State

From the Capital Press Northwest wheat farmers will have to rethink the definition of a “good” price during the next few years, a Washington State University economics professor says. Farmers were not happy with wheat priced at $5.99 per bushel last year, said Randy Fortenbery, professor and small grains economist at WSU. However, USDA forecasts average wheat prices at roughly ... Read More »

The Department of Ecology today released a new draft clean water rule (also known as the fish consumption rule) that contains a more protective cancer risk rate, in keeping with the governor’s directive from October 2015. The Environmental Protection Agency also is preparing a rule for Washington in case the state’s rule is not finalized. EPA released its draft rule ... Read More »

By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist Last Friday marked the end of the third week of the legislative session. The first legislative deadline is fast approaching. All policy bills must make it out of their policy committee of house of origin (i.e. Senate bills must pass out of their Senate policy committee and House bills must pass out of their House ... Read More »

By Tim Murray WSU Extension Dr. Chen, Research Plant Pathologist with the USDA-ARS in Pullman, released his first stripe rust forecast of the season last week and it’s good news for growers, although you might not know that if you just read the first sentence of his summary, which says “The current forecast is that highly susceptible winter wheat varieties would have ... Read More »

By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist Week 2 of the legislative session was busy with public hearings on legislation. The first legislative deadline is Feb. 5, 2016, when all policy bills must make it out of their policy committees. Tim Eyman’s I-1366 Latest Initiative Ruled Unconstitutional Last Thursday, a King County Superior Judge ruled I-1366 unconstitutional and voided it. I-1366, approved ... Read More »

From the Capital Press A dairy industry-backed House bill introduced Friday proposes that the Washington Department of Agriculture help develop an alternative to manure-handling rules expected soon from the state’s ecology agency. House Bill 2840 wouldn’t stop the Department of Ecology from issuing those rules, which dairy lobbyists contend could be a financially crushing combination of state and federal laws. ... Read More »

From the Capital Press When Idaho wheat industry leaders announced a public-private partnership with one of the world’s leading seed companies in 2012, they said the relationship would result in better varieties for Pacific Northwest growers. Less than four years later, that is happening. Read the rest of the story here. Read More »

From the Union-Bulletin Despite droughts and wildfires, Walla Walla and Columbia county’s wheat harvests both showed gains last year. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, although harvested acres dropped slightly between 2014 and 2015, Walla Walla County’s total wheat production rose to 12.83 million bushels in 2015, a 3.5 percent increase over 2014, which posted a figure of 12.39 ... Read More »

Here’s a look at another carbon reduction proposal set to go before lawmakers in Olympia or possibly be voted on by the public. From KPLU How to limit the carbon pollution that causes climate change and global warming is a key issue as lawmakers get going in Olympia this week. Dozens of legislative proposals have been submitted on the topic, ... Read More »

The National Association of Wheat Growers has honored three members of Washington state’s federal delegation and one staffer for their support of the U.S. wheat industry. All the awards are given to people who have demonstrated support for the industry above and beyond the norm. Sen. Maria Cantwell has been named the 2015 Wheat Leader of the Year. The Wheat Leader ... Read More »