Pacific Northwest Ag Network

On Thursday, alongside more than 80 of his House colleagues, Congressman Dan Newhouse introduced the Protect Farmers from the SEC Act.   Newhouse said the legislation is in direct response to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s proposed climate disclosure rule, “The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors”, a rule he says would effectively force publi

On Friday, the USDA confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza in a non-commercial flock in Oregon’s Douglas County.  The flock included approximately 25 birds, a mix of chickens, ducks, and geese.  According to the Oregon Department of Agriculture, the flock owners did not sell eggs or other poultry products from their property therefore federal guidelines do not require a quarantine.   ODA in p

It’s been a while, thanks to the pandemic and the slow march out of state mandated restrictions, but the Chelan/Douglas County Farm Bureau will hold their Annual meeting and Dinner Monday October 3rd.  The event will take place at the Wenatchee Convention Center, starting at 5 p.m.   CDCF...

The canola crop in the Northwest is making a comeback after last year's drought.  PNW Canola reports 2022 yields were up from the previous drought year, but still lower than average.  It's not clear at this point why the crop is making a sluggish recovery, or whether it's a long-term impact from the two-year drought.  This past summer ...

Madison Wolfe, Washington’s 2021-2022 FFA Secretary says when it comes to her future, she wants to be connected to the farming industry.   If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@tow...

When it comes to robbing wheat growers of their yields, many things are out of the control of the producer, whether that’s rainfall, summertime heat, etc.  But one thing growers can control is their weed management.  In an effort to help wheat growers across the PNW, Limagrain Cereal Seeds has introduced Co Axium Soft White.  Mike Klicker with Limag...

After a very rough couple of years, the two words being used to describe the Oregon wine community are recovery and resiliency.  And that is especially true with the 2022 harvest underway.  The Oregon Wine Boards’ Sarah Murdoch said those words reflect the confidence in what Oregon wineries are producing.   “Resiliency is s...

Smithfield Foods has agreed to pay $75 million to settle a price-fixing lawsuit.  Reuters said consumers accused the meat producer and several competitors of conspiring to inflate prices in the U.S. pork market by limiting supply.   Smithfield spokesman Jim Monroe said the company denied liability in settling, and that the accord reduces the distraction, risk, and cost of protracted litigation.  “

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to linger even as society and rural communities are ready to move on.  Dr. Michael Stevens, West Virginia University System Health Care Epidemiologist, Morgantown, West Virginia, said rural communities have seen disproportionate levels of COVID   “Rural communities have been disproportionately affected and impacted by the pandemic in terms of having more severe COVI

According to NASS, the value of all potatoes sold last year in Washington, Oregon and Idaho, totaled $1.92 billion.     Washington's 2021 potato crop sold was valued at $666 million, down 5% from 2020.  The marketing year average price for fall potatoes was $7.75 per cwt, up...

This fall, voters in Oregon will select a new Governor.   Betsy Johnson, a Central Oregon native, and longtime state lawmaker, said she’s an aggressive advocate for the farming community across the state.  She says currently overregulation is one of the most pressing issues Oregon farmers are facing at the state level.   “Kate Brown...

There’s a long way to go, but commodity markets are watching U.S. harvest results.   “Early yield reports I’m getting, coupled with the cash basis, is the market, and I are both thinking that USDA has got a low enough yield in these corn and bean numbers at this point," said Mike Zuzolo, founder and president of Global Commodity Analytics.  "And with export dem...

In early September, the USDA released its 2022 Farm Sector Income Forecast, which showed a mixed bag for the farm economy.  ERS predicts producer cash receipts will increase 21% to more than $525 billion nationally.  Crop values are expected to increase 9% year-over-year, while cash receipts from animal production will be up 28% from 2021 numbers.   Despite el...

Researchers at UC Davis, have found a way to reduce the amount of nitrogen fertilizers needed to grow cereal crops.  UC Davis’ Eduardo Blumwald said the discovery could save American farmers billions of dollars annually in fertilizer costs while also benefiting the environment.   "...

There are a host of reasons to visit your local Farmers Market.  But as Sandra Cook points out, you as the consumer, are not the only one who benefits from that trip to the Market.   If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsqu...

The Department of Agriculture plans to invest $8 million to support and expand carbon monitoring in soils.  The investment also supports the assessment of how climate-smart practices affect carbon sequestration.  The investment is part of USDA's efforts to build out a national soil carbon monitoring network, which was kicked off with soil carbon monitoring on Conservation Reserve Program acres in

Senators Chuck Grassley and Sherrod Brown introduced legislation this week to prevent foreign individuals from obtaining credit and financial services through the Farm Credit System.  The Iowa Republican and Ohio Democrat content that currently, certain foreign individuals and entities are eligible to receive credit through this government-sponsored enterprise.   ...

Bird flu has been reported again in Oregon.  According to the state Department of Agriculture, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza was discovered September 28th in two private flocks of 60 chickens and ducks in Tillamook County.  The flock ow...

Time may be running short, but Dan Newhouse remains optimistic that the Senate will address ag labor needs via his Farm Workforce Modernization Act.  The legislation which already cleared the House, has stalled in the Senate.  And while the window for the 117th Congress is starting to close, the Chair of the Western Caucus believes lawmakers can act in the coming months.    “We have ...

On Tuesday, ERS reported the ongoing Western drought is the most extreme drought in the region since 2000.  As of Monday, September 19th, the U.S. Drought Monitor classified more than 18% of land in the Western States as experiencing extreme or exceptional drought.  In July...

Washington State University’s Eggert Family Organic Farm will host U-Pick pumpkin times starting later this week.  Visit the farm Friday, September 30th from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., or Saturday October 1st from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to find the pumpk...