State

Lower Snake River System Educational Tour Brings U.S. Congressional Staffers to Lewiston

The Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG), in partnership with the Washington State Potato Commission, The McGregor Company, and Northwest RiverPartners, is hosting a tour for more than a dozen U.S. congressional staffers from Washington, D.C., as well as the region’s district offices, on Tuesday, Aug. 20. The objective of the tour is to have the federal staffers see for ... Read More »

Washington cap-and-trade rebates start Aug. 26

From the Capital Press It will be first-come, first-served when Washington distributes $28.5 million to partially refund cap-and-trade surcharges to farmers and haulers of farm goods. The Department of Licensing plans to activate a website and start taking applications for rebates Aug. 26. Applicants can file online or print applications to mail. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

Crop progress report 08/11: Hot, dry weather continued in Washington

From the National Agricultural Statistics Service There were 6.8 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington, down from 6.9 days the previous week. In Eastern Washington, there was a lack of precipitation, and pastures were suffering. Winter wheat harvest was well under way. Spring wheat and barley harvest was ramping up in some areas. Onion and potato harvest was off to ... Read More »

Issues, lots of travel keep WAWG leader hopping

By Michelle Hennings Executive Director, Washington Association of Wheat Growers In the past six months, our office has been busier than ever before. I’ve been to Olympia, four trips to D.C., Commodity Classic in Houston, and a Midwest tour of the Mississippi River, all worth the time and effort to advocate on your behalf for the farm bill and for ... Read More »

Wheat industry leaders hope agricultural perspective doesn’t fall on deaf ears

The Washington Grain Commission (WGC) CEO Casey Chumrau and Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) Executive Director Michelle Hennings are participating in two advisory committees related to the Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) analysis of the statewide transportation impacts of the potential removal of the Lower Snake River Dams (LSRD). Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

Crop progress 08/04: Hot weather in Washington

From the National Agricultural Statistics Service There were 6.9 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington, down from 7 the previous week. Western Washington received some rainfall but remained mostly hot and dry. In northwest Washington, the rain hindered grain farmers with lodged crops as well as hay and grass seed harvest. The first cutting of hay was mostly completed, and ... Read More »

NRCS-WA announces FY25 program application batching dates

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service in Washington (NRCS-WA) has announced the following application batching dates for programs for Fiscal Year 2025 funding: Environmental Quality Incentives Program Classic Applications batching date Oct. 22, 2024 Read the full announcement here. Conservation Stewardship Program Classic Applications batching date is Jan. 17, 2025 Read the full announcement here. Agricultural ... Read More »

Washington judge tosses Farm Bureau’s suit against cap-and-trade

From the Capital Press A judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Washington Farm Bureau that claimed the state Department of Ecology failed to shield farmers and haulers of farm goods from cap-and-trade taxes. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

Western innovator: Wheat marketer solves ‘puzzle’ every day

From the Capital Press This year will be “a little more challenging” for wheat prices than the past few years, says grain exporter Brian Liedl, an industry representative on the Washington Grain Commission. “The world is pretty comfortable with the current supply-and-demand picture,” which is reflected in lower wheat prices, he said. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

Crop progress report 07/28: Temperatures cool, but still dry in Washington

From the National Agricultural Statistics Service There were 7 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington, unchanged from the previous week. Western Washington was dry and most of their first cutting of hay had been completed. In Clark County, moisture was leaving fast, and crops were beginning to dry out. Central Washington had moderate weather, and the district had a large ... Read More »