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Larger Winter Wheat Crop Expected Nationally, In NW
Larger Winter Wheat Crop Expected Nationally, In NW

Dryland

Larger Winter Wheat Crop Expected Nationally, In NW
The latest numbers from NASS show American farmers are expected to produce 1.38 billion bushels of winter wheat this year.  If that number is realized it would be a 2% increase from 2024’s harvest numbers.  As of May 1st, the national yield is expected to average 53.7 bushels per acre, ...
As H-2A Program Use Increases, Grower Returns Continue To Drop
As H-2A Program Use Increases, Grower Returns Continue To Drop

Tree Fruit

As H-2A Program Use Increases, Grower Returns Continue To Drop
Labor is a difficult topic in the farming community.  And perhaps the tree fruit industry serves as the best example of that.    Kate Tynan Senior Vice President at the Northwest Horticultural Council said as producers continue to struggle to find a domestic workforce, more and more are turning to the H-2A program.  She added many pe...
Wyden, Crapo Look To Make Railroad Maintenance Easier
Wyden, Crapo Look To Make Railroad Maintenance Easier

Idaho

Wyden, Crapo Look To Make Railroad Maintenance Easier
Last week, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and Oregon’s Ron Wyden reintroduced legislation to expand the Short Line Railroad Tax Credit.  They say this bipartisan proposal would provide operators with essential resources to ensure communities and small businesses can rely on safe infrastructure.   The Sh...
Breadlab Research Paused Due To Doge Cuts
Breadlab Research Paused Due To Doge Cuts

Dryland

Breadlab Research Paused Due To Doge Cuts
Due to federal cuts and changes in D.C., Washington State University’s Bread Lab announced last month it has been ordered to cease spending a five-year, $10 million Soil to Society grant.  The funding came through the USDA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative’s Sustainable Agriculture Systems program.  WSU said they were in yea...
U.S./UK Agreement The First On Many, AFBF Says
U.S./UK Agreement The First On Many, AFBF Says

Economy and Trade

U.S./UK Agreement The First On Many, AFBF Says
The U.S. and the United Kingdom announced Thursday that they had reached the framework of a trade agreement that included opening U.K. market access for American agricultural products.  Dave Salmonsen, senior director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said the new agreement is the first step in a much larger picture.   Th...
U.S. and China Agree to Lower Tariffs
U.S. and China Agree to Lower Tariffs

Economy and Trade

U.S. and China Agree to Lower Tariffs
Over the weekend, the U.S. and China agreed to temporarily lower tariffs on each other’s products, which Bloomberg called a dramatic ratcheting down of trade tensions between the two largest economies in the world.   For the next 90 days, the combined 145% levies on most Chinese imports will be dropped to 30%, including the rate tied to fentanyl by Wednesday May 14th.  The 125%...
Rollins Suspends Animal Imports From Mexico
Rollins Suspends Animal Imports From Mexico

Livestock and Dairy

Rollins Suspends Animal Imports From Mexico
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the suspension of live cattle, horse, and bison imports through U.S. ports of entry along the southern border due to the northward expansion of the New World Screwworm virus.   “While we are working with Mexico on responding to the screwworm, it’s my duty to take all steps within my control to protect the U.S. livestock ind...
Coalition Advocates Wants More Conservation Funding
Coalition Advocates Wants More Conservation Funding

Washington DC

Coalition Advocates Wants More Conservation Funding
The National Association of Conservation Districts wrote to leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, urging robust support for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service’s operations budget.  With the support of more than 120 conservation and agriculture groups, NACD requested $1.2 billion in FY 2026 ...
Idaho Couple Sues Simplot Over 2023 Spill
Idaho Couple Sues Simplot Over 2023 Spill

Idaho

Idaho Couple Sues Simplot Over 2023 Spill
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
Brock Tapped As New FWAA Executive Director
Brock Tapped As New FWAA Executive Director

Economy and Trade

Brock Tapped As New FWAA Executive Director
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...
Plan Now For The Wildfire Season
Plan Now For The Wildfire Season

Forest and Timber

Plan Now For The Wildfire Season
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...
White House Announces Trade Agreement With UK
White House Announces Trade Agreement With UK

Economy and Trade

White House Announces Trade Agreement With UK
“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...
Maybe 3rd Times A Charm; FWMA Reintroduced Again
Maybe 3rd Times A Charm; FWMA Reintroduced Again

Washington DC

Maybe 3rd Times A Charm; FWMA Reintroduced Again
“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...

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