By Michelle Hennings Executive Director, Washington Association of Wheat Growers As we enter 2026, I am reminded of how quickly time seems to pass. The past six months have been especially eventful for the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG). Since my previous column, our organization has remained actively engaged in a wide range of initiatives and advocacy efforts. Our ... Read More »
From the Capital Press Gil Crosby and his neighbors aren’t sure what they’ll plant this spring. “Lentils are down, garbanzos are down, peas are down, winter wheat price is down … I don’t think there’s going to be any malt barley contracts and feed barley’s not good,” said Crosby, the new president of Washington Association of Wheat Growers for a ... Read More »
By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist On Dec. 23, 2025, Gov. Bob Ferguson released his proposed supplemental operating budget. The supplemental budget plan — Ferguson’s first as governor — is an adjustment to the roughly $78 billion 2025-2027 budget passed by the Legislature last April, which included $9 billion in tax increases over four years. Since Ferguson signed that budget into ... Read More »
By Xianming Chen USDA-ARS Research Plant Pathologist Based on the weather data of November and December 2025, stripe rust in the 2026 wheat growing season is predicted to be in the upper range of severe epidemic level (40-60% yield loss on susceptible varieties). Using a set of forecast models based on the weather data of these two months, potential yield ... Read More »
From the Spokesman-Review By Kate Miner, Marketing Correspondent Sponsored content provided by Northwest River Partners Every year, Washington’s wheat fields produce over 144 million bushels of grain—enough to fill more than 144,000 tractor-trailers. However, getting that wheat from Eastern Washington to customers overseas requires a transportation system that works. For wheat growers across the Pacific Northwest, that system hinges on ... Read More »
From the Pacific Northwest Ag Network The 2026 Washington legislative session is just around the corner, and in anticipation, state Senator Mark Schoesler has filed legislation that looks to make lubricants for vehicles and machinery more affordable. Senate Bill 5856, he said, would exempt emissions associated with lubricants from coverage under the state’s Climate Commitment Act enacted in 2021. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »
From the Capital Press Washington timberland owners are suing three state agencies to overturn a rule that will prohibit logging within 75 feet of streams without fish in Western Washington. The rule will take 200,000 acres of timberland out of production, according to the Washington Forest Protection Association and Washington Farm Forestry Association. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »
By Pam Lewis In the Spokesman-Review We are a nation that celebrates with food. Birthdays are synonymous with cake and ice cream. Easter is all about eggs and chocolate. Halloween is everyone’s favorite day for candy (or potatoes if you swing by the Washington State Potato Commission Executive Director’s home). But the ultimate in food-related holidays is Thanksgiving. Read the ... Read More »
According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, there were 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington last week. This will be the last weekly Crop Progress Report issued for the 2025 season. The first weekly report for 2026 will be released in early April 2026. Washington crop progress: Winter wheat emerged: 98% this week 97% last week 100% last year ... Read More »
From the Capital Press Despite some up-side opportunities, lower wheat prices will persist through the 2025-2026 marketing year, Washington State University’s small grains economist says. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »
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