LATEST POSTS

WSFB: Labor, CCA Key Issues Heading Into 2025
WSFB: Labor, CCA Key Issues Heading Into 2025

Economy and Trade

WSFB: Labor, CCA Key Issues Heading Into 2025
The Washington Legislative Session starts January 13th, and already the farming community is preparing for a host of issues that will have major impacts now and well into the future.  Bre Elsey, Director of Governmental Affairs at the Washington Farm Bureau, said when looking at the data, labor will be one of the most pressing topics.  She not...
Oregon Cattlemen Gather In Pendleton
Oregon Cattlemen Gather In Pendleton

Livestock and Dairy

Oregon Cattlemen Gather In Pendleton
The cattle industry was front and center in Pendleton for the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association’s Convention late last week.  Matt McElligott, President of the OCA, said he was happy with the turn out.    “Excellent speakers and committee meeting.  We got a lot done, and so we can mo...
Suntado “Great For the Idaho Dairy Industry”
Suntado “Great For the Idaho Dairy Industry”

Idaho

Suntado “Great For the Idaho Dairy Industry”
Earlier this year, a unique milk processing facility opened its doors east of Twin Falls.  Suntado is a 190,000 square-foot “state of the art” facility that will process, initially, between 800,000 and one million pounds of milk per day.  And when completely...
Addressing Oregon’s Aging Work Force Will Not Be Easy
Addressing Oregon’s Aging Work Force Will Not Be Easy

Oregon

Addressing Oregon’s Aging Work Force Will Not Be Easy
Much like the national figures, Oregon’s workforce is aging.  In fact, 33% of workers in the agriculture, forestry, fishing industries in the Beaver State are 55 years of age or older.  In addition, Oregon is one of the oldest states in the nation, with the median resident about 17 months older, than the average American.  One sector that’s feeli...
USDA Looks At Irrigation Ag Nationwide
USDA Looks At Irrigation Ag Nationwide

Drought and Water

USDA Looks At Irrigation Ag Nationwide
Some of the numbers from USDA's latest look at irrigation and water management within agriculture.    “There were 212,714 farms and they irrigated 53 million acres.  It was down a little bit from 2018, where the survey showed that there were 231,000 farms with close to 56 million irrigated acres, so down 8% in total, farms irrigating and about 5% for acres irrigated,” noted Julie Weber with NASS. 
Rural Broadband Association Pleased with Supreme Court Decision
Rural Broadband Association Pleased with Supreme Court Decision

Washington DC

Rural Broadband Association Pleased with Supreme Court Decision
NTCA, the Rural Broadband Association, said it is pleased that the Supreme Court announced it would review a decision from the Fifth Circuit Appeals Court regarding the federal Universal Service Fund.  Specifically, the nation’s highest court will look into the constitutionality of the mechanism for contributions to the Universal Service Fund.     “The...
USDA to Enhance Support for Farmers with Increased Replant Paymen
USDA to Enhance Support for Farmers with Increased Replant Paymen

Economy and Trade

USDA to Enhance Support for Farmers with Increased Replant Paymen
USDA is bolstering support for farmers facing crop setbacks by announcing an increase in replant payments for most producers beginning with the 2026 crop year.  This initiative aims to provide financial assistance to farmers who need to replant insured crops damaged by early insurable causes of loss.  The enh...
Hamp: Expiration Of the Farm Bill Hurts Us All
Hamp: Expiration Of the Farm Bill Hurts Us All

Washington DC

Hamp: Expiration Of the Farm Bill Hurts Us All
After the Farm Bill extension expired at the end of September, there was hope across farm country that a new piece of legislation would be crafted and approved before the end of the year.  At this point, it doesn’t appear the lame duck Congress will address the Farm Bill before breaking for Christmas.   Chis H...
Cargill, Tyson Announce Layoffs
Cargill, Tyson Announce Layoffs

Economy and Trade

Cargill, Tyson Announce Layoffs
A company letter released this week said Cargill will permanently terminate almost 500 employees in Minnesota, home to the company’s corporate headquarters.  The terminations will begin on February 5th.  Cargill recently announced it would cut approximately 5% of its overall staff after revenue took a hit in its most recent fiscal year thanks to a big slump in crop prices.   In ad...
Legislation Expanding Broadband Access Passes Senate
Legislation Expanding Broadband Access Passes Senate

Washington DC

Legislation Expanding Broadband Access Passes Senate
Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin as well as Iowa's Joni Ernst recently announced their “Access to Capital Creates Economic Strength and Supports Rural America Act” unanimously passed in the Senate.  The ACCESS Act expands rural broadband access by easing the burden of regulatory costs for smaller broadband providers that rural communities rely on.  Baldwin said access...
USDA, FDA Looking at Clarification of Food Labeling
USDA, FDA Looking at Clarification of Food Labeling

In The Classroom

USDA, FDA Looking at Clarification of Food Labeling
The Food and Drug Administration and the USDA announced a joint request for information about food date labeling, which includes the use of terms like “Sell By,” “Use By,” and “Best By.”  The information request asks for data on industry practices and preferences for date labeling, research results on consumer perceptions of date labeling and any impact date labeling may have on food waste and gro

Load More Articles