Author Archives: Trista Crossley

Crop progress report 10/15: Temperatures begin to drop for Washington

There were 5.7 days suitable for field work last week. Pasture and range conditions were reported at 29 percent very poor, 29 percent poor, 29 percent fair and 13 percent good. A low temperature of 20 degrees F was reported in the northeast region, while a high temperature of 72 degrees was reported in the southeast region. Statewide temperature differentials ranged from 9 to 3 degrees ... Read More »

As Trump takes aim at NAFTA, farmers are hopeful—and nervous

From NPR President Trump made his view of the North American Free Trade Agreement very clear during the presidential election. He called NAFTA “the worst trade deal in … the history of this country.” And Trump blamed NAFTA for the loss of millions of U.S. manufacturing jobs. His administration is in the midst of renegotiating the free trade deal with ... Read More »

Report: Most Northwest ag commodities barely profitable

From the Capital Press Northwest agricultural producers will see at least a small profit this season from most of the crops they raise, according to a report by Northwest Farm Credit Services. The financial cooperative’s quarterly Market Snapshot concludes producers of cattle, potatoes, sugar beets, onions, hay, apples and wine should do better than break-even for this season’s crop. Read ... Read More »

NAFTA Day on Capitol Hill

From NAWG On Capitol Hill yesterday, there were signs of the increased stakes in the NAFTA talks: business and agricultural groups mounted a lobbying push targeting more than 250 House members, and the Ways and Means chairman seemed to say businesses have reason to worry, reported Politico. At the White House, in the most visible and symbolic moment of the day, ... Read More »

Wheat group defends crop insurance

From the Capital Press Wheat industry leaders are emphasizing the importance of crop insurance for farmers in the wake of a summit sponsored by organizations that want to eliminate it. The R Street Institute, Taxpayers for Common Sense, Heritage Foundation and other like-minded groups held a summit in Washington, D.C., last week and proposed changes to the farm bill that ... Read More »

Wheat growers want new trade deals

From Brownfield Ag News Two U.S. wheat groups say the Trump Administration is putting too much emphasis on reworking existing trade agreements and not enough focus on negotiating new trade deals. U.S. Wheat Associates and the National Association of Wheat Growers want the President to keep his promise to negotiate new bilateral trade agreements in place of the Trans Pacific ... Read More »

Crop progress report 10/08: Harvesters were going full tilt in Washington

From NASS There were 6.7 days suitable for field work last week. Pasture and range conditions were reported at 26 percent very poor, 33 percent poor, 30 percent fair and 11 percent good. A low temperature of 25 degrees F was reported in the northeast region, while a high temperature of 78 degrees F was reported in the southeast region. Statewide temperature differentials ranged ... Read More »

Crop insurance vital in light of current economic, weather conditions

As part of a farm bill policy reform summit in Washington, D.C., last week, groups including The R Street Institute, Taxpayers for Common Sense, The Heritage Foundation and other like-minded groups have called for policy changes to the farm bill that the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) finds short-sided and will ultimately harm the farming community and rural America. In ... Read More »

Northwest drought retreats; seasonal outlook turns colder, wetter

From the Capital Press Oregon and Washington’s flash droughts are receding, and La Niña is shaping up in the Pacific Ocean, causing long-range forecasts for the Northwest to turn wetter and cooler, federal climatologists reported Thursday. Some 64 percent of Washington is in a drought, down from 78 percent the week before, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Oregon’s drought ... Read More »

Washington congressman leads bipartisan letter urging president to honor Korea-U.S. trade agreement

Today, U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.), chairman of the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, led a bipartisan coalition in calling on President Trump to continue honoring the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS). In recent weeks it has been reported that the Trump Administration is considering withdrawing from the agreement. A withdrawal from the agreement would cause American businesses, farmers and ... Read More »