State

By Dr. Xianming Chen On April 13 and 14, we were planting spring cereal nurseries and taking the first notes of the winter nurseries at Mount Vernon, Wash. The winter plants were at jointing stage ranging from Feekes 4 to 6. Wheat stripe rust was up to 60 percent severity on susceptible varieties. Barley stripe rust up to 40 percent ... Read More »

From NASS There were 2.8 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington, down from 5.4 last week. Statewide temperatures were below normal. In San Juan County, fruit trees blossomed more with rain and a cold wave. The ground was still soggy in low-lying and annual planting areas. Due to the cold and wet conditions, there was limited field activity. In Chelan ... Read More »

From the Capital Press The White House Council on Environmental Quality says in a post on its website that it is studying the fate of four lower Snake River dams — and the rest of the Columbia Basin. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

From The Spokesman-Review Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sent global food prices soaring, but Washington wheat farmers like Marci Green aren’t celebrating. Green, a sixth-generation farmer who grows wheat outside Fairfield, is concerned rising costs of supplies like fuel and fertilizer will whittle away at this year’s profits even after wheat prices hit a record high in March. She’s also ... Read More »

Grant County farmer and past president, Ryan Poe, took part in an interview with a Denver TV station to talk about how high wheat prices are impacting both ends of the supply chain. “Ryan Poe and Jenival Santos live nearly 1,200 miles apart but they are facing similar struggles. Their livelihoods rely on wheat. Poe grows it on his Washington State farm ... Read More »

For the second year in a row, the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) has had to modify its traditional, two-day visit to Olympia to meet with legislators. Thanks to COVID-19 restrictions that kept legislators’ offices closed to the public or limited the number of people who could be in those offices, in February, wheat growers opted to host a ... Read More »

From NASS There were 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork, down from 6.0 the previous week. Statewide temperatures were below normal. In San Juan County, pastures on higher ground started to grow. Fruit trees were budding out, early pears were blooming, and cane berries were popping out leaves. Early CSA crops were being planted in open-cultivation sites and high-tunnels. In Chelan ... Read More »

From the Center Square Michelle Hennings, executive director of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers, said farmers are worried about a multitude of factors that will affect harvest levels this year. She said their concerns are centered on the possibility for continuing drought, spiking fuel and fertilizer costs, delays in getting equipment, and an increase in global demand tied to ... Read More »

From NASS There were 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington last week. Statewide temperatures were above normal. In San Juan County, berry and fruit trees were popping blossoms. Stockpiled feed from last year was slowly disappearing, but pastures were too wet for turnout and seasonal grazing. In Klickitat County, cattlemen began to move herds out of pastures. Spring seeding ... Read More »

The Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) recently welcomed Chuck Erickson as the new board member from Grant County. Erickson was born and raised on his family’s Hartline, Wash., dryland farm, which was established in 1889. He is the fifth generation and, alongside his father, raises wheat, a bit of barley and canola. Erickson is married to Timi, who also ... Read More »