Transition month here in the Pacific Northwest. Lots of juggling meetings in fields to fit everything in. It’s been tricky to get…

Lots of talk about options for the upcoming season planting and I imagine nurseries are starting to get an uptick in conversations about plant needs now.

A series of presentations were part of a WSU 2022 Weather School designed for the agriculture industry. There was a focus on understanding general climate trends as well as best practices and data quality in weather stations.

Blueberry breeders are seeking grower input on breeding trait priorities. Please help them by completing the survey below by Aug. 31.

Last week Willamette Valley temperatures made it to 105°F (40.5°C) with 108°F(42°C) reported in some locations on the east side and southern Oregon.

It’s always so hard to dodge the effects of heat. While it’s not at 2021 heat dome high temperatures, it is significant all the same.

We are into late season fruit. The shift into the next plant growth cycle is happening before our very eyes.

The heatwave predicted this week has tapered off slightly in the Willamette Valley but those temperatures will still affect insects like SWD, not to mention fruit quality.

Insect dynamics/pressures adjust each year. For example, thus far I’ve been hearing mostly positive things about SWD pressure this season

You may or may not have seen the ISHS Rubus and Ribes Symposium touring around NW Washington and Oregon Willamette Valley over the last couple days.

My youngest daughter tagged along for a quick farm visit last week because holiday childcare was inconsistent.

We’ve just found our first SWD larvae in Kotata blackberry fruit. This field had consistently high adult trap catches for weeks prior to the larvae infestation and was in a hot spot location.