Pacific Northwest Ag Network

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden says the Inflation Reduction Act, which is now in the U.S. House will help almost every American.  Oregon's senior Senator points to the $20 billion included for climate-smart agriculture. "It empowers farmers to make decisions, with respect to drought mitigation, how to promote carbon sequestration - our farmers are so well positioned to sequester carbon, and that’s

South Korea is the largest value market for U.S. beef exports, and it's on pace to possibly reach $3 billion this year.  In an effort to combat rising prices, Korea  created a duty-free quota for American beef.  Erin Borror, Vice President for Economic Analysis at the U.S. Meat Export Fede...

Federal lawmakers are out of D.C., for their month-long congressional recess.  Tom Donnelly, Director of Grassroots Program Development at the American Farm Bureau, said the August is the ideal time for farmers and ranchers to engage with senators and representatives, and advocate for Ag. “We h...

The blueberry season is peaking for Northwest producers.  Brian Bocock, Vice President of Product Management at Naturipe Farms, said the season started slow this year but ramped up as growers began picking the Duke variety.  According to Bocock, the quantity has been good so far but yields have been a challenge. "The ...

In 2020, U.S. farms sold almost $10.7 billion of food commodities directly to consumer outlets and supply chains.  That figure from the USDA includes restaurants, grocery stores, regional distributors and local institutions.  The figure is nearly $2.8 billion...

Thanks to research at UC Davis, strawberry losses from Fusarium wilt could be greatly reduced.  Researchers say they have discovered genes that are resistant to the deadly soil-borne disease. The problem started when the fumigant used to protect soil from the disease, methyl bromide, became illegal.  In the ...

According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, Canada intends to launch another dispute under the U.S.-Mexico -Canada Agreement over U.S. antidumping and countervailing duties on softwood lumber.  Canada previously brought challenges under USMCA against the increased duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports.  Th...

On Tuesday, we told you that farm real estate value increased across the Pacific Northwest.  It looks like the PNW was not alone in the trend higher.  The value of cropland across the United States increased 14% year-over-year.  That translates to a jump of $630 per acre from 2021 to 2022. USDA chief...

Those looking to participate in the USDA's trade mission to east Africa have until Friday August 12th to get their applications submitted.  The mission to Kenya and Tanzania will take place October 31t through November 4th. "We realize the importance of Africa," said Foreign Agricultural Service Associate Administrator Clay Hamilton.  "A...

Beyond Meat, the plant-based meat company, has generated a fair amount of negative news as of recent.  According to Food Fix the company’s stock fell late last week on news it was lowering its revenue forecast for the year.  That announcement came one day after saying it would lay off 4% of its workforce in a cost savings effort.   A Mark...

According to NASS, Cash rent across the PNW varied this year, while farm real estate value moved higher in all three states. Cash rent expense for all cropland in Idaho is estimated at $194 per acre this year, up $14 per acre from 2021.  Irrigated cropland is estimated at $262 per acre, up $26.00 p...

Scoular recently announced a $500,000 donation to the University of Idaho to help fund the CAFE initiative.  When complete,  CAFE, the Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, will include a 2,000-cow research dairy and 640 acre demonstration farm near Rupert.  When co...

According to the Bureau of Land Management, a wild horse specialist rescued a foal trapped in the mud, while checking water sources last week, in southern Oregon.  Blair Street said she was on the far east side of the Beaty Butte Herd Management Area, east of Lakeview, when she says a wild mare kept running to her truck then to a nearby ridge. She d...

There’s a celebration of all things dirt, this weekend, in central Oregon's Crook County.  Sun-Life Farm and Ranch will host their first official “Dirt Day Soilebration” on Saturday, August 13th, through a partnership with NRCS.  Grass, Lavender and ...

Harvest is underway in many corners of the Pacific Northwest, and that will only intensify in the weeks ahead.  The Oregon Department of Transportation is partnering with a local grower to increase safety around farm equipment.  Brandon Bishop with Ioka Farms in Silverton, OR, spoke to drivers through an ODOT video. "Keep your...

According to the USDA, during the first three months of the year, bee keepers nationwide lost about 12% of the colonies, and another 10% during the 2nd quarter.  Those losses aren't as bad as the drop we saw during the first half of 2021. ...

Holstein Association USA believes in continued improvement, generation after generation.  As high performing as the Holstein cow is today, there are ways to make the world’s perfect cow even more profitable.  In fact, Holstein leaders are willing to bank on people who want to make it happen.  Dr. Chad Dech...

It's been two years since the Great American Outdoor Act was signed into law.  The legislation was crafted to address many of the Forest Service roads, buildings, bridges, campsites and more had fallen into disrepair. "From years of underfunding and increasing public use," noted Jeffery Vail leads the Forest Service's Great American Outdoor Act implementation team.  He...

The USDA's current Ag export forecast for the current fiscal year, which comes to an end September 30th, calls for a record $191 billion of ag sales overseas. "Would be, if realized, an 11% over 202." So, are American producers going to hit that $191 billion mark...

Global food prices fell by the biggest amount since 2008 due to easing concerns over the supplies of grains and vegetable oils as Ukraine restarted its exports.  The United Nations world food cost index dropped almost 9% in July.  According to Bloomberg, the index is at its lowest level since January before Russia’s attack on Ukraine helped push the cost of food close to record levels.  It’s the f

Dan Newhouse says he's frustrated over the lack of movement on the Farm Workforce Modernization Act.  The legislation cleared the House of Representatives in March 2021 and since then has been in a holding pattern in the Senate.  The central Washington Republican said time is running out. "Ther...