Around the Industry

WSDA Pest Watch Webinar Survey  The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) hosted a free webinar Pest Watch: Strategies for Specialty Crop Protection in March.  Pest Watch presentations are available for view. Silent invader and Tree-of-heaven  Learn how Washington is preparing for spotted lanternfly with survey efforts, ant eDNA collections, and alternate host plant studies. Follow these efforts with learning how…

Help Shape the Future of Washington Agriculture The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) recently released its Phase 1 report, Washington Agriculture at a Crossroads, offering a statewide snapshot of the challenges and opportunities facing farms and ranches. Now they’re moving into Phase 2, and they’re asking for direct input from producers and workers across…

2026 Sabbatical Applications Due June 30 Anyone working in the Washington wine industry with at least 5 years of experience is eligible for this $5,000 award from the Washington Wine Industry Foundation to travel to an established wine-producing region of the world and learn about an aspect of winegrape growing or winemaking.  Recipients have the…

Viticulture and Enology Extension News Available The WSU Spring 2026 issue of VEEN is now available! Articles include a summary of summer activities for idled vineyards, vineyard recovery from prolonged drought stress, the new CropAI tool, berry surface temperature measuring, and an update from the Washington State Wine Commission’s Research Committee!  Categories Around the Industry Events Grape Post Full Issue…

Silicon Valley Bank – 2026 SVB Direct-to-Consumer Wine Industry Survey There is still time to participate in the 2026 SVB Direct-to-Consumer Wine Industry Survey. Survey answers are strictly confidential and all individual personal information will be removed from the results. Each response is critical in ensuring statistical relevance throughout the United States. SVB is excited…

From WSU – Compost Research Researchers at WSU are conducting a study of farmer motivations, challenges, and decision-making around 1) compost use and 2) participation in government incentive programs for the application of carbon-rich amendments like compost and biochar. We are actively seeking farmers who are willing to participate in an interview on these topics! You do…

From Washington Wine Industry Foundation – Scholarships The Washington Wine Industry Foundation’s 2026 scholarship application is open! This includes the Walter Clore Scholarship started by the Winegrowers Association.  All the information needed to apply can be found HERE. Deadline is April 14.  Please pass this email along to anyone you may know that could benefit from…

From WSDA – Japanese Beetle Do you live or farm in Benton, Franklin, or Yakima counties? Keep up with the latest on WSDA’s quarantine and treatment areas for the invasive Japanese Beetle, a new pest of concern in Washington that feeds on over 300 host plants, including grapes.  Check out the WSDA Japanese Beetle webpage here.…