Specialty Crop Block Grants & Apple Harvest

I'm Lacy Gray with Washington Ag Today.

USDA awarded $3.2 million in Specialty Crop Block Grants for 24 projects across Washington state that will support agricultural research and export promotion for Washington crops.

Specific grant projects that will support Northwest Washington agriculture jobs include: 

·         Educating cherry growers on effective methods for controlling pests and diseases;

·         Expanding acreage of white wine grapes by identifying water requirements and optimal irrigation techniques.

·         Identifying the demand and market opportunity for blueberries in South Korea, China and Vietnam;

·         Increasing blueberry yields by developing more effective means to control pests; and,

·         Reducing crop losses and lowering production costs for red raspberries.

Washington State is the third highest recipient of Specialty Crop Block Grants in the nation.

Todd Fryhover, President of the Washington Apple Commission, has this update on the state's apple harvest which is in full swing.

FRYHOVER: We've got a good quality crop. It looks like we're going to be slightly under estimate but every variety is different, every growing district is different, but we're making fantastic progress. We're probably somewhere in the 35 to 40% harvested mode right now, depending upon the elevation and the variety, but things seem to be going ok thus far.

Fryhover says that labor shortage doesn't seem to be the issue this year, as it has been in the past, but that depends on the weather

FRYHOVER: If we lose a couple of days to rain or in the latter half we get some very cold mornings where we're unable to harvest then of course we'll have additional pressure. As of today though it appears we have enough people.

That's Washington Ag Today.

I'm Lacy Gray on the Ag Information Network.