From AgWeb.com If you’re wondering if there’s anything you need to know about the current budget battles in Congress, the answer is yes. If the House and Senate can’t reach an agreement on the federal budget—or more likely, a continuing resolution to fund the government while they hammer out a budget—by Sept. 30, the federal government will shut down on ... Read More »
Author Archives: Trista Crossley
Comment sought on plan to bolster oversight of GE wheat field trials
From Agri-Pulse USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is inviting public comment on a proposed plan to strengthen oversight of field trials for genetically engineered wheat, following two recent detections of GE wheat where the plants should not have been growing. No varieties of GE wheat have been deregulated by APHIS. Read the rest of the story here. Read More »
‘All bets off’ for policy agenda as embattled Boehner quits
From Agri-Pulse House Speaker John Boehner abruptly relinquished his leadership amid a growing rebellion in his caucus, throwing into doubt the prospects for getting an agreement on highway funding and on policy issues critical to agriculture. Boehner’s announcement that he will step down next month comes as he was struggling to avoid a government shutdown next week and preparing to ... Read More »
Washington’s drought predicted to extend into second year
From a 09/24/15 Washington State Department of Ecology news release Even though cooler temperatures and fall colors are returning, Washington’s historic drought isn’t over. Not by a long shot. “The recent rains were nice, but we’re not out of the woods yet,” said Director Maia Bellon with the Washington Department of Ecology. “We’re carrying a huge water deficit into this ... Read More »
What is Positive Train Control?
One of the issues WAWG has been following is Positive Train Control. PTC uses GPS and other communication and sensors to enhance the safety of train operations. Invention and installation of this sophisticated system was mandated by Congress in 2008, after a tragic commuter train crash. Congress has set a deadline implementation for railroads of Dec. 31, 2015. Though the railroads have ... Read More »
Sage Grouse avoids endangered listing
From The Hill Wildlife officials announced Tuesday that the greater sage-grouse does not need protection as an endangered species. The announcement puts to rest a major chapter in the debate over the chicken-sized bird, which has become one of the most controversial species over the last year amid fights between Republicans, oil interests, conservationists, the Obama administration and others. Development ... Read More »
Washington state to set carbon pollution limits
Today, the Washington Department of Ecology formally began writing a rule that would require the state’s largest polluters to reduce their greenhouse gases. Ecology is considering businesses and organizations that are responsible for producing 100,000 metric tons or more of greenhouse gases be covered under the rule. The types of businesses include: · Natural gas distributors · Petroleum fuel producers ... Read More »
USDA announces 2016 small grains projected prices
Barley and wheat prices available USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) has announced the 2016 projected prices for winter and spring wheat and winter barley for Idaho, Oregon and Washington. These prices are critical for producers evaluating their crop insurance coverage options. RMA also reminds producers of the Sept. 30 deadline for purchasing crop insurance for fall-planted barley with winter coverage ... Read More »
Lawmakers cut deal on grain inspections
From Agri-Pulse The Senate Agriculture Committee reached a bipartisan agreement with the House for extending grain inspection standards and livestock price reporting today. The legislation, which has the support of the House Agriculture Committee, would ensure that grain inspections could continue during a labor dispute. The bill (HR 2051), which the Senate panel approved on a voice vote, includes a ... Read More »
CRP grazing extended for fire, drought victims
From the Capital Press Ranchers in Eastern Washington who have lost grazing ground to drought or wildfire will be able to graze CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) land through Dec. 15, says Judith Olson, state director of the USDA Farm Service Agency in Spokane. That’s welcome news and will help meet the short-term needs of hundreds of ranchers throughout Eastern Washington ... Read More »