From NASS There were 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington last week, equal to the days suitable the previous week. In Okanogan, Ferry and Douglas counties, spotty thunderstorms brought moisture to fields. Flash flooding occurred in Chelan County, with hail reported on the Waterville Plateau. However, no crop damage from hail was reported. Cherries suffered from rain damage in ... Read More »

From the U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced an update on the implementation status of the 2018 Farm Bill. President Trump signed this Farm Bill into law on Dec. 20, 2018, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) promptly began implementing key programs. In addition, USDA held several listening sessions with stakeholders and the ... Read More »

From NASS There were 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington last week, down from 7.0 days the previous week. In Whatcom County, the absence of rain continued, and raspberries ripened. In San Juan County, a tease of rain helped grass growth along. This year’s hay dried out early, and most farms harvested last week. Berries bloomed; raspberries set fruit ... Read More »

The Spokane County wheat growers have awarded scholarships this year to two graduating high school seniors, Jon Denny and Kolbey Browning, both from Fairfield, Wash. Kolbey Browning Kolbey Browning is hoping her experience growing up on her family’s farm helps her succeed in her planned career path of bridging the gap between farmers and environmentalists who are pushing for big ... Read More »

The Asotin County wheat growers have awarded three scholarships this year to local high school seniors who are planning to major in an ag-related field. Anna Aarstad, Carmen Eggleston and Jolee Sanford all received funding from the wheat growers to help them with college expenses. Anna Aarstad Aarstad is the daughter of James and Denise Aarstad. After high school, she ... Read More »

From NASS There were 7.0 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington last week, up from 6.4 days the previous week. Dry, hot conditions characterized the weather statewide. In Adams and Lincoln counties, combined wind and heat pulled moisture out of top soil. Final bean crops in Adams and Lincoln counties required water immediately after planting. Winter wheat and spring cereal ... Read More »

By Dr. Xianming Chen In the western Pacific Northwest (PNW), especially northwestern Washington, winter wheat ranged from kernel watery ripe (Feekes 10.54) to soft dough (Feekes 11.2) and spring wheat from stem extension (Feekes 7) to heading (Feekes 10.3). Stripe rust has been severe as normal. We completed the stripe rust data collection on winter crop nurseries and the first ... Read More »

From the National Association of Wheat Growers Nearly 1,000 groups representing the U.S. food and agriculture value chain at the national, state and local levels have called on Congress to support the ratification of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). In a letter sent to Congress, the groups reiterate that USMCA will benefit the U.S. agriculture and food industry while providing consumers ... Read More »

From NASS There were 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington last week, down from 6.6 the previous week. Rainfall was plentiful late last week throughout northwestern Washington, with rain in Clallam, Jefferson, King, San Juan and Skagit counties. In Snohomish County, rain knocked down some fall triticale, and low-lying fields stayed very wet. Crops planted over Memorial Day weekend ... Read More »

From U.S. Wheat Associates and the National Association of Wheat Growers U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) are aware that USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the discovery of genetically engineered (GE) wheat plants growing in an unplanted agricultural field in Washington State. APHIS says the GE wheat in question ... Read More »