Members of the state agricultural industry that participated in the Riparian Taskforce recently submitted a letter providing an agricultural perspective in response to some of the recommendations released earlier this summer by Plauche and Carr, the Seattle law firm that led the taskforce. The final report recommends funding and implementation of voluntary restoration efforts and acquisition of riparian areas through ... Read More »

From the National Agricultural Statistics Service There were 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington, down from 6.8 days the previous week. Washington saw good weather and some reports of rain. Western Washington received some rain, and crops were still growing well. Yakima County experienced overcast conditions that contributed to a small amount of rain. Apple harvest continued with midseason ... Read More »

From the High Plains Journal A meaningful farm bill—not an extension of the current one—is on the mind of many wheat producers, and they have an ally with Keeff Felty. Felty, a southwest Oklahoma farmer, is president of the National Association of Wheat Growers, and he was a panelist at High Plains Journal’s Sorghum U/Wheat U event in Wichita, Kansas. ... Read More »

From agriculture.com The Republican-controlled House swept aside Democratic objections to pass a just-written bill on Sept. 11 to restrict the purchase of agricultural land by citizens of China, Russia, North Korea, or Iran. “It is the beginning of the effort to keep our greatest adversaries from being able to purchase any American farmland, because the way I see it, a ... Read More »

From the National Agricultural Statistics Service There were 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington, unchanged from last week. Washington had temperatures ideal for fieldwork, with little moisture received last week. Yakima County had air quality issues due to wildfire smoke. Gala apple harvest continued, and Granny Smith and Honeycrisp varieties also went into packing houses. Vegetable stands were bursting ... Read More »

From the National Association of Wheat Growers Citing worsening economic conditions impacting the nation’s farmers, over 300 national and state groups sent a letter to congressional leaders on Sept. 9, 2024, calling on them to pass the farm bill before year’s end. Signatories included groups representing farmers, livestock and specialty crop producers, lenders, and other essential stakeholders in agricultural communities ... Read More »

From Successful Farming In its most recent Crop Progress report, USDA said that 2% of the country’s crop had been planted as of the week ending Sept. 1. In one state, almost a quarter of the crop is in the ground. Here’s a closer look at the numbers. Read More »

From the Capital Press With U.S. farm property values at record levels, renting acreage feels more financially viable for new growers and ranchers. They generally lack capital or collateral to compete in the thin sector of the real estate market with more established ag producers and investors. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

From the National Agricultural Statistics Service There were 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington, up from 6.3 days the previous week. Washington did not receive much precipitation last week. Temperatures were warmer than usual in western Washington, but cooler than normal in eastern Washington. Western Washington reported drier conditions than normal, and irrigation was needed to keep crops going. ... Read More »

The Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) is accepting applications for partial repayments to ag producers or transporters of ag products who paid carbon fees related to the state’s cap and trade program on fuel purchases. Qualifying purchases are between Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2023. Funds will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications should be submitted at DOL’s ... Read More »