By Dr. Xianming Chen On May 6, we were checking fields around Pullman, Wash. Winter wheat and barley ranged from Feekes 5 to 7. We were able to find stripe rust on susceptible checks in all our experimental fields at the Palouse Conservation Field Station, Plant Path Farm, and Spillman Farm. The incidence was low (<0.01%) in all locations, as ... Read More »

From the National Agricultural Statistics Service According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, there were 5.9 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington. Temperatures were above average in the east and average to below average in the west. Washington crop condition Winter wheat: 4% very poor 8% poor 10% fair 69% good 9% excellent Winter canola: 6% very poor 28% poor ... Read More »

From the Capital Press The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation have further extended the public comment period for their re-do environmental review of Columbia River systems operations to Aug. 15. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

From the Capital Press Members of the Upper Mississippi River Waterway Association will tour the Columbia-Snake River system the week of June 23. The tour is the latest in an ongoing partnership with Pacific Northwest stakeholders, who toured the Mississippi River in June 2024. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

From Northwest Public Broadcasting Inky black ravens light on newly seeded ground. Andy Juris is planting spring soft white wheat at an elevation of 3,000 feet outside of Bickleton, Washington. The crop will be harvested starting in August. Then, it’s bound for the Columbia River barges, out to Portland or Vancouver. It’ll then be sent upon the ocean for Japan, ... Read More »

From the Capital Press The Environmental Protection Agency has released a three-step framework for regulating insecticides, winning praise from farm groups, state agriculture departments and the USDA for reworking a widely criticized plan proposed last year by the Biden EPA. The EPA released its final “insecticide strategy” on April 29, one day before a court-set deadline to come up with ... Read More »

From the National Agricultural Statistics Service  According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, there were 7 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington, and good weather continued for planting progress. Washington crop condition Winter wheat: 4% very poor 7% poor 14% fair 65% good 10% excellent Winter canola: 4% very poor 22% poor 52% fair 16% good 6% excellent Washington crop ... Read More »

From PNW Ag Network The first 100 days of the 2nd Trump Administration have been a rollercoaster ride for the American Farmer, most notably lead by tariffs and trade wars.  The Administration has placed a variety of tariffs on some of the United States’ closest allies, China and others, leading to retaliatory tariffs.  While it has yet to be seen if this ... Read More »

By Diana Carlen Lobbyist, Washington Association of Wheat Growers The Legislature adjourned on the 105th day of the 2025 Legislative Session on April 27 at 6:30 p.m. In the final week of the legislative session, the Legislature adopted the 2025-2027 operating, capital, and transportation budgets. However, it is unknown if Gov. Ferguson will sign the operating budget, veto it, or ... Read More »

From Farm Policy News Agri-Pulse’s Noah Wicks and Steve Davies reported Wednesday that “the Trump administration’s plan for reorganizing and downsizing USDA should be out by the middle of May, and it will likely call for consolidating some programs with other agencies, according to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.” Read the rest of the article here. Read More »