From the Tri-City Herald/Todd Myers It has been fifty years since the four dams on the Lower Snake River were completed. Originally built to provide transportation, they now create the equivalent of 75 percent of all wind and solar power in Washington state, helping balance those intermittent resources across the Pacific Northwest. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance ... Read More »

According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, there were 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington. Washington crop condition Spring wheat: 6% very poor 45% poor 35% fair 11% good 3% excellent Barley: 4% very poor 49% poor 32% fair 14% good 1% excellent Washington crop progress: Winter wheat harvested: 69% this week 54% last week 63% last year 61% ... Read More »

From the Capital Press It says a lot about the connection that Washington State University weed researchers Drew Lyon and Ian Burke have forged that when both decided to leave, they turned in their letters of resignation at the same time. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

From The Center Square Washington state loses on average two farms a day, with more than 3,700 farms lost between 2017 and 2022, according to the United States Department of Agriculture Census of Agriculture and noted in the recently released “Mental Health and Suicide Prevention for Agricultural Producers and Workers” report compiled by the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Read the rest ... Read More »

By Michelle Hennings Executive Director, Washington Association of Wheat Growers Happy Harvesting. This time of year reminds us that anything is possible with dedication and perseverance, and we appreciate the beauty of nature, the joy of hard work, and the power of gratitude! The Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) has consistently advocated for a modernized farm bill. The current ... Read More »

From the Capital Press Wireworms are no longer as big a problem for farmers as they have been over the last decade and a half, a longtime Washington State University researcher says. “They can still rear their ugly heads, they still need to be managed, you still need to be paying attention to what you’re doing crop rotation wise and ... Read More »

According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, there were 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington. Washington crop condition Spring wheat: 7% very poor 41% poor 36% fair 13% good 3% excellent Barley: 4% very poor 46% poor 34% fair 15% good 1% excellent Washington crop progress: Winter wheat harvested: 54% this week 35% last week 45% last year 45% ... Read More »

By Diana Carlen Lobbyist, Washington Association of Wheat Growers The 2025 Washington State Legislative Session may have wrapped up in April, but the work in Olympia continues. Interim activities are already shaping the policy and budget debates for the 2026 legislative session. The interim is busy filled with work groups, agency rulemaking, interim legislative committee meetings, and agency budget and ... Read More »

From Successful Farming Government Executive’s Eric Katz reported that “the Agriculture Department is confident its push to move more employees out of Washington and into five new hubs around the country will retain most staff and large-scale layoffs will not be necessary, a top official told lawmakers on Wednesday.” Read the rest of the article here. Read More »