State

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 »

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 »

From smallgrains.wsu.edu The Pacific Northwest is facing yet another major heat wave. This latest extreme heat and dry conditions currently has the vast majority of the state under a “red-flag” warning, which indicates a high risk of fire danger. Therefore, with harvest starting across much of Eastern Washington, producers are encouraged to be prepared for possible combine fires. In years ... Read More »

From the Capital Press Washington State Conservationist Roylene Comes At Night has been named State Conservationist of the Year by the National Association of State Conservation Agencies. The award recognizes a state conservationist for outstanding contributions to their state conservation partnership, service to producers, and enhanced delivery of NRCS programs. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

From the National Agricultural Statistics Service There were 7 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington, up from 6.9 days the previous week. Western Washington had dry conditions with very little precipitation. In Clark County, and a few other counties around the district, the first cutting of hay neared completion. Northeast Washington also saw hot temperatures which affected dryland crops. Cattle ... Read More »

Beginning the week of Aug. 26, the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) will begin taking applications for refunds for ag producers who paid taxes related to the state’s cap and trade program on fuel purchases. The DOL circulated a letter recently containing the following information: What Is the Agriculture Support Program (ASP)? The ASP is a funding opportunity for ... Read More »

From the National Agricultural Statistics Service There were 6.9 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington, down from 7 days the previous week. Western Washington continued to see hot and dry conditions. In Whatcom County, raspberry growers reported some damage due to excessive heat during the harvest. Skagit County reported that the county was drying out. Conditions were good for harvesting ... Read More »

By Xianming Chen As July 12, we have almost completed recording stripe rust data in our winter and spring crop nurseries at various locations in Washington. Stripe rust developed to 100% severity on susceptible winter wheat varieties in all nurseries and up to 80% severities on spring wheat nurseries in Lind, Walla Walla, and Central Ferry and to 100% on susceptible ... Read More »

Columbia County growers have appointed Charlie Mead as their new Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) state board representative. Mead is the fourth generation on his family’s dryland wheat farm near Starbuck, Wash., where they also grow some hay. He is co-managing partner of the farm alongside his father, and his wife, Whitney, is learning the farm’s bookkeeping. They have ... Read More »

From the National Agricultural Statistics Service There were 7 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington, up from 6.7 days the previous week. Whatcom and Skagit counties reported excessive heat, which required irrigation for most crops. Raspberry harvest was in full swing. Wahkiakum County reported that soil began to dry out, but there was still adequate soil moisture for pastures. In ... Read More »