From the U.S. Department of Agriculture Producers signed a record 1.77 million contracts for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2019 crop year, which is more than 107 percent of the total contracts signed compared with a 5-year average. USDA also reminds producers that June 30 is the ... Read More »

By Dr. Xianming Chen Tuesday, I was checking wheat fields in Whitman, Adams, Lincoln, Grant and Douglas counties in Washington. Winter wheat ranged from Feekes 4 to 7. Minor frost damage on leaf tips was common in Whitman County, caused by freezing night temperatures of the last week. Stripe rust was found only in one commercial field in Lincoln County. ... Read More »

The next deadline for Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) classic applications to be considered for funding this fiscal year is May 29, 2020. Through CSP, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) helps farmers, ranchers and forest landowners earn payments for expanding conservation activities while maintaining agricultural production on their land. CSP also encourages adoption of new technologies and management techniques. “CSP ... Read More »

From the Capital Press Transportation advocates are backing a campaign to ensure information about the Columbia-Snake River system continues to reach Pacific Northwest residents and decision-makers. Read the article here. Read More »

From NASS There were 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington last week, unchanged from the previous week. In Western Washington, spring field cultivation and planting progressed well. Pastures looked good. Beef cattle were pastured and not being fed additional hay. There was excellent weather for field preparation. Some producers finished harrowing, and some anticipated starting to harrow this week. ... Read More »

Washington’s massive agriculture industry is critical to both the state’s economy and to the welfare of families across the country. Agriculture is one of the essential industries that continues to work even during Gov. Jay Inslee’s stay-at-home order to fight the coronavirus (COVID-19). Thousands of farm workers are on the job, and the season is just getting started. Many farmworkers ... Read More »

By Claire Hutchins, USW Market Analyst It is no secret that these are uncertain times. As countries across the world work to contain and combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) is closely monitoring the effects of the outbreak on global wheat trade dynamics. Over the past several weeks, several major wheat exporters have implemented measures to ... Read More »

By Paul Nieffer Farm CPA Today The SBA issued some additional Interim Final Rules earlier this week and most of it dealt with self-employed taxpayers.  We were hoping that gross receipts would qualify.  For an Uber driver it might if they only received a Form 1099 from Uber and have little or no expenses. For the typical SE farmer, it ... Read More »

From NASS There were 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington last week, up from 5.0 the previous week. In Western Washington, a lot of field work was getting completed. Many tractors were out breaking soil. However, producers did not chop haylage. In Whatcom County, fall-seeded crops were showing a growth spurt, grass growth was picking up, and raspberry plants ... Read More »

Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) President Ryan Poe submitted the following comments to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in response to the Columbia River System Operations draft EIS on behalf of the organization. WAWG encourages all wheat farmers to submit their comments online as soon as possible as today is the last day comments will be accepted. On behalf ... Read More »