By Andy PerdueCabernet Sauvignon is the king of Washington wine country.Washington winemakers harvested 261,000 tons of wine grapesin 2018, up from 229,000 tons in the previous year, based on numbers releasedin March by the Washington Wine Commission. Washington is the No. 2 producer of wine grapes in theUnited States, second...
Mid-Columbia farmers facing Yakima basin drought declaration on top of delay in planting, harvestThis year’s growing season may bechallenging for farmers with possible drought conditions and delayed plantingsafter winter’s heavy, prolonged snow.Wheat, wine grape, apple,asparagus and potato industry officials reported weather-related delays becauseof the record snowfall that blanketed the region...
NW Farm Supply expects to open a new store in Prosser this month.The new 13,000-square-foot building sits on 2.78 acres at 451 Wine Country Road, adjacent to Shopko Hometown.The company opened its first store in Hermiston in 1995. The Oregon shop, started by Nathan Crowther and John Lloyd, serves as...
Progress is moving forward on Columbia Pulp’s new plant north of Dayton. With a pilot plant starting in July in Pomeroy and the goal of beginning pulp production at the Lyons Ferry operation in the fourth quarter this year, the company is ramping up recruitment efforts.CEO John Begley said the...
For more than 35 years, Northwest Agricultural Consultants has been providing the Columbia Basin with quality, in-house soil, plant and water testing services, continually upgrading its equipment and testing methods to deliver fast results.Company President Wade Carter said the accredited lab strives for one-day or better turnaround, processing tens of...
Washington’s wineries and the state Department of Ecology have collaborated to develop the first statewide water quality permit that aims to help the industry prevent pollution and protect water quality.This new winery general permit establishes practices to help wineries manage their wastewater by providing broad, efficient and consistent coverage. The...
After years of referring business to one another, Basin Pacific Insurance & Benefits acquired Manley Crop Insurance in Prosser for an undisclosed amount.Brad Toner, owner of the Kennewick insurance and benefits agency, said the transaction—which was solidified in May—felt more like a merger because the two companies share such similar...
By T. Michael TallmanI can still remember the days of working with my dad and grandpa on the farm. Each fall while they were driving a harvester, I drove a truck to get our crops to market. It always seemed like we spent more time on repairs and maintenance of...
A world-renowned plant pathologist has been named director of the Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Prosser and assistant dean for the College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences at Washington State University Tri-Cities in Richland.Naidu Rayapati studies virus diseases in a variety of crops, with an emphasis...
Jim Harbertson sees through rosé-colored glasses finely-tuned shades and hues ranging from blush and coral to berry jam.Harbertson, a wine researcher at Washington State University Tri-Cities in Richland, has become an expert in the science of pink-esque pretty.With the rosé wine craze in full bloom and warmer weather helping to...
