10/18/05 Innovation, tech, and the Hort Convention

10/18/05 Innovation, tech, and the Hort Convention

Not only is the theme of the 101st annual Washington State Horticultural Association convention "Technology and Innovation: Keys to Success", it is the related theme of the December Fifth morning kick-off session. The program gets started with Washington State Ecology Director Jay Manning talking about the "Governor's Cabinet and Agriculture", followed by Steve Faivre of John Deere giving the annual Bajter Address on technology and information optimizing agricultural performance. Conference co-organization Nick Stephens says the popular panel discussion follows, this year moderated by Washington State Tree Fruit Research Commission Director Jim McPherson. STEPHENS: Jim's got a group of some of the best growers in the world that are currently using this advanced technology from orchard design, orchard layout, planting the orchard to how they spray the crop, how they fertilize the crop, how they manage the water. It's from design, from planting, to all the way down the road when they are harvesting the crop. More segments on technology and profitability follow, then Monday afternoon, the focus shifts to the topic of "Today and Tomorrow: Environment, Genetics, Management", with several programs covering everything from fruit breeding to management of various aspects of the fruit industry. This year's Washington State Horticultural Association convention takes place December Fifth through Seventh in Wenatchee. Future Fruit Grower Reports on the Hort Convention include a preview of the Tuesday morning program, featuring one of the apple industry's newest fans, McDonalds.
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