Pacific Northwest Ag Network

Idaho ranchers Lynn and Glenna Rasmussen are suing Simplot for allegedly causing a major toxic spill from a phosphate slurry pipeline, which they claim devastated their cattle operation.  The lawsuit alleges that agribusiness giant downplayed the volume and toxicity of the September 2023 spill in the Caribou National Forest, which the couple claims contaminated local water sources with hazardous s

On Thursday, The Trump Administration announced a trade agreement-in-principle with the United Kingdom.  Kent Bacus, Executive Director of Government Affairs at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, said this announcement is welcomed news for the American rancher.   “This ...

Hannah McAuliffe, the 2024 Oregon Ag in the Classroom Educator of the Year, discusses how a lack of Ag teachers will likely impact the industry into the future.   If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaag... Read More ...

A new report shows the health of Oregon’s forests, following years of drought and historic wildfires.  And researchers are relying on aerial fly-overs to gather critical data.  Oregon’s Department of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service work together...

Far West Agribusiness Association announced last week that Doug Brock has been appointed Executive Director.  FWAA said Brock brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to the agricultural community to the role.   Prior to this role, Brock served as the Business Unit Manager for The McGregor Company in Eltopia, WA, for over 32 years.  FWAA said hi...

USDA’s May World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates, better known as the WASDE, typically draws a lot of interest, since it’s the first look at crop commodity production, use, trade and price trends for the new marketing year.  World Agr...

Fire officials urge everyone across the Northwest to prepare properties now for the wildfire season ahead.  Oregon’s Office of State Fire Marshal has for years encouraged everyone to create defensible space, but Assistant Chief Deputy Chad Hawkins said seemingly minor mistakes could make a big difference this fire season.  He said peopl...

The Rural Broadband Association applaud the introduction of the Lowering Broadband Costs for Consumers Act.  The bipartisan legislation directs the Federal Communications Commission to require broadband service providers to contribute to the Universal Service Fund.   ...

At a press conference on Capitol Hill last week, House Ag Committee Democrats railed against Republican plans to cut spending on food aid in SNAP.  The Democrats emphasized that funding for SNAP supports hungry families as well as farmers, grocery workers, truckers, and food manufacturers.    ...

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met with President Trump in Washington D.C., and while the two have spoken on the phone, this was their first face-to-face meeting.  This was also the first major diplomatic meeting for Canada’s newly elected leader.   C...

“It's just been a deal that was we thought, very complicated. It became very simple," President Donald Trump said Thursday at the White House, announcing the U.S./United Kingdom trade agreement-in-principle.  "It's opening up the country that we really didn't have the kind of access to that I would have thought; I was surprised. I think i...

“This bill is kind of a marker, it starts the discussion and I'm hoping that we can make some needed updates to it before final passage,” said Representative Dan Newhouse, after he and California’s Zoe Lofgren reintroduced the Farm Workforce Modernization Act on Wednesday.  He said  reintroducing th...

The Washington State Wine Commission will host a WAVEx Wednesday May 14th focused on tannins in wine.  Melissa Hansen has a preview of the upcoming event.       If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquareme... Read More ...

Congratulations to the University of Idaho, as the kids from Moscow prove they know their dirt.  The U of I placed first overall during the 2025 National Collegiate Soil Judging Contest.  The event which took place April 27th-May 2nd back in Stevens Point, WI, included 27 teams from across the country.  And the U of I wa...

The Washington FFA has taken over Pullman this weekend for the organization’s 95th Convention and Expo.  And this marks the first convention for Executive Director Tamara Whitcomb, who took the leadership role in November.   Whitcomb is no stranger to the FFA organization, serving as a member in high school.  When it comes to g...

On Thursday, Idaho senator Mike Crapo and Oregon’s Jeff Merkley announced the introduction of the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration (CFLR) Program Reauthorization Act of 2025.  They say this bipartisan legislation would reauthorize and expand the CFLR program, which helps fund collaborative and community-based forest management.  The lawmakers said...

Pacific Power is ready for wildfire season.  Simon Gutierrez said they've installed equipment that can be set to quickly de-energize a line if a limb or tree falls on it.  They can also turn off the power if a fire is approaching.   "We'l...

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins testified before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee this week and defended downsizing the USDA and potential cuts to international food programs.  The secretary added that the Agriculture Department doesn’t plan to close any of its 4,500 Farm Service Agency offices that serve America’s farmers.   “It is not i...

RegenAphex is a biological technology platform designed to deliver readily available carbon and a number of microorganisms to improve soil health, increase crop nutrient uptake, and support plant health.   “The RegenAphex platform, what it is, at its core, is a very rich source of organic carbon in a liquid form that's used to feed microbes, both the microbes that we formulate within the solutions

Five U.S. states have now officially banned lab-grown meat.   Last week, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed a bill prohibiting the manufacture, sale, and distribution of the product.  Earlier this week, Indiana Governor Mike Braun signed a two-year ban into law, followed by strict labeling laws after the law expires.   “The ...

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