yakima

Researchers at Washington State University have started a project to develop thermal sensors to prevent apple sunburn. WSU Associate professor, Lav Khot said this research will focus not only on the burn, but the heat stress that can lead to disorders while the apple is in storage ...

Washingtonians are encouraged to comment on the state Department of Ecology's proposal to reissue a Statewide General Permit for Biosolids Management. Jean Mendoza, with Sierra Club in Yakima, says biosolids is non-liquid sewage sludge with toxins from medications, dishwater, wastewater that end up down the drain or toilet and then put on cropland. “This may not sound like ...

Legislation that would address several overtime questions in Washington is not sitting well in the farming community for a variety of reasons. Senate Bill 5172 is currently in the state House. The legislation looks to initiate a stair stepped approach to overtime pay for farm workers that cross 40 hours in a week ...

The Washington state Department of agriculture will host their 2nd annual IPM Practices of Tree Fruit workshop on Monday March 29th. The workshop will focus on the tree fruit industry in the Yakima-area, with topics including little cherry disease, X-disease, pests in apples and much more ...

Yakima Valley College was recently awarded $321,850 in grant money to provide financial aid to undocumented students who are residents of Washington during the Spring 2021 Quarter. The funding, provided through the state’s Emergency Relief Grant program signed into law last month, will support resident undocumented individuals who demonstrate financial need but do not qualify for federally-funded

Washington is positioned to be the first state to bring the 40-hour work week to agricultural workers, under a bill approved by the state Senate Tuesday. Under the modified Senate Bill 5172, which was originally proposed by Yakima’s Republican Senator Curtis King, Washington would establish a three-year phase-in period of the new requirement that employers pay overtime to agricultural workers. Be

On Tuesday, Yakima Valley College announced their Vineyard and Winery Technology Program had received a $25,000 gift from Northwest Farm Credit Services. “We are proud to offer students hands-on experience across the entire wine making process, from grape to glass, at our award-winning teaching winery,” said Vineyard and Winery Technology Instructor Trent Ball. “Washingto ...

When the Washington Supreme court ruled in November that farm workers should receive time-and-a-half pay for work over 40 hours per week, it opened a bit of a Pandora’s Box. In their ruling, the High Court did not indicate if farm workers could seek retroactive pay for the previous three years, which has already triggered several lawsuits against the dairy industry. Cur ...

2020 was a very busy year for the Roza Irrigation District, and it looks like that trend will continue into the New Year. District Manager Scott Revell said they spent roughly $2.5 million to enclose area lateral canals, while also putting the finishing touches on a four year project to clean out the 95-mile long main canal ...

The coronavirus pandemic can’t stop Stemilt and Hansen Fruit from spreading cheer this holiday season. For the eighth year, the two fruit companies played Santa and granted holiday wishes to 177 children in foster care and low income housing in the Wenatchee and Yakima areas. I ...