NEWS
Weather with AgWeatherNet: Daily Frost Forecasts and Risk Mitigation Decision Support Tools
Written by Lav Khot, Josh Ward, Craig Oswald, and Sanjita Bhavirisetty, Washington State University – AgWeatherNet, March 9, 2026 This article introduces the updated Frost Forecast web portal that will delivery daily Spring frost forecasts…
A Web-Based Decision-Support Tool for Sweet Cherry Floral Dormancy, Relative Water Content, and Cold Hardiness
The LTER–Sweet Cherry Model v1 is a web-based decision-support tool that uses daily temperature and solar radiation inputs to generate seasonal predictions of floral dormancy progression (LTER), floral relative water content (RWC), and floral cold…
Green Atlas Cartographer for Precision Crop Load Monitoring
Written by Dattatray Bhalekar, Juan Munguia de la Cruz, Bernardita Sallato, Lav Khot, Washington State University, March 2026 Over the past two seasons (2024 and 2025), several commercial ground- and aerial-vision systems have been validated…
Vivid XV3 Vision System for Precision Crop Load Monitoring
Written by Dattatray Bhalekar, Juan Munguia de la Cruz, Bernardita Sallato, Lav Khot, Washington State University, March 2026 Precision crop load management is critical in modern apple production, enabling growers optimize fruit count, size, and…
The Impact of Soil Amendments on a Replanted Apple Orchard
This study aims to evaluate how different soil amendments influence soil health indicators, soil biology, and early tree growth in a replated commercial apple orchard. This report summarized preliminary results from the 2025 growing season.
Starting the Season off for Pear IPM Success
For growers intending to use selective IPM programs (limiting broad spectrum sprays) for pears this season here are a few considerations for success.
Soil Sampling for tree fruit orchards
Tips for soil sampling in tree fruit orchards.
2026 Tree Fruit Crop Protection Guide Available Now
The 2026 Tree Fruit Crop Protection Guide is now available with more than 50 new updates since 2015. New this year is an updated Weed Management section.
2026 WA Tree Fruit Research Commission Grant Awards for Technology
In December of 2025, the WA Tree Fruit Research Commission approved $564,371 for six (6) new technology research projects for the upcoming year.
OPPORTUNITIES
Postharvest discussion forum
Postharvest Discussion Forum April 7, 2026 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM WSU Yakima County Extension Office 2403 S 18th St, Union Gap, WA Hybrid Format: In-Person + Online Option Available Join us for our second…
EVENTS
Mar 11 | Wenatchee Valley College
Okanogan Pest Management Discussion Group
Mar 11 | Tonasket Community Cultural Center
Columbia Basin Tree Fruit Club
Mar 25 | Country Gentleman
Apr 7 | WSU Yakima County Extension
TEAM
Datta Bhalekar
Thiago Campbell
Tianna DuPont
Dani Gray
Gwen Hoheisel
Marcella Magby
Lexie McDaniel
Manoella Mendoza
Claire Murphy
Bernardita Sallato
Tory Schmidt
Corina Serban
EDITOR
The March 2026 edition of Fruit Matters was edited by Bernardita Sallato, WSU Extension.
