By Faith Parum Economist Rising input costs tied to the conflict in the Middle East are adding strain to an already challenging farm economy. To better understand how global fertilizer market disruptions are affecting producers during spring planting, the American Farm Bureau Federation conducted a Fertilizer Availability Survey of farmers and ranchers across the country. More than 5,700 farmers responded ... Read More »

In late February, Michelle Hennings, executive director of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG), testified in front of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council (NPCC) during a public hearing on the draft 2026 Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife program. The NPCC is congressionally mandated to update its program every 10 years and is funded by a percentage of ... Read More »

According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, there were 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington. Washington crop condition Winter wheat: 1% very poor 1% poor 6% fair 68% good 24% excellent Washington crop progress: Spring wheat planted: 36% this week 12% last week 26% last year 33% 5-year average Barley planted: 24% this week 11% last week 20% last ... Read More »

From the Capital Press Drought, pests and disease pressure loom. Pacific Northwest wheat farmers are ahead of schedule following an “unconventional” winter, the region’s leaders say. Read the article here. Read More »

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has opened the enrollment period for the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program, providing $11 billion in one-time bridge payments to row crop producers in response to temporary trade market disruptions and increased production costs. The FBA enrollment period opened Feb. 23 and closes April 17, 2026. These bridge payments are authorized under the Commodity ... Read More »

What do Alex McGregor, Butch Wiswall, Aaron Esser, David Harlow, Karl Felgenhauer, Rusty and Sandy Jamison, Sen. Mark Schoesler, Brett Blankenship, Brian Baumann, Brit Ausman, Walt Neff, Grant and Matt Miller, Stacey Rasmassen, Larry Cochran, Morgan Adams, and Ben Cochrane (just to name a few) all have in common? They are all Washington AgForestry Leadership Program alumni. For the upcoming ... Read More »

On March 31, 2026, the National Agricultural Statistics Service released the 2026 Prospective Plantings report. Washington growers report planting 1,850,000 acres of winter wheat, unchanged from 2025. Spring wheat is projected to be 450,000 acres down 5% from 2025, which was at 475,000 acres. Barley acres are up just slightly from 2025 at 70,000. All wheat planted area for 2026 ... Read More »

On March 31, the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) urged the United States International Trade Commission to revoke countervailing duty (CVD) orders on phosphate fertilizers from Morocco and Russia, citing significant economic harm to U.S. wheat farmers. In a letter to Secretary Lisa R. Barton, NAWG emphasized that maintaining these duties would continue to impose unnecessary costs on farmers already ... Read More »

By Douglas Poole When I came back to my family’s dryland farm near Mansfield, Washington, after 20 years away, the land told me something had to change. My grandfather and father had worked this ground for over 70 years, and the soil showed it. In places, erosion had taken it down to bare bedrock. The more we tilled, the more ... Read More »

From the Capital Press A Washington State University economist says it’s time for farmers to sell their wheat, as the conflict in Iran has pushed prices higher. But, the conflict is likely to increase input prices for farmers. Last fall, economist Randy Fortenbery told farmers they might want to start thinking about selling their wheat when December futures prices hit ... Read More »