disease pressure

It’s good news for Columbia Basin area potato growers, that according to Washington State University.  WSU announced late last week Potato psyllid numbers are expected to be low this season, similar to those in 2024.   A search for overwintering potato psyllids on stands of matrimony vine turned up very few numbers.  And researchers sa...

Potato growers across Washington are invited to participate in the 2025 Washington Commercial Potato Seed Lot Trial.  To participate, growers can submit samples of 200 whole (single-drop) seed or a minimum of 50 lbs.  The whole seed potatoes should be only 2-4 oz.; seed over 6 oz wi...

Sometimes being average is OK.  And that’s what sugar beet growers across Idaho, Oregon and Washington are expect from this year’s crop.  Samantha Parrott, Executive Director of the Snake River Sugarbeet Growers Association says while yields are expected to be on par with the five-year average, the disease and pest pressures growers are dealing with in 2024 is very low.   “Last year, Cercospora...

Congratulations to Washington State University entomologist Elizabeth Beers, who was named an Entomological Society Fellow this summer.  For nearly four decades, Beers has worked to stop insect pests that spread damage and disease in Pacific Northwest apple, cherry, and pear orchards while training the next generation of scientists.    ...

While not a record-breaking winter, temperatures have been below normal over the past couple of months for many locations across the PNW.  That, said Washington State University’s Dr. Tim Waters, is good news, especially for row crop growers.   He not...

What are some of the diseases that tree fruit growers need to keep an eye out for this time of year?  Kendall Johnson, Technical Service Manager for UPL talks about what you need to look for in the orchard.     If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-9791, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsqu...

The Canola Week Conference has been an annual December event since 1970 and was held again last month in Saskatoon.  The conference founder, Dr. Keith Downey, was in attendance again this year.  Downey is known worldwide throughout the agriculture and agri-food industries as one of two research scientists behind the development of canola. Dr. Keit...

A total of 20 agricultural groups recently argued before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., about chlorpyrifos.  Specifically, they asked the court to reinstate chlorpyrifos tolerances that the EPA has found safe.  EPA rev...

With the cold temperatures and snowy conditions as of late, growers may not be thinking about disease pressures and pest management.  But potato growers are encouraged to think about pests like Colorado potato beetle now to ensure a great harvest in 2023.   ...

Research data on pest threats to industrial hemp crops is currently limited.  According to a Colorado State University Emeritus and Entomologist professor, there is a reason for that limited data: "What remains unique about industrial hemp as a crop in the United States is that there has been no information on what are the pest issues at all and that couldn't start until about 2014 when resea