Last week, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) released the draft report of their study on breaching the lower Snake River dams. The Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) finds the report’s conclusions — replacement of the dams’ benefits are possible but at a significant cost and with major restructuring of the region’s infrastructure — to be ... Read More »
State
Diesel’s 100% surge, scarcity deny farmers their ‘lifeblood’
From the Spokesman-Review Mike Miller, who farms wheat near Ritzville, was sitting around a board table on Thursday as his cohorts on the Washington Grain Commission talked about, among other things, the skyrocketing price of diesel. “It’s changed the way we are farming,” Miller said. “Diesel is twice what it was last year. We are trying to limit hours on ... Read More »
Winter wheat production estimates up from May forecast
From the National Agricultural Statistics Service Based on June 1, 2022 conditions, Washington winter wheat production is forecast at 131 million bushels, up 85 percent from 2021. Harvested area, at 1.80 million acres, is up 110,000 acres from the previous year. Yield is forecast at 73 bushels per acre, up 6 bushels from the May 1 forecast and up 31 bushels from last ... Read More »
Crop progress report 06/12: More precipitation with cooler temps throughout Washington
From NASS There were 4.3 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington, down from 5.2 days the previous week. Statewide temperatures were below normal. In Clark County, producers were cutting hay when rain wasn’t present. Pasture and wheat conditions looked good. In Skagit County, the weather remained cool and wet. There were areas of ponded water that negatively impacted potatoes and ... Read More »
Interim legislative workgroups to focus on ag, salmon
By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist With unprecedented revenues for a supplemental year, the 2022 supplemental operating budget appropriated over $63 billion. Of particular interest to the agricultural industry, the final budget maintained significant spending on salmon recovery, including multiple workgroups and studies for the industry. Salmon recovery stakeholder process The 2022 supplemental operating budget provided $300,000 for the governor’s office ... Read More »
Murray-Inslee draft dam breaching assessment coming this week
From the Capital Press Gov. Jay Inslee and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray of Washington will this week release a draft of their state-federal assessment of breaching four dams on the lower Snake River. Inslee and Murray want to determine if there are reasonable means to replace the benefits of the dams if they are breached in an effort to benefit ... Read More »
Crop progress report 06/05: Cool, wet conditions remained throughout Washington
From NASS There were 5.2 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington, unchanged from the previous week. Statewide temperatures were below normal. In Clark County, producers were cutting hay. Pasture and wheat conditions looked good. In Snohomish County, conditions remained wet and cool with little fieldwork. Many fields had not tilled yet, and standing water was still present. Corn was planted ... Read More »
Stripe rust update 06/02: June forecast conditions favorable for disease development
By Xianming Chen On June 1, I was checking fields in the Palouse region (Whitman County, Wash., and Latah County, Idaho). Winter wheat ranged from Feekes 7 to Feekes 10, and spring wheat ranged from Feekes 2 to Feekes 5. Stripe rust was severe on low leaves and reached top leaves of winter wheat and started showing up on spring ... Read More »
Crop progress report 05/22: Continued wet, cool weather throughout Washington
From NASS There were 5.3 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington, unchanged from the previous week. Statewide temperatures were below normal. In San Juan County, there were some delays in spring grain due to excessive rain. Spring barley was planted in fields where beets overwintered. In Snohomish County, several dry days brought out farmers with grass hay to cut. Conditions ... Read More »
Grain Commission posts CEO job opening
The Washington Grain Commission (WGC) was established in 1958. Its mission is to enhance the long-term profitability and competitiveness of Washington small grains and small grain producers by responsible allocation of assessment funds in research, marketing, and education. The WGC is seeking applicants for Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The CEO serves as the operations and business manager, information liaison and ... Read More »