State

By Dr. Xianming Chen Based on the predication models using the weather data from Nov. 1, 2019, to Feb. 29, 2020, wheat stripe rust is forecasted to be in the severe epidemic level range (40-60 percent yield loss) in the 2020 growing season. The models predicted highly susceptible varieties to have 44 percent to 53 percent with an average of 48% ... Read More »

The Columbia River Systems Operations draft EIS was released today by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation and Bonneville Power Administration. The EIS presents a no-action course and five alternatives, one of which includes breaching the four lower Snake River dams. According to the executive summary, “Despite the major benefits to fish expected from (breaching the lower Snake River ... Read More »

By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist Tuesday marked the 44th day of the 2020 Legislative Session. On Wednesday, Feb. 19, the Legislature reached a milestone—the deadline to pass bills out of the house of origin (House Bills must be voted out of the House, and Senate Bills must be voted out of the Senate). Bills that were not voted on are ... Read More »

From NASS Western Washington continued to have an active and wet weather pattern. Water was pooling in many fields, but no damage was reported. Fair spring calving rates were reported despite the inclement conditions. San Juan County had severe rain events before Feb. 10. Run-off volumes hit a 30-year record high. Water closed roadways and blew culverts. Livestock was still ... Read More »

By the Sri-City Herald Editorial Board Oregon Gov. Kate Brown’s support for a future without the Snake River dams does not align with reality. Her letter, penned to Washington Gov. Jay Inslee earlier this month, stated that, “The science is clear that removing the earthen portion of the four lower Snake River dams is the most certain and robust solution ... Read More »

By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist Yesterday marked the 37th day of the 60-day session. This past week saw the passing of the second cut-off of the 2020 Legislative Session. Cut-off dates play a crucial role in the legislative process as any bill that has not made it out of a policy and fiscal committee is considered dead and no longer ... Read More »

Mitchell Powers is the newest member of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) state board. He is the sixth generation on his family’s dryland wheat farm and cattle ranch near Bickleton in Klickitat County. Powers graduated from Washington State University with a degree in ag technology management. He returned to the farm shortly after graduation, something he wasn’t originally ... Read More »

By Trista Crossley We are less than two months into 2020, and it’s already proven to be a busy year where the Columbia-Snake River System is concerned. In January, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s office finished accepting public comments on their draft report on the impacts of breaching the lower Snake River dams. And later this month, a draft environmental impact ... Read More »

From Washington Ag Network It’s been a very busy couple weeks for the leadership of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers. In late January, they took a trip back to Washington, D.C., to meet with congressional leaders to discuss issues important to local growers. And then after that, wheat growers’ leadership traveled to western Washington for Olympia days. According to ... Read More »

WSU Economist Randy Fortenbery spoke at the 2020 Ag Expo show in Spokane, telling the audience the it would take a production crisis to push wheat prices higher than $5.50 per bushel. Read the Capital Press article here. Read More »