Good Fruit Grower

November 2013

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should be considered for crop load manbecoming the new normal. It is a leap ery propagation. Rootstock breeding and agement strategies that include bloom forward when you make breeding selecfield evaluation are critical to the industhinning. These aren't your dad's 12-foot tions using criteria that would minimize try's long-term health. There are so many monster blades or big, old, rope thinners. (though not eliminate) some types or the people from the public and private secMechanization of these orchard tasks amount of mitigation. tors working hard to develop and fieldmay be new to us, but we have only to Great advances have been made in test new material. A tip of the hat to all of look around the world to know that these rootstock cultivars with selection emphathem because we benefit when we have a tools are a viable option. This is not rocket sis on productivity, yield efficiency, diswide range of superior products to meet science. We have the systems, we have Orch Rite Nusom 2-15-13_jr. page plus dummy to ease and pest resistance, tolerance 1/24/13the diverse demand from an increasingly 1:21 PM Page 1 the tools—we just need to make a mindextreme temperatures, and ease of nursdiverse population. The opportunities ful study of the application and work diligently on the integration. While it is true that these mechanical solutions will not ® work in the vast majority of our bearing orchard acres, most will work in most newly established blocks. Growers need to put opportunities for mechanization near the top of the list as they design and develop new orchard blocks. for delivering a repeatable excellent eating experience for consumers are much greater now. It's a win-win for everyone along the chain from tree to table. • Karen Lewis is Washington State University Extension specialist with the Center for Precision and Automated Agriculture. Orchard-Rite Wind Machines • www.orchard-rite.com 4 Decision-aid systems With increasing demands on their time and management skills, growers and field staff are relying on Internet-based systems to help them make management decisions in the areas of horticulture, crop thinning, pest management, or water management. The Washington State University Decision Aid System (DAS), and the WSU Ag Weather Network (AWN) are two systems that represent the best of what is required to meet the evolving needs and possibilities when developing, operating and delivering a decision-aid system. These systems have the winning combination of validated models and robustness. Everyone in central Washington, and I mean everyone, can access reliable data 24/7/365 on multiple devices. These user-friendly, site-based decision-aid systems equip consultants and growers with timely information and allow them to be better at what they do day in and day out. It is all about making the best informed decisions. It's not always about getting the task done more efficiently, it's about getting the task done and done on time. It would be difficult to be a consultant in Washington and not have DAS and AWN information. At the very least, you would not be very competitive. 5 New genetics Genetics and plant material need to be included in all technology discussions. The number of varieties and rootstocks available to apple and cherry growers has grown tremendously in the past several years. Growers have the opportunity to select the best rootstock-scion combination for their site, giving them a head start at delivering a top quality product to their target market. It gets very exciting when public breeding programs work with industry to release new varieties, like WA 38, SnapDragon, and RubyFrost apples. The soon-to-be named WA 38 is genetically equipped to reach its full potential when grown in the high-light, high-heat, and cold-winter climate of central Washington. We are on a path where site mitigation for hail, heat, cold, sun, shade is the www.goodfruit.com "The Orchard-Rite crew is great to work with." I have been farming since 1974, and currently grow 70 acres of cherries. Last year, we put in two Orchard-Rite® Wind Machines, giving me frost protection on about 40-45 acres. We had a very cold, wet spring. These wind machines were very beneficial. Because of our Orchard-Rite® Wind Machines, we actually had our best crop in what would normally be the poorest-producing portion of the orchard. We are installing two more wind machines this year. The Orchard-Rite crew is great to work with. Anytime I've called for information or assistance, they have been Johnny-on-the-spot. Don Nusom Gervais, Oregon Get the Orchard-Rite® story from your nearest representative: 1615 W. Ahtanum • Yakima, WA 98903 • 509-248-8785, ext. 612 For the representative nearest you, visit our Web site: www.orchard-rite.com Good Fruit Grower NOVEMBER 2013 17

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