‘Honeycrisp’ growers intent on preventing bitter pit might want to consider Bud-9 and G969 rootstocks because of their low rates of vigor.
Photo courtesy of Washington State University
A trial involving ‘Honeycrisp’ apple trees that were fruited for the first time in 2020 supports the premise that rootstock choice strongly affects bitter pit incidence in the popular but disorder-sensitive cultivar.
Lee Kalcsits, Associate Professor of Tree Fruit Physiology, Washington State University, concluded as much from a 2017 planting of ‘Royal Red Honeycrisp’ trees that were grafted onto one of 10 different rootstocks. The most successful of those rootstocks last summer were Bud-9 and G.969, both of which boast low rates of shoot growth, i.e., vigor.
Back Pay Lawsuit Pt 2
Friday Jan 29th, 2021 With today’s Fruit Grower Report, I’m Bob Larson. A pair of Washington state bills could help protect farmers from being required to pay workers for three years of overtime pay retroactively. This, after the November ruling by the Washington Supreme Court removing the overtime exemption for agriculture.
Douglas County tree fruit grower, April Clayton says it would kill her industry …
CLAYTON … “I’d say retroactively, three years overtime will be the nail in the coffin that ruins the apple industry in Washington state. You know, we followed the law. We shouldn’t be penalized for following the law. I strongly support this bill.”
Back Pay Lawsuit Pt 1
Thursday Jan 28th, 2021 With today’s Fruit Grower Report, I’m Bob Larson. After the State Supreme Court’s decision to remove agricultures exemption from having to pay overtime, 24 lawsuits have been filed against Washington dairies and others claiming they owe three years of back overtime pay. Now, many worry that could spill over into the rest of agriculture.
Washington State Tree Fruit Association President Jon
DeVaney says it’s unclear how that would apply to piece rate workers …
DeVANEY … “How you would calculate that retroactively, nobody knows. How exactly the rules would be written to apply going forward, nobody knows.”
Bronaugh tapped as Vilsack s 2nd in command
President-elect Joe Biden on Monday nominated Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Jewel Bronaugh as deputy secretary of USDA.
According to Progressive Farmer, Bronaugh, who holds a doctorate in career and technical education from Virginia Tech University, brings to USDA an extensive career working with Extension programs and had served as a 4-H Extension specialist as well.
If confirmed, Bronaugh would serve as Vilsack s second in command at USDA in the Biden administration. Bronaugh would also be the first Black woman to serve as USDA deputy secretary.
GARNER, NC
Butterball is investing $8.7 million to expand two turkey processing plants in Northwest Arkansas.
KXLY
January 15, 2021 1:01 PM Associated Press
Oded Balilty
A health care professional prepares a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Sheba Tel Hashomer Hospital in Ramat Gan, Israel, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021. Israel has struck a deal with Pfizer, promising to share vast troves of medical data with the drugmaker in exchange for the continued flow of its COVID-19 vaccine. Critics say the deal is raising major ethical concerns, including possible privacy violations and a deepening of the global divide between wealthy countries and poorer populations, including Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, who face long waits to be inoculated.
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) The agriculture industry is asking Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee to move migrant farmworkers and food factory workers closer to the front of the line for the coronavirus vaccine because they perform work that cannot be delayed or performed remotely.