From the Capital Press Farmers and ranchers described a private meeting with two of President Donald Trump’s cabinet members June 2 as unprecedented and historic. Instead of addressing the group, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke listened and took notes, according to those who were there. “They just didn’t have an agenda. They truly wanted to ... Read More »

From USW’s 6/1 Wheat Letter Last week, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) expressed dismay that the Trump Administration’s proposed FY2018 budget calls for eliminating funding for the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) program and would severely cut funding for food aid programs. These cuts and other proposed cuts to the farm safety net ... Read More »

WAWG is run by farmers who volunteer their time and energy. As such, the organization is always looking for people to help out at education events, such as farm fairs, expos and the recent Almira Ag STEM day (above). Marci Green, WAWG vice president, puts out the request for more volunteers. She says: “The educational events are usually in spring, ... Read More »

From NASS There were 6.4 days suitable for field work last week. Pasture and range conditions were reported at 2 percent poor, 8 percent fair, 73 percent good and 17 percent excellent. A low temperature of 37 degrees F was reported in the central region, while a high temperature of 95 was reported in both the central and southeastern regions. Statewide ... Read More »

In the wheat world, summer’s long, hot days lead not only to harvest, but usually barbecues seasoned with plot tours and updates on county and state business. Most county wheat growers groups will partner with the Washington State University Extension Cereal Variety Testing Program to hold a county meeting immediately before or after one of their local plot tours. Washington ... Read More »

From the National Association of Wheat Growers On May 23, the Trump Administration released its FY2018 budget request, which makes significant cuts to several farm bill programs, including crop insurance, commodity programs, conservation programs, rural economic development and SNAP. Overall cuts to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs would total about $240 billion in mandatory spending over 10 years and ... Read More »

From the Capital Press President Donald Trump’s proposed budget would eliminate funding for two key federal programs used to promote U.S. wheat overseas, industry representatives say. Trump’s budget for the 2018 fiscal year would eliminate funding for the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service Market Access Program, called MAP, and the Foreign Market Development program. In addition, it would severely cut funding ... Read More »

With the release of the Trump Administration’s FY 2018 budget proposal, the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) expresses a great deal of concern over significant reductions to risk management programs, trade development programs, and more. WAWG President Ben Adams, a wheat grower from Coulee City, Wash., issued the following statement: “Risk management and market access programs are critical to ... Read More »

From NASS There were 5.5 days suitable for field work last week. Pasture and range conditions were reported at 1 percent poor, 13 percent fair, 67 percent good and 19 percent excellent. A low temperature of 27 degrees F was reported in the northeastern region, while a high temperature of 86 degrees F was reported in the southeast region. Statewide temperature differentials ranged from ... Read More »

By Dr. Xianming Chen Barley leaf rust Barley leaf rust (caused by Puccinia hordei) was found in a couple of fields planted with facultative winter barley variety ‘Maja’ in Walla Walla County, Wash., near the Oregon border. By May 18, rust incidence was 100 percent and severity ranged from 40 to 100 percent.  According to the grower, the fields were planted last October ... Read More »