Crop Management

Worker training crucial to food handling safety and is the first-line of defense

Training workers to properly handle covered crops (fruits and vegetables typically consumed raw) is a crucial initial step in ensuring compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act, from the field to the postharvest processing facility. ... more »

MSU Plant & Pest Diagnostics names new director

Jan Byrne has been promoted to lead Michigan State University’s (MSU) Plant & Pest Diagnostics department. She succeeds Ray Hammerschmidt, who plans to retire. Byrne, who holds a doctoral degree, has worked at MSU as... more »

Marion Ag and Columbia Seeds form supply and marketing consortium to enhance agronomic solutions

Marion Ag Service Inc. and Columbia Seeds have announced a new supply and marketing consortium, merging their strengths to offer a comprehensive suite of agronomic solutions. The partnership combines Marion Ag’s advanced fertilizer technology and... more »

Naturipe Farms’ Earth-first philosophy

Naturipe Farms, based in Salinas, California, has been a pioneering force in berry production since 1917. With origins as a marketing cooperative for strawberries, Naturipe has since transformed into a vertically integrated company owned by... more »

Sensors guide growers on water decisions

Lisa Tate, a fifth-generation grower in Santa Paula, said she knew something was amiss in a block of young avocado trees planted on her family’s ranch.She had a hunch that too much water was sitting... more »

Drone franchise introduced by SweetWater Technologies

SweetWater Technologies aims to revolutionize farming practices through advanced drone technology, and has introduced its first group of independently-owned and operated franchises. The new franchise partners include Bill Pirkl in Byron, Minnesota; Nathan Janz in... more »

Atticus EcoCore Division expands

Atticus, a company that offers branded-generic herbicides, insecticides and fungicides, has added Ty Ferraro to its team. Ferraro will serve as senior business director and will report to Nate Dahlman, executive vice president, EcoCore Division.... more »

Smart tech wipes out pests: The latest trends in spraying automation

Innovative spraying technology can help manage pests and diseases threats, which can significantly harm fruit and tree nut crops, affecting yield and quality. The new tech helps ensure healthy trees and abundant production. Responsible use... more »

Fresh Views: Grapevine disease management tackled

Last year posed significant challenges for grapevine growers in California as they battled against heightened disease pressure. Facing threats from several major fungal diseases such as powdery mildew (PM), botrytis and phomopsis cane and leaf... more »

Pearson Farm’s six generations find orchard happiness

Run by fifth- and sixth- generation family members, Pearson Farms planted its first peach trees in 1885. Pecan trees were added in the 1930s. Lanier and Lawton Pearson. Photos courtesy Pearson... more »