Future Vision  Part 3

Future Vision Part 3

Future Vision  Part 3. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

Dan Bernardo, Dean of WSU’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences recently addressed members of the Washington State Horticultural Association on what WSU’s vision was for the future of their ag programs.

BERNARDO: Obviously we know that variety development for our climate is very important, we’ve reinvested in the cherry program. Second strategy, developing and delivering state of the art automation and mechanization technologies. This is an area we need to make significant progress in a hurry

Fruit quality is a very important issue that Bernardo says they need to work on.

BERNARDO: We need to expand our capabilities in fruit quality assessment. This is a push area that we really need to make some progress in; we’re not where we need to be in this area but in the reality everything we do needs to be put through the lens of fruit quality assessment. So if we’re looking at varieties, if we’re looking at IPM strategies, soil fertility practices and soil quality practices we have to look at that in the realm of fruit quality and assess how fruit quality is impacted by these areas.

And finally Bernardo says they will be soon hiring a new position in their Prosser research facility.

BERNARDO: And then of course we need to continue to make advancements in the orchard management solutions. We do a tremendous amount of work in all of these areas. One of these areas that I’m really intrigued by is going to be in the area of soil science.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.

Previous ReportWSU's Tree Fruit Research Vision Part 2
Next ReportTree Fruit Breeding