09/26/07 New WSU Orchard

New WSU Orchard. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. When I was growing up we used to go out to my aunt & uncles farm and pick apples from their orchard. It was just a bunch of apple trees down by the river. Recently the research and extension center of WSU dedicated a new orchard that bears little resemblance to the orchards of my youth. According to Jim McFerson with the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission, this orchard is ready for the future. MCFERSON: It's an investment by many partners; by the state, by the industry and by WSU into this facility  or actually it's a living laboratory. It's I think the first time in Washington that we are building up a field research facility that not only resembles commercial plantings but will feature some of the more progressive technologies that are now available. As labor issues continue and the industry wrestles with losing organophosphates, McFerson says they are looking at alternatives in working the orchard and pest management techniques. MCFERSON: Now we've got the facility that we can begin to do those kinds of experiments and test new chemistries and test new technologies in a setting that's a lot more relevant to a commercial situation. We are expecting that we aren't going to have to do as much validation of our work in grower's orchards; we'll still be doing that. This orchard in no way takes the place of the constant work we're doing with grower cooperators but it really expands the scientific and research possibilities. WSU's new president has made a commitment to the ag industry and tree fruit in particular. MCFERSON: The president said he wants WSU to be our research partner of first choice. We'd love that to happen and I think this research orchard and others like it are what we need to make that happen. Tomorrow Jim McFerson talks about labor shortages and automation. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.