticipates receiving over $2 million from the USDA for projects that enhance the competitiveness of Idaho specialty crops.  Th...

SePRO Ag says their pre-emergent herbicide, Brake On!, is a great fit for the specialty crops grown across Washington and Oregon.  Jeff Perrotti, Technical Rep for SePRO Ag in the Pacific Northwest said Brake On! has a unique mode of action relative to other residual herbicides used in permanent crops.  He note...

Jennie Strong with the Washington Apple Commission tells us about how the apple sector is celebrating the New Year.   If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com 

USApple has increased its estimate for the 2024-2025 harvest.   “280 is an approximate adjustment of the adjustment, a recalibration of our August," noted Chris Gerlach is vice president of insights and analytics at USApple. .  And so...

Earlier this fall, Michael Schadler was named the new President of the Washington Apple Commission, taking over a roll that’s been filled by Todd Fryhover for the past four decades.  Schadler said while there’s much to learn, one of his priorities is to continue to educate the consumer, in the Northwest and internationally, about the Washington apple industry.   “We've got a...

New research launched this fall at Washington State University looks to help apple growers better understand how their trees respond to increasingly unpredictable cold snaps that freeze buds and destroy harvests.  Funded by an $850,000 grant from the USDA’s Specialty Crop Multi-State Grant Program, the four-state study led by WSU's Stefano Musacchi, will gather new data on dormancy in Gala, Honeyc

Washington State University’s newest apple, WA 64, has an official brand name: Sunflare.  Announced Tuesday, December 10th, by WSU apple breeder Kate Evans at the Northwest Horticulture Expo in Yakima, WA, the new name resulted from a public contest that drew more than 15,000 responses.   “Our b...

A robotics company from halfway around the world away is helping Washington growers overcome labor and other farm challenges.  Robotics Plus is a New Zealand-based company with offices in California and the Evergreen state.  The company recently showcased its multi-use autonomous vehicle for orchards and vineyards at FIRA USA, an ag robotics event, in northern California.  Steve Saunders is... Rea

Washington State University announced last week that International New-Varieties Network LLC of Ephrata, WA, has been named the exclusive global licensing partner for its new apple variety.  WSU said the company will manage sales of licensed WA 64 trees and budwood to growers for planting or grafting in orchards, as well as license the new apple’s forthcoming trademark to fruit packers and markete

While the farm economy seems to have stabilized in the Midwest and Northern Plains, it weakened in the rest of the U.S. this fall.  Producers are dealing with high costs and lower commodity prices.  According to the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book, “Agricultural activity was flat to down modestly, with some crop prices remaining unprofitably low.”   For the 12th district...