State

PCC Railway awarded $72.8 million federal CRISI grant

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced this week that the Washington State Department of Transportation has been selected to receive a $72.8 million Fiscal Year 2022 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) grant for capital improvements on the PCC short-line railroad. State funding from the Move Ahead Washington transportation package, as well as local and private contributions, will bring ... Read More »

USDA designates 5 Washington counties primary natural disaster areas for drought

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the Washington counties of Asotin, Columbia, Garfield, Walla Walla, and Whitman suffered from a drought intensity value during the growing season of 1) D2 Drought-Severe for eight or more consecutive weeks or 2) D3 Drought-Extreme or D4 Drought-Exceptional. This natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) ... Read More »

Crop progress report 09/24: Overcast conditions in Washington

From the National Agricultural Statistics Service There were 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington, down from 6.9 reported the previous week. Western Washington conditions remained dry. Livestock producers were already using stored winter feed. Feed corn was short this year in some western Washington counties, and some fields dried up earlier than normal. Central Washington had dry conditions, but ... Read More »

WAWG leaders take part in national farm bill fly-in

Last month in Washington, D.C., leaders and staff of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) met with members of the state’s federal delegation during a National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) farm bill fly-in. “D.C. is currently bustling with farm bill talks. We were able to meet with most of our state’s federal delegation and have meaningful conversations about ... Read More »

Crop progress report 09/17: Washington harvest in full swing

From the National Agricultural Statistics Service There were 6.9 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington, unchanged from the previous week. Western Washington corn silage and seed potato harvest was in full swing. Final grass cuttings had taken place, and conditions were still dry. Central Washington had consistent hot and dry temperatures. In Yakima County, producers started to plant some fall ... Read More »

Crop progress report 09/10: Continued harvest in Washington

From the National Agricultural Statistics Service There were 6.9 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington, up from 5.8 days reported the previous week. Western Washington conditions were dry, and farmers made good time on harvest. Central Washington had consistent weather across the week, with daytime highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s. In Yakima County, dry conditions persisted. Apple ... Read More »

Washington senator proposes cap-and-trade rebates for farmers

From the Capital Press A Washington state senator has renewed his proposal to refund cap-and-trade costs to farmers and haulers of farm goods, an idea that failed to win support last spring from farm groups. Sen. Mark Mullet (D-Issaquah) said Friday he expects more backing now for refunds. The Department of Ecology hasn’t yet found a way to exempt farm fuels ... Read More »

Crop progress report 09/03: Precipitation reported across Washington

From the National Agricultural Statistics Service There were 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington, down from 6.9 days reported the previous week. It remained dry in western Washington. Nonirrigated grass forage production was down in this region, along with corn and grains. Pumpkins appeared to be maturing too early for agritourism. The quality of berries, flowers, and fresh market ... Read More »

Crop progress report 08/27: Still hot, dry in Washington

From the National Agricultural Statistics Service There were 6.9 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington, up from 6.4 days reported the previous week. Western Washington continued to see dry conditions. Grains were almost ready for harvest in San Juan County. Central Washington remained dry but saw temperatures drop. In Klickitat County, spring wheat harvest was almost halfway complete, and fall ... Read More »