From Agri-Pulse Senate Democrats blocked a bill aimed at forcing the Obama administration to replace its Clean Water Act rule, but Republicans quickly advanced a disapproval resolution that would simply kill the rule. The measure aimed at replacing the rule needed 60 votes to advance to a full debate, but just four Democrats supported the cloture motion, leaving the bill ... Read More »

From Agweek Enough is enough, says the National Association of Wheat Growers, which is working on a new plan to combat the long decline in U.S. wheat acreage. “Wheat is in trouble.” says Brett Blankenship, a wheat farmer from Washtucna, Wash., and president of the National Association of Wheat Growers. “There’s been a 20-year decline in productivity and profitability. “Effort ... Read More »

From Agri-Pulse The days of direct payments are over and so is some of the predictability about whether an individual grower will receive payments. That’s likely to cause some consternation, especially when growers of one crop in one county receive payments while growers in a neighboring county do not. USDA started issuing checks totaling about $3.9 billion last week. How does ... Read More »

From Agri-Pulse The Senate could vote as early as next week on a resolution killing the Obama administration’s new rule re-defining what ditches, wetlands and other areas are regulated by the Clean Water Act. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) announced yesterday that she has gathered enough support for a joint resolution of disapproval to overcome a Democratic filibuster. She didn’t say how many senators supported ... Read More »

From the Capital Press Congress has extended a deadline for railroads to implement new safety technology, which transportation experts say should avert potential disruptions to commodity markets. Under the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, railroads had until the end of 2015 to implement Positive Train Control, designed to automatically prevent derailments and train collisions in the event of operator ... Read More »

From DTN Plans to make some $3 billion in cuts to the federal crop insurance program in the next eight years were reversed after members of the House Agriculture Committee announced Wednesday an agreement had been made with House leadership to leave the program alone as part of a two-year budget deal. In a press statement issued Wednesday afternoon House ... Read More »

From Agri-Pulse Members of the House Agriculture Committee were waging a last-minute, uphill fight to stop a $3 billion cut to crop insurers that’s contained in a two-year budget agreement between congressional leaders and the White House. House Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway, R-Texas, said he was trying to persuade House GOP leaders to roll back the cut before the House ... Read More »

The Washington Association of Wheat Growers’ (WAWG) favorite grain will be taking up residence in a new home today, as Washington State University bread lab graduate students will be planting wheat at the Governor’s mansion in Olympia. On hand to welcome the seeds to their new plot will be Larry Cochran, WAWG President, and Nicole Berg, WAWG Past President. “We ... Read More »

From Agri-Pulse Farm program checks totaling nearly $4 billion could start arriving as early as today in farmers’ bank accounts across the country, providing a much needed boost while many commodity prices are falling. However, many of those who signed up for the new farm bill programs will find themselves empty-handed in this first round of payments. The U.S. Department of ... Read More »

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIR There is no greater responsibility for the Washington State University Board of Regents than selecting and retaining the best possible presidential leadership. It is an honor for me to invite and welcome your participation. As we begin the process to engage WSU’s 11th president, we have an opportunity to focus—together—on our major ... Read More »