News about United-States

US crisis continues: Department of Agriculture indicates losses close to 50% in the Washington area in 2023

Press review

06 Feb 2024

Sweet cherry growers in central and eastern Washington faced devastating challenges throughout the 2023 season. Unusual weather patterns caused growers losses of more than 50%, according to the United State Department of Agriculture.

Engineering of cherry rootstocks to increase virus resistance

Rootstocks

05 Feb 2024

Regarding rootstocks, one of the most promising approaches to increase plant resistance to viruses is post-transcriptional gene silencing, which employs RNA interference (RNAi) to prevent pathogenicity and virus replication.

Birds: what if they were also allies in integrated pest management strategies?

Crop protection

02 Feb 2024

Birds, a threat to crops or friends for integrated pest management strategies? At the 'Stone Fruit Day' organised by Washington State University, the focus was on the role of birds in agriculture, looking at pros and cons of the latest research on the subject.

Washington State University intensifies research with new optical sorting line

Post-harvest​ Press review

01 Feb 2024

Per McCord, WSU's cherry breeder, explained that it is basically a scaled-down version of what one sees in a commercial fruit packing warehouse. The line will bring overall efficiency to the university's sorting efforts.

A new pathogen threatens cherry growers: WSU research to combat Phytoplasma X-Disease

Crop protection Events

26 Jan 2024

In addition to phytosanitary treatments, kaolin and covering the inter-row with Extenday sheets throughout the season as vector control strategies to cover weeds, which are very important for the insect's life cycle, were evaluated.

Optimising nitrogen management in cherry trees: new approaches to maximise yield according to the University of California

Tech management Press review

25 Jan 2024

The project results promise new standards for nitrogen management in the cherry industry. Fertiliser use can be optimised and N losses reduced if applications follow tree demand and seasonal uptake patterns.

Production collapse in Michigan: eradication of sour cherry plants continues

Tech management Production Press review

23 Jan 2024

According to Michigan grower White, the cherry industry has become a battle. Not only because of price management, but also because of the climate, which has been unfavourable for years. There is also the federal administration, which has not been able to help the growers.

Sour cherry crisis: decline of growers in Michigan to only 253 by 2022

Production Press review

19 Jan 2024

According to the US Department of Agriculture, Michigan had 23,000 acres of sour cherries in 2022. The number of growers decreased from 540 in 2006 to 253 in 2022. The number of processors also decreased from 24 in 2011 to 14 in 2023.

A Washington farmer reveals how important crop insurance is

Tech management Press review

04 Jan 2024

One advantage of cherry crop insurance, says Jennifer Wiggs, is that growers are already in the USDA database. Therefore, if programmes such as disaster relief funds are available, the application process will be easier.

Forecasts and data for the 2023/2024 EU season from the USDA's stone fruit report

Consumption Markets

21 Dec 2023

The outlook for the 2023/24 season is worrying, with an expected 21% decrease in total cherry production due to adverse weather conditions, such as frost and heavy rains, which have affected flowering and fruit set in several countries, particularly Poland and Italy.