From Agri-Pulse General Mills Inc. has become the second major food maker to announce that it will start labeling its products for biotech ingredients as required by a Vermont law set to take effect this summer. The General Mills announcement, which follows a decision by Campbell Soup Co. in January, comes as legislation to preempt state GMO labeling laws has stalled in the ... Read More »

From Agri-Pulse The leaders of USDA’s research agencies told lawmakers on the House Agriculture Appropriations panel Wednesday why federal investment in agricultural research is critical to protecting the national food system and supporting American producers. In fiscal 2016, Congress approved the highest ever budget – $2.94 billion – for USDA ag research. The Obama administration’s 2017 budget proposal asks for $38 million less in discretionary funds compared to last year, ... Read More »

From the Capital Press The need for more innovation to increase productivity is among the wheat industry’s top priorities, the new president of the National Association of Wheat Growers says. “We’re actually backsliding, we have not made progress,” Outlook, Mt., wheat farmer Gordon Stoner said. He replaces Washtucna, Wash., wheat farmer Brett Blankenship as the NAWG president. Read the rest ... Read More »

County reports from yesterday’s state board meeting in Ritzville: Adams-So far, spring has been very good. Lots of rain and crops look good. Spring crops are slowly being put in. Aston-There’s been a little bit of spring wheat seeded. Winter wheat looks good. Benton-DNS planting is in full swing. Spring wheat is coming up. It’s been wet, a far cry ... Read More »

From Agri-Pulse The Senate looks to settle the issue of biotech labeling once and for all this week with a historic debate on legislation that would block states from requiring GMO disclosure According to a source familiar with the negotiations, a compromise version of the legislation is likely to be released today. The bill is expected to be on the ... Read More »

By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist Last night, the Legislature adjourned on the 60th day of the legislative session without passing a supplemental budget. While each chamber had previously passed competing supplemental budget proposals, they could not reach a final agreement by the deadline on how much more to spend for the upcoming year and whether to use the Budget Stabilization ... Read More »

From the National Association of Wheat Growers Last week, Darci Vetter was selected as the inaugural recipient of the National Association of Wheat Growers President’s Award. Vetter serves as Chief Agricultural Negotiator with the rank of Ambassador at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. NAWG President, Brett Blankenship, presented her the award during the Commodity Classic in New Orleans. ... Read More »

From small grains.wsu.edu Washington Agribusiness: Status and Outlook 2016 is the inaugural issue of a new annual publication. Produced by WSU economic sciences faculty, it examines the opportunities and challenges facing Washington agriculture. Each issue will come out in January and will provide an update on Washington’s major sectors, including wheat and barley, specialty crops, tree fruit, beef, and dairy, as ... Read More »

By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist Today is the 57th day of the regular legislative session. Last Friday was another important deadline. It was the last day to consider bills from the opposite house, except initiatives and alternatives to initiatives, budgets and matters necessary to implement budgets. With only four days left of the regular session, the primary focus of the ... Read More »

By Xianming Chen USDA ARS Plant Pathologist Severe stripe rust forecasted for the eastern Pacific Northwest Based on our forecast models using the weather conditions from November 2015 to February 2016, stripe rust will potentially cause yield loss of 53 percent on highly susceptible varieties, indicating an epidemic in the severe (40-60 percent yield loss on susceptible varieties) range. This ... Read More »