By Dr. Xianming Chen Wheat Stripe Rust In the Pacific Northwest, winter wheat in most areas has passed the flowering stage. Thanks to planting of resistant varieties and wide use of fungicides in the early season with some fields sprayed twice, stripe rust in most fields of winter wheat is under control. Depending upon areas and various times of planting, ... Read More »
By Trista Crossley For an industry that feeds and clothes the nation, not to mention much of the world, agriculture seems to be constantly under fire, accused of practices that are harmful to the environment and consumers. Last month, Washington Association of Wheat Growers Vice President Marci Green took part in a panel designed to address some of those misconceptions ... Read More »
WAWG is run by farmers who volunteer their time and energy. As such, the organization is always looking for people to help out at education events, such as farm fairs, expos and the recent Almira Ag STEM day (above). Marci Green, WAWG vice president, puts out the request for more volunteers. She says: “The educational events are usually in spring, ... Read More »
With the release of the Trump Administration’s FY 2018 budget proposal, the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) expresses a great deal of concern over significant reductions to risk management programs, trade development programs, and more. WAWG President Ben Adams, a wheat grower from Coulee City, Wash., issued the following statement: “Risk management and market access programs are critical to ... Read More »
By Dr. Xianming Chen Barley leaf rust Barley leaf rust (caused by Puccinia hordei) was found in a couple of fields planted with facultative winter barley variety ‘Maja’ in Walla Walla County, Wash., near the Oregon border. By May 18, rust incidence was 100 percent and severity ranged from 40 to 100 percent. According to the grower, the fields were planted last October ... Read More »
U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) urge caution today as the Trump Administration officially submitted to Congress its notice of intent to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The U.S. wheat industry welcomes the opportunity for improving the framework for cross border wheat trade between the United States, Canada and Mexico, but ... Read More »
By Dr. Xianming Chen May 5, 2017 On May 2-3, we were planting spring nurseries and taking stripe rust notes in Mount Vernon (Skagit County), Wash. Winter wheat ranged Feekes 5 to 7. As usual, wheat stripe rust developed up to 40 percent severity on susceptible varieties. Barley stripe rust was found only in two rows of the same susceptible check ... Read More »
Washington Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers took the opportunity in mid-April, while Congress was in Easter recess, to hold a farm bill listening session with growers in Colfax, Wash. “Most of you are aware that the farm bill is up to be reauthorized in 2018, and this is intended to be an initial conversation about the farm bill,” McMorris Rodgers said, ... Read More »
In mid-April, legislation prompted by a dispute between dryland wheat farmers and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee. SSB 5051 requires DNR to provide at least 180 days notice before terminating an agriculture or grazing lease. DNR must also provide documentation that the state has a plan to sell, exchange ... Read More »
From Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist We are in the second week of the special session. The only major legislative activity last week was a hearing in the Senate on the House Democratic tax package. Senate Republicans, who oppose the taxes, nevertheless brought the tax package up for a hearing in Senate Ways and Means Committee to get House Democrats to either ... Read More »
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