Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/418083
10 DECEMBER 2014 GOOD FRUIT GROWER www.goodfruit.com Washington State University to develop genomic database W ashington State University has been awarded a five-year $2 million grant to build and maintain a national system for sharing digital plant genetic resources. It will be known as the National Research Support Project 10. Forty scientists at 12 universities across the country are collaborating in the project. The system will support research for 24 crops. WSU bioinformaticist Dr. Dorrie Main, who is heading the project, said it will involve organizing, storing, analyzing, and integrating petabytes of data to make them accessible to scientists working in genomic research and breeding nationwide. A petabyte is a million gigabytes. Pesticide drift reduction is focus of EPA program T he Environmental Protection Agency has announced a voluntary Drift Reduction Technology (DRT) program to encourage the use of safer pesticide application equipment to reduce exposure to pesticides. The program encourages manufacturers to test their technologies, such as nozzles, spray shields, and drift reduction chemicals, for their potential to reduce drift. The DRT program has ratings, represented by one, two, three, or four stars, for technologies that demonstrate at least a 25 percent reduction in drift compared with the standard. Manufacturers interested in participating can submit data verifying how their technology reduces pesticide movement. EPA will evaluate submissions and assign an appropriate star rating. For more information, go to www2.epa.gov/ reducing-pesticide-drift. Wine network formed for Prosser wineries A new organization called Prosser Wine Network was formed in Washington State last spring to promote Prosser wines. The new group, with more than 30 initial winery and associate members, is working to create awareness of wines from Prosser by providing networking events, advocating on behalf of members, coordinating media outreach, and promoting community events. Prosser is known as the birthplace of Washington wines and is home to the new Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center. With more than 800 bonded wineries in the state, attracting visitors to Prosser requires not only providing inviting tasting rooms and quality wines but offering ongoing education about the wine business, according to a news release issued by the network. For information visit: www.prosserwinenetwork.com. QUICK BITES Read more at www.goodfruit.com