Pacific Northwest Ag Network

Four western senators introduced legislation Tuesday aimed at reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires across the region.  The Wildfire Emergency Act, introduced by Oregon’s Ron Wyden, California senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla as well as Montana’s Steve Daines would allow the Forest Service to leverage private financing to accelerate forest restoration projects and create a program

As conversations over the 2023 Farm Bill intensify in the coming months, all corners of the farming economy will watch the debate very closely for a variety of reasons.   But, what about the Ag Lending community?   Ed Elfmann Sr. Vice Pre...

The Senate Ag Committee is preparing to hold its first Farm Bill hearing of the new Congress, focusing on trade and global food aid.  The Ag panel is scheduled to hear from USDA Trade Undersecretary Alexis Taylor, Undersecretary for Marketing Jenny Lester Moffitt and Sarah Charles USAID Assistant to the Administrator.  Taylor ...

New research from Oregon State University sheds light on consumer habits and food labels, specifically with cheese.   “Well, cheese is interesting and Oregon has a lot of great cheeses, with a lot of small producers," noted OSU Assistant Professor of Applied Economics Nadia Streletskaya.  "And for...

Data published this week by ERS shows rotational grazing adoption varies by region.  Rotational grazing is a management practice in which livestock are cycled through multiple fenced grazing areas to manage forage production, forage quality, animal health, and environmental quality.  In a re...

American Dairy Coalition, recently announced federal policy priorities and an action plan for 2023.  American Dairy Coalition CEO Laurie Fischer said, “Our ongoing efforts have been focused on raising awareness of short- and long-term challenges.”   One k...

Global trade in food and agricultural products is expanding rapidly.  And while that may be good for the farm economy, it does increase the risk of foreign insects and pests getting into the country, and U.S. crops may not have natural defense for these pests and diseases.   “...

On Monday, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a $2.7 billion investment to help 64 electric cooperatives and utilities.  The funding from the Department of Agriculture will help the cooperatives expand and modernize the nation’s rural electric grid and increase grid security.   "This ...

Balancing the farm books can be challenging to say the least.  On one hand, you don’t want to spend money you don’t need to, but conversely, you want to give your commodity the best chance for success.  In the ongoing challenge to find that happy medium, Bio Huma Netics said they have the right combination of cost saving products, and soil health improving materials to help a variety of growers ac

Tax season is officially here.  The IRS and state departments of revenue started processing tax returns last week.  Robin Maxey, with the Oregon Department of Revenue said it's best to file electronically.   “More Than 90% of taxpayers file their return electronically.  It creates a more accurate r...

Despite oil prices holding or even slipping, fuel prices continue to move higher across the United States, a trend that started in late December.  West Texas crude traded lower in Monday’s action, down by a little more than 1%, coming in at $77 per barrel.  But gasoline ...

A month ago, USDA economists were forecasting grocery store food prices would rise in 2023 by about 3.5%-4.5%, a significant drop from the 11%+ we saw last year.  But now instead of 4%, " is forecasting an 8% increase in prices.”   USDA...

Last week, the National FFA Organization announced its participation in a new community of practice with other nonprofit organizations focused on advancing racial equity.  Over the next six months, leaders in the National FFA Organization will work with The Bridgespan Group to strengthen their approach to advancing racial equity internally and externally.  The Adv...

President Joe Biden has again nominated Margo Schlanger and Stacy Dean to politically appointed positions at the Department of Agriculture.  Biden nominated Schlanger to serve as Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights and Dean as Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services. Both wer...

Late last week, the Department of Energy announced $118 million in funding to help expand U.S. biofuel production.  Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor said the funds will undoubtedly accelerate the innovations taking place at U.S. ethanol plants. ...

Investing in farmland is beneficial for investors and farmers, and Promised Land provides a unique opportunity to participate in a large-scale opportunity zone investments.  John Heneghan, Promised Land Opportunity Zone Funds Manager, said Promised Land culminated as opportunity zone tax legislation can be applied to farmland.  ...

The U.S. is currently in a third round of talks to redo the World Trade Organization’s trade dispute arbitration system.  The U.S. Ambassador to the WTO told Reuters that America wants it to be fully up and running by the end of 2024.   The WT...

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association recently filed a Notice of Intent to sue the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  NCBA is planning the lawsuit over the listing of the lesser prairie chicken under the Endangered Species Act.   ...

Due to language missing from the 2018 Farm Bill, the Secretary of Agriculture is not permitted to waive the match requirement within the Specialty Crop Research Initiative, a key USDA plant pest and disease prevention research program targeting fruits and vegetables...

For many stretches across the Pacific Northwest, the past couple of years have been hot and dry.  And while those conditions have taken a toll on pasture lands across the region, Jeff Clark, Pasture Market Development Specialist with Corteva Agriscience, said proper planning will help ensure those pastures are ready for the heart upcoming season.   “...

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife investigators were called out to two separate attacks on livestock in the eastern part of the state last week.  Crews were called to the Beagle Creek area of Baker County, where one dead and one injured calf were discovered.  ODFW sa...