Articles

Herbicide-tolerant crops spark concerns

In 2008, Dave Simmons' neighbor applied 2,4-D on a windy day.He shouldn't have been spraying. The herbicide drifted onto a 2-acre block of Simmons' grapevines, stunting their growth and hurting yields for the next two seasons. The damage was substant... more

Editorial: Unlocking the tomato genome

At the end of May, the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) and Tomato Genome Consortium announced that they had sequenced the genomes of the domesticated tomato and its wild relative.My understanding of genetics and plant breed... more

Lack of rain latest worry for Midwest growers

With headlines dominated by early warmth and spring freezes, growers across parts of the Midwest have yet another concern: Precipitation – or the lack thereof.As of late June, the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) in Lincoln, Neb., has ... more

Orzolek stepping down from Penn State duties

After more than three decades as a professor of vegetable crops at Pennsylvania State University, Mike Orzolek has retired.Not that he'll stop completely. Orzolek will still do some fieldwork, and will continue to interact with growers, he said.Now 6... more

Bell peppers can grow better in the shade

As the seasons turn, commercial bell pepper growers in the Southeast share a common foe: the sun.Brutal summer temperatures often make growing anything impossible, and peppers can be susceptible to a host of diseases and disorders in such conditions.... more

Local sales thrive at Wenatchee farmers’ market

Wenatchee Valley Farmers Market has been around since 1979, but never had a permanent home."We've been gypsies, somewhat," said Jennifer Wiecking, the market's executive director.That wandering lifestyle will change next year, when the farmers' marke... more

Cover crops an important component of healthy soil

Cover crops are grown throughout the world to complement crop needs in the field, while enhancing soil quality.The use of cover crops spans thousands of years — bell beans during the height of the Roman Empire and lupines in northern Europe wer... more