Last month, the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) sent a letter to Richard Flournoy, acting administrator of the Risk Management Agency (RMA), providing feedback on two proposed crop insurance regulation changes. Specifically, WAWG supported a change that would allow winter wheat and spring wheat to be insured as separate enterprise units. Currently, all types of wheat are grouped together. ... Read More »

From NASS There were 6.5 days suitable for field work, down from 6.7 the previous week. Statewide temperatures for the week ending Oct. 10 were mostly below normal. San Juan County reported cooler temperatures with some rainfall throughout the area. Fall crops were planted, and harvest was near completion. Tree fruit harvest was in the final weeks, and pastures were ... Read More »

From the Spokesman.com By almost any conceivable measure, this summer’s lengthy and extreme drought led to historic lows in the production and quality of the region’s signature cash crop. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

From the Capital Press Agricultural exporters and shipping industry leaders had a heated exchange at the Agriculture Transportation Coalition’s virtual convention. Each group — carriers, port leaders and exporters — expressed frustration at the continued challenges that have afflicted the global shipping industry since COVID-19 first hit in late 2019. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

From the Capital Press The continuing resolution to fund the federal government through Dec. 3 includes disaster aid for wheat farmers, says the head of the National Association of Wheat Growers. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

From the Farm Service Agency Final market year average (MYA) prices for 2020 have been published for wheat, barley and oats. The MYA for wheat and barley fell below the statutory reference price resulting in a 2020 Price Loss Coverage (PLC) payment rate for those crops. The MYA for oats exceeded the statutory reference price, so no payment will be ... Read More »

There’s a new face greeting producers at the Washington Association of Wheat Growers’ (WAWG) office in Ritzville, Wash. Katie Teachout joined the WAWG staff at the end of July as an administrative assistant. Teachout moved to Ritzville in 2020 from Okanogan County to take a position at the Ritzville Adams County Journal where she covered local sports and news. She ... Read More »

From NASS There were 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork, up from 6.6 the previous week. Statewide temperatures for the week ending Oct. 3 were below normal. In San Juan County, more rain and cooler temperatures pushed the area past drought conditions. Livestock was on stored feed. CSA farms continued fall harvest. Some fieldwork was delayed due to storm systems that ... Read More »

From reuters.com Top U.S. trade negotiator Katherine Tai on Monday pledged to exclude some Chinese imports from tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump while pressing Beijing in “frank” talks over its failure to keep promises made in Trump’s trade deal and end harmful industrial policies. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

From NASS Winter wheat  Washington planted 1.75 million acres of winter wheat for 2021, down 50,000 acres from 2020. Harvested area, at 1.69 million acres, was down 60,000 acres from 2020. Winter wheat production in Washington is 71 million bushels, down 47 percent from last year with yield estimated at 42 bushels per acre, down 34 bushels per acre from ... Read More »