From the Capital Press Since the 2018 Farm Bill expired, many farmers and others are wondering when the new legislation will be written, and that’s impossible to answer at this point. But a new farm bill will be written because of  what is called the “dairy cliff,” according to those familiar with the farm bill process. Read the rest of ... Read More »

Fieldwork for the year may slowly be winding down, but preparations for the 2023 Tri-State Grain Growers Convention are reaching a fever pitch. Staff from the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG), the Oregon Wheat Growers League, and the Idaho Grain Producers Association are putting the finishing touches on this year’s convention, which will be held Nov. 14-16, 2023, at ... Read More »

According to several news outlets, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is planning to use $1.4 billion in Commodity Credit Corporation funds to boost ag exports through a new program, the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program. The news comes after U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and John Boozman (R-Ark.), ranking ... Read More »

From the National Agricultural Statistics Service There were 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington, up from 6.1 days reported the previous week. Western Washington producers scrambled to harvest as much as possible before rain hit their fields. Central Washington had a great week of farming. Fall planting was wrapping up, and some pasture had greened up enough for cows to graze. ... Read More »

From the Capital Press Work on the Winona train trestle destroyed by wildfire in August is nearly complete, and freight service will resume later in October, according to the Washington Department of Transportation. The trestle, 31 miles east of Colfax, between LaCrosse and Endicott, handles 2,600 rail cars loaded with wheat and supplies each year. Read the rest of the ... Read More »

The Washington Grain Commission (WGC) and the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) applaud the support of members from the Washington State Federal Congressional Delegation, and their commitment to the state’s agricultural industry, in response to the announcement that the Federal Railroad Administration selected the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to receive a substantial $72.8 million Fiscal Year 2022 ... Read More »

From the National Agricultural Statistics Service There were 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington, down from 6.6 days reported the previous week. In western Washington, drought conditions escalated to a D3 status for King and Pierce counties. Shellfish farmers had to cancel going out on the bay several days in a row because the tide would not drop due ... Read More »

From the National Agricultural Statistics Service Winter wheat  Washington planted 1.80 million acres of winter wheat in 2023, down 50,000 acres from 2022. Harvested area, at 1.75 million acres, is down 50,000 acres from 2022. Winter wheat production in Washington is 94.5 million bushels, down 23% from last year, with yield estimated at 54 bushels per acre, down 14 bushels ... Read More »

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced this week that the Washington State Department of Transportation has been selected to receive a $72.8 million Fiscal Year 2022 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) grant for capital improvements on the PCC short-line railroad. State funding from the Move Ahead Washington transportation package, as well as local and private contributions, will bring ... Read More »

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the Washington counties of Asotin, Columbia, Garfield, Walla Walla, and Whitman suffered from a drought intensity value during the growing season of 1) D2 Drought-Severe for eight or more consecutive weeks or 2) D3 Drought-Extreme or D4 Drought-Exceptional. This natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) ... Read More »