State

From the Capital Press One-third of the U.S. House on Wednesday accused the Environmental Protection Agency of breaking federal prohibitions against political advocacy by funding What’s Upstream. Three Democrats and 142 Republicans signed a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, stating that EPA’s support for the campaign maligns farmers, violates limits on the agency’s spending authority and exhibits a pattern ... Read More »

For the week ending April 17 Higher temperatures lead to more field work in Washington There were 6.0 days suitable for work. Pasture conditions were reported as 0% very poor, 0 % poor, 30% fair, 65% good and 5% excellent. Temperatures throughout the state ranged from the 28 degrees to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures were warmer than usual for this ... Read More »

From the Capital Press Nine members of Congress, led by Washington Reps. Dan Newhouse and Dave Reichert, are urging the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association to find ways to prevent port disruptions. A work slowdown crippled container exports in 2014 and 2015. At a conference in Long Beach, Calif., at the end of February, the ... Read More »

By Xianming Chen On April 7, I was checking wheat fields in Whitman, Garfield, Walla Walla and Franklin counties of Washington and Umatilla County of Oregon. Winter wheat ranged from Feekes 4 to 8 and was generally in good condition. Stripe rust was found in several fields of Garfield, Franklin and Walla Walla counties in low prevalence and severity. In ... Read More »

From the Capital Press An Environmental Protection Agency funded media campaign to change how Washington state regulates agriculture remained largely intact Tuesday, one week after the agency said the campaign misused EPA funds and that it was taking corrective action. What’s Upstream, a partnership between the Swinomish Indian tribe and environmental groups, has maintained a website, letter-writing campaign, Facebook page ... Read More »

For the week ending April 10 Warm Weather for Planting in Washington There were 6.5 days suitable for work. Pasture conditions were reported as 3% very poor, 30% fair, 63% good, and 4% excellent. Low temperatures were reported at 30 degrees Fahrenheit in the central and northeastern regions and a high temperature of 90 degrees in the western region with ... Read More »

For the week ending April 3, 2016 Warmer temperatures led to field activity in Washington Days suitable for fieldwork were 5.8. Pasture and range conditions were reported to be 3% very poor, 0% poor, 30% fair, 64% good, and 3% excellent. The temperatures in Washington ranged from the mid-twenties to the high seventies, which made the average temperature warmer than ... Read More »

By Steve Mercer U.S. Wheat Associates Vice President of Communications It is important at times to step back from the day-to-day challenges of our work to reflect on what is truly important. The week of April 12, U.S. Wheat Associates (USW), its state wheat commission members and wheat farmers have two very special opportunities to do that with its customers ... Read More »

From the Capital Press The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) has a long road ahead of it before it is approved, an Eastern Washington member of Congress says. “TPP needs a lot of work,” Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers said. “We’re not close to being at a place to pass TPP.” McMorris Rodgers, a Republican, said lawmakers are still determining whether the trade ... Read More »

From the Capital Press The Environmental Protection Agency reversed course Tuesday and said EPA funds should not have been used to finance What’s Upstream, a media campaign to arouse public support in Washington state for stricter regulations on agriculture. The change in position pleased farm advocates, but also left them asking why EPA allowed the campaign in the first place. ... Read More »