Agricultural producers wanting to enhance current conservation efforts are encouraged to renew their existing Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) Classic contract. Through CSP, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service helps private landowners improve their business while implementing conservation practices that help ensure the sustainability of their entire operation. Application for CSP Classic are due by March 31, ... Read More »

By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist Monday, Feb. 22, was the second legislative deadline, when all bills must have been voted out of their respective fiscal committees to remain “alive.” Since then, the Legislature has mostly ceased committee action and is focused on floor action for the time being, which entails the entire chamber (either the House of Representatives or the ... Read More »

By Trista Crossley Chandler Goule, CEO of the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG), and Josh Tonsager, vice president of policy and communications for NAWG, joined growers on a webinar last month to discuss the issues NAWG is working on for the wheat industry in the other Washington. The session was part of the 2021 Agricultural Marketing and Management Organization’s ... Read More »

The lower Snake River and its four dams is a multi-purpose system balancing economic benefits and environmental protection for the entire Pacific Northwest. The dams continue to make our region strong and balanced by irrigating our farms, shipping our goods, generating clean power, and supporting our economies. Join Karl for the sixth episode of the 22nd Annual Tri-Cities Regional Economic ... Read More »

From the Capital Press The Washington Legislature has before it a proposal to require the use of low-carbon fuels in cars and trucks. The fuels, mixtures that would include more ethanol and diesel made from cooking oil, canola and other feedstocks, would reduce the amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere. While farm equipment would be exempt from the low ... Read More »

The statewide temperatures in Washington for the month of February were below normal throughout the state. In western Washington, crops were doing well. In Jefferson County, most areas received eight or more inches of snow. The snow was gone within a week, which caused no harm to grass, winter wheat and cover crops. In San Juan County, pasture lands and ... Read More »

From the National Association of Wheat Growers and U.S. Wheat Associates The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) and U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) are pleased with the bipartisan U.S. Senate vote approving the appointment of former Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to that important post again under the Biden-Harris Administration. “We welcome Secretary Vilsack’s return to USDA in a year ... Read More »

By Trista Crossley At this time of year, most of the farm action is happening inside as growers are reminded of rapidly approaching farm program deadlines. State leaders from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) reviewed programs and deadlines and answered growers’ questions during a webinar last week as part of the Agricultural Marketing ... Read More »

By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist Yesterday was the 43rd day of the 2021 Legislative Session and the second legislative cutoff date when bills must make it out of their fiscal committees to remain alive. After yesterday’s cutoff, the Legislature will largely cease committee action and focus on floor action, which entails the entire chamber (either the House of Representatives or ... Read More »

From Progressive Farmer Members of Congress are urging the U.S. Department of Treasury and the Small Business Administration to issue new clarifications that would make more farmers and ranchers eligible for forgivable loans through the Paycheck Protection Program. But with less than six weeks until the application deadline, there’s little time for SBA to change its guidance. Read the rest ... Read More »