State

From Washington State University Collaborating on plans for a new U.S. Department of Agriculture research facility at Washington State University’s Pullman campus, Dean André-Denis Wright and program leaders in the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) joined scientists from USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) June 20 for a meeting and tour of their partnership’s cooperative research. Read ... Read More »

By Randy Suess Many people have done a fine job explaining why removing the lower Snake River dams would hurt our farm economy and really not accomplish the goal of restoring the number of Southern Resident Killer Whales (orcas). There are a couple of issues that I believe need to be covered to help people understand that we need those ... Read More »

From NASS There were 6.9 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington last week, up from 6.6 days suitable the previous week. Mild temperatures and moderate precipitation across western Washington helped maintain good crop condition. Soil moisture still lagged behind previous years. In Clallam, Jefferson, King and Snohomish counties, temperatures held below average with light showers of rain. Ground moisture was ... Read More »

This past year, the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) dealt with a number of issues impacting growers, including passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, renewed attacks on the lower Snake River dams, retaliatory trade tariffs and more. Here’s a quick look at some of the issues agriculture dealt with, and how your WAWG leaders spent their time advocating for ... Read More »

June 3, 2019 – Continuous CRP and Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) sign up starts. July 1 – September 30, 2019 – Producers with expiring general CRP contracts can request authority to destroy the CRP cover if the land will be returned to production in 2020. July 15, 2019 – Deadline to report 2018 crop year production for NAP covered ... Read More »

From NASS There were 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington last week, equal to the days suitable the previous week. In Okanogan, Ferry and Douglas counties, spotty thunderstorms brought moisture to fields. Flash flooding occurred in Chelan County, with hail reported on the Waterville Plateau. However, no crop damage from hail was reported. Cherries suffered from rain damage in ... Read More »

From NASS There were 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington last week, down from 7.0 days the previous week. In Whatcom County, the absence of rain continued, and raspberries ripened. In San Juan County, a tease of rain helped grass growth along. This year’s hay dried out early, and most farms harvested last week. Berries bloomed; raspberries set fruit ... Read More »

The Spokane County wheat growers have awarded scholarships this year to two graduating high school seniors, Jon Denny and Kolbey Browning, both from Fairfield, Wash. Kolbey Browning Kolbey Browning is hoping her experience growing up on her family’s farm helps her succeed in her planned career path of bridging the gap between farmers and environmentalists who are pushing for big ... Read More »

The Asotin County wheat growers have awarded three scholarships this year to local high school seniors who are planning to major in an ag-related field. Anna Aarstad, Carmen Eggleston and Jolee Sanford all received funding from the wheat growers to help them with college expenses. Anna Aarstad Aarstad is the daughter of James and Denise Aarstad. After high school, she ... Read More »

From NASS There were 7.0 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington last week, up from 6.4 days the previous week. Dry, hot conditions characterized the weather statewide. In Adams and Lincoln counties, combined wind and heat pulled moisture out of top soil. Final bean crops in Adams and Lincoln counties required water immediately after planting. Winter wheat and spring cereal ... Read More »