Pacific Northwest Ag Network

While it wasn’t the worst on record, this was not the best year for Washington hay growers either.  Andrew Eddie, Vice President with the Washington State Hay Growers Association, said many growers were down on tonnage because the first cut was pushed back thanks to the cold, wet spring.  He added that...

Acknowledging every year has its ups and its down, Cameron Mulrony said 2022 was a challenging year for local cattle producers to say the least.  Mulrony, the Executive Vice President of the Idaho Cattle Association, said the region was very fortunate to get precipitation mid and late spring.  He note...

Grant Hills, the 2022-2023 Oregon FFA Vice President, says one of the many issues facing farmers that he would like to see addressed in the high costs of inputs.     If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-9791, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@to...

Last week, the Farm Bureau announced that Bert Jacobs, co-founder and Chief Executive Optimist of Life is Good will serve as the keynote speaker for its 2023 convention in Puerto Rico, January 6th-11th.  Bert and his brother John launched their business with $78 in their pocket, selling t-shirts in the streets of Boston.  Today, ...

The USDA mailed survey codes to all known U.S. ag producers with the invitation to respond online to the 2022 Census of Agriculture.  The ag census is the nation’s only comprehensive and impartial agriculture data for every state, county, and territory.  By completing...

For the first time, the USDA will collect data on farmers growing hemp and using precision technology in the 2022 Census of Agriculture.  The agency began regulating hemp production in 2021, and this will be the first census to publish data on those producers, who grow the crop for fabric, food products, and CBD.  ...

The USDA says it’s extending the comment period on the proposed “Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity Under the Packers and Stockyards Act” by five weeks.  The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association welcomed the extension while urging USDA to proceed in a deliberate manner.    “While we appreciate th...

With the holidays here, medial professionals say now is a good time to get your COVID-19 vaccine or booster to protect your family.  Rural families will gather over the holiday season, just as the U.S. faces a potential increase of COVID-19 cases, according to Dr. Mic...

With many farmers already thinking about the New Year, and what 2023 holds in store for their crop, their livestock and their operation, why should water be any different?  Producers across southern Idaho are very hopeful this coming winter will be a cool one with a lot of rain and snow to replenish aquifers.  Te...

A non-native bug is damaging “white oak” trees around Oregon.  State Department of Forestry’s Christine Buhl said the oak lace bug has been here since 2015, but this year, things are looking especially bad.   “It is an aesthetic pest that can make oaks look pretty bad, and so that’s a concern for the typical homeowner, even though it’s not killing the trees. But, the larger concern is always that

In today's UPL Agronomic Minute, Shawn Kennedy talks about post harvest practices that help consumers enjoy potatoes.     If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-9791, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com ...

With the holiday season here, that means scammer are increasing their efforts to separate you from your personal information, your identity, your money and much more.  AARP’s Sean Voskuhl said scammers are not only targeting the elderly, but they now have children in their focus.  He said now i...

Montana Senator Jon Tester pushed the leader of the Securities and Exchange Commission to avoid taking action on its proposed Climate Rule that could potentially hurt American farmers.  Tester said he’s concerned that action would lead to burdensome reporting requirements for family farmers and ranchers who are part of the supply chain for a publicly-traded company as part of the agency’s proposed

President Joe Biden recently signed a National Security Memorandum to Strengthen the Security and Resilience of U.S. Food and Agriculture.  Colin Woodall, CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, said the memorandum instructs government officials to identify threats to American food and agriculture and respond appropriately.   “What ...

USDA’s Rural Development undersecretary faced numerous complaints from rural U.S. Senators about complicated grant applications, office staffing, and broadband grant duplication at a recent Farm Bill hearing.  Xochitl Torres Small defended her agency’s handling of its many functions, calling most criticisms the result of having to balance costs and fairness.  But she did agree t...

The National Milk Producers Federation sent a letter to lawmakers, including Oregon's Ron Wyden, asking for support of domestic infant formula production as the shortfalls that emptied store shelves of formula have eased.  NMPF said given the improving situation, tariff waivers that could discourage the production of a safe, secure domestic infant formula supply should be allowed to expire at the

The Beef Checkoff-funded Trailblazers program is asking for applications for its next class of beef advocates.  Trailblazers, developed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, takes advocacy to the next level by giving participants the tools and training they need to promote beef to new audiences while correcting misconceptions.   “...

Cargill’s CEO said he expects food prices to decline in 2023.  Yahoo said that’s despite tight global crop stockpiles, especially in oilseeds.  David MacLennan, Cargill CEO, said the solution to the food versus fuel debate is to boost global crop commodity production.   “We don’t think i...

Looking back on the 2022 wheat crop across Idaho, Britany Hurst Marchant is very happy with the results.  The new Executive Director of the Idaho Wheat Commission said growers brought in 94 million bushels this year, slightly lower than the average 100 million bushels.  She not...

When Washington farmers, ranchers, and agribusiness leaders met in Wenatchee last week during the 102nd Washington Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, the 2022-2023 leadership team was elected.   Rosella Mosby, a King County vegetable farmer was elected to her second term as State President.  Sh...

According to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 37th annual Thanksgiving Dinner survey, which looks at the cost of the meal for ten, this year’s turkey dinner will cost roughly 20% more than last year, and 36% higher than 2020.  This year’...