State

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 »

From DTN When Chandler Goule was asked at Commodity Classic last month in New Orleans about infrastructure investments, the CEO of the National Association of Wheat Growers took the time to highlight the value of river transportation. He repeatedly warned about the risks to wheat growers over a raging debate in the Pacific Northwest about four dams on the lower ... Read More »

From NASS According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service’s latest prospective plantings report, which was released on March 31, 2022, wheat producers in Washington expect to plant 2.34 million total acres in 2022, up slightly from last year. Winter wheat planted acres are expected to total 1.85 million acres for this year, up 6 percent from 2021. Spring wheat area planted are estimated at ... Read More »

From the Capital Press Jon Wyss is back at the helm of the Farm Service Agency in Washington state. Wyss was previously state executive director from June 2019 to January 2021, during the Trump administration. He was appointed by the Biden administration in February. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »