From Agri-Pulse Capitol Hill appropriators received a pair of letters Wednesday outlining funding priorities for conservation and waterway infrastructure. One letter was signed by more than 220 ag, wildlife, and conservation groups; the other by 22 farm organizations. Read the rest of the story here. Read More »

From the Capital Press Farmers in the Northwest are planting more pulses, canola and barley, forgoing some wheat acreage as a result of low prices. Chickpea, canola and barley acres increased in the PNW, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service prospective plantings report. “I think farmers are looking for options to plant something other than wheat when they ... Read More »

Yesterday marked the 86th day of the legislative session. Another important legislative deadline occurred last week, when all bills from the opposite chamber must have passed out of their respective policy committee to remain “alive” this session. Yesterday was another deadline in which all bills must pass out of the opposite chamber’s fiscal committees to remain alive. House releases and passes operating ... Read More »

From NASS There were 4.4 days suitable for field work last week. Pasture and range conditions were reported to be 1% very poor, 12% poor, 33% fair, 52% good, and 2% excellent. A low temperature of 27 degrees Fahrenheit was reported in the northeast region, while a high of 69 degrees was reported in central Washington. Statewide temperature differentials ranged ... Read More »

From small grains.wsu.edu Wheat farmers signing up for U.S. farm program benefits in early 2015 were asked to select between a revenue based program (Agricultural Risk Coverage – ARC) or a price based program (Price Loss Coverage – PLC). Once a choice was made, the choice was binding over the entire life of the 2014 Farm Bill. This created a ... Read More »

By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist Yesterday marked the 79th day of the legislative session. The next legislative deadline is March 29 in which all bills must pass out of the opposite chamber’s policy committees to remain alive. House Democrats Release Their Proposed Operating Budget On Monday, the House Democrats released their proposed operating budget for the state for 2017-2019. The proposed budget ... Read More »

From Brownfield Ag News The president of the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) says current federal commodity support programs must be tweaked before reauthorization in the next Farm Bill. During a House Ag Subcommittee hearing on general farm commodities and risk management today, Kansas farmer David Schemm spoke about his personal experience utilizing both the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) ... Read More »

From Agri-Pulse When President Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Act into law in 1862, he set in motion the development of a system of land grant colleges and helped create the foundation for U.S. agricultural research that’s endured until today. That foundation is still strong, thanks to formula funding established by Congress over the years, but there are new fears that the ... Read More »

By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist Early this morning, the Washington State Senate passed a $43 billion budget proposal that earmarks $1.8 billion for education funding in a 25-24 vote. Unlike the governor’s proposed budget, the senate budget does not raise new taxes such as a carbon tax. However, it does rework the state property tax to replace local property tax ... Read More »

Before the Feb. 7 comment period closed, the Washington Association of Wheat Growers submitted comments in a letter on the proposed scoping process for the Columbia River Systems Operations Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The letter outlined the organization’s opposition to any consideration of dam removal or breaching, saying, “…it is important that the scoping effort recognize that there is no ... Read More »