PROSSER, Wash. – The 2011 WSU Cherry Field Day, a day for people to come together to discuss advances in cherry growing, will begin at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 8, in Buena, Wash. and will include stops in Outlook and Prosser.
The morning will begin with orchard tours in Buena and Outlook and will end at the WSU Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Prosser for demonstrations and a tour of the WSU Roza Experimental Orchards.
Topics of discussion will include cherry breeding program updates, genetic/genomic tool applications to sweet cherries and demonstrations of new harvest technologies. A barbecue will also be held. A detailed agenda can be found here.
The WSU Cherry Field Day is being held in conjunction with the Oregon State University Cherry Pre-Harvest Tour in The Dalles, Ore., Tuesday June 7.
“We are excited to combine our event this year with the OSU Pre-harvest tour,” said Matt Whiting, associate professor and extension specialist at WSU-IAREC. “Our collaboration with OSU for a two-day event, along with an earlier date than we usually have for cherry field day, will hopefully make it easier for cherry growers to attend. Since we are looking at a later harvest this year, our event should have no conflicts at all for cherry growers in the area.”
Staff from Wilson Orchard & Vineyard Supply have also arranged for photos and fingerprinting during lunch to help growers get their newly required federal explosives permit for bird control.
Beginning May 1, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives will require all users of explosive pest devices to have a federal explosives permit. Items subject to this requirement are: bird bombs/bangers, bird whistlers/bird screamers, and shell crack/shot tell.
Discounted rates are offered at the Days Inn & Suites in Toppenish, Wash. on June 7 for those attending the event. Call (509) 865-7444 to reserve a room and mention the event to receive the discount.