By Dr. Xianming Chen Based on the predication models using the weather data from Nov. 1, 2019, to Feb. 29, 2020, wheat stripe rust is forecasted to be in the severe epidemic level range (40-60 percent yield loss) in the 2020 growing season. The models predicted highly susceptible varieties to have 44 percent to 53 percent with an average of 48% ... Read More »

The Columbia River Systems Operations draft EIS was released today by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation and Bonneville Power Administration. The EIS presents a no-action course and five alternatives, one of which includes breaching the four lower Snake River dams. According to the executive summary, “Despite the major benefits to fish expected from (breaching the lower Snake River ... Read More »

By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist Tuesday marked the 44th day of the 2020 Legislative Session. On Wednesday, Feb. 19, the Legislature reached a milestone—the deadline to pass bills out of the house of origin (House Bills must be voted out of the House, and Senate Bills must be voted out of the Senate). Bills that were not voted on are ... Read More »

From NASS Western Washington continued to have an active and wet weather pattern. Water was pooling in many fields, but no damage was reported. Fair spring calving rates were reported despite the inclement conditions. San Juan County had severe rain events before Feb. 10. Run-off volumes hit a 30-year record high. Water closed roadways and blew culverts. Livestock was still ... Read More »

From agriculture.com U.S. ag exports have gained limited traction from President Trump’s ballyhooed trade victories, but Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue is optimistic that demand will improve. “I hope we can show that a third round [of trade war payments] is not needed for 2020,” Perdue said in a statement. “We still believe farmers want trade rather than aid.” Read the ... Read More »

From the Capital Press Oregon Gov. Kate Brown’s support for breaching four Snake River dams as a long-term goal has sparked a strong rebuke from the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association. Read more here. Read More »

The National Wheat Foundation (NWF) is pleased to announce that it is accepting grower enrollment for the 2020 National Wheat Yield Contest! The contest is divided into two primary competition categories: winter wheat and spring wheat, and two subcategories: dryland and irrigated. The Foundation is accepting entries for winter and spring wheat. The deadline for winter wheat entries is May 15 with an ... Read More »

By the Sri-City Herald Editorial Board Oregon Gov. Kate Brown’s support for a future without the Snake River dams does not align with reality. Her letter, penned to Washington Gov. Jay Inslee earlier this month, stated that, “The science is clear that removing the earthen portion of the four lower Snake River dams is the most certain and robust solution ... Read More »

By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist Yesterday marked the 37th day of the 60-day session. This past week saw the passing of the second cut-off of the 2020 Legislative Session. Cut-off dates play a crucial role in the legislative process as any bill that has not made it out of a policy and fiscal committee is considered dead and no longer ... Read More »

Mitchell Powers is the newest member of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) state board. He is the sixth generation on his family’s dryland wheat farm and cattle ranch near Bickleton in Klickitat County. Powers graduated from Washington State University with a degree in ag technology management. He returned to the farm shortly after graduation, something he wasn’t originally ... Read More »