News

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 the plant pathology d... more

Larger SweeTango apple season reported

A bigger SweeTango apple season is being predicted. The marketers of the SweeTango apple variety are forecasting this year’s harvest to bring a fifth more production. In a crowded apple market, it’s now retailers’ chance to impress shoppe... more

Georgia ag labor forum announces speakers

Speakers have been publicized for the Georgia Agricultural Labor Relations Forum. The event is scheduled for Aug. 20-21 in Tifton, Georgia. It is coordinated by the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA). Speakers and topics in... more

Strawberry Center Field Day marks decade of sustainable farming innovations

The California Strawberry Commission (CSC) and Cal Poly celebrated a decade of research and collaboration at the 10th Anniversary Strawberry Center Field Day on Aug. 8. The field day brought together growers, researchers and industry leaders t... more

Melons hosts for cucurbit downy mildew detected in New England

Melons are hosts for cucurbit downy mildew (CDM), a disease that harms cucurbits, has been spotted in New England. CDM was reported the week of Aug. 5 on cucumber crops by growers in Franklin County, Massachusetts, which is the southern border of ... more

Washington apple forecast predicts return to normal with exceptional quality

The Washington State Tree Fruit Association (WSTFA) is characterizing this year's harvest as a promising outlook. The association is projecting the 2024 apple harvest at 124 million forty-pound boxes. The estimate signals a return to historical... more

New research projects funded to boost rootstock resilience for California grape growers

The California Grape Rootstock Improvement Commission (CGRIC) has approved funding for five new research projects aimed at supporting the state’s viticulture and grape nursery industries. The projects focus on various challenges facing grape grower... more