Pacific Northwest Ag Network

Purdue University's latest farm economy survey paints a cautious picture — crop producers are especially pessimistic, with just 25 percent expecting good times ahead compared to 68 percent of livestock producers.

Idaho potato growers planted fewer acres in 2026 than they have in recent years, and early frosts already have farmers watching closely to see how the season plays out.

The Columbia River Gorge pear harvest this year left growers selling fruit below what it cost to produce, and packing houses turning away truckloads daily — prompting calls for emergency relief from both parties.

Some farmers are now tilling fields from their phones — no driver in the cab, just a John Deere tractor working through the night while the grower catches up on sleep.

Unions, environmental organizations, and local governments joined forces in federal court to challenge a reorganization plan that critics say would strip the Forest Service of the researchers and regional staff.

The Hermosa Critical Minerals Project in southern Arizona got the green light from the Forest Service — a $2.16 billion zinc and manganese operation expected to bring nearly 900 jobs to the area.

As the Deschutes River runs lower this season, Central Oregon Irrigation District has scaled back water deliveries to roughly 70%, with updates expected as conditions continue to shift.

The National FFA Organization took 75 high school members to Chicago last month to show them that agriculture careers stretch well past the field — think agribusiness, marketing, and management.

The U.S. just shifted USMCA to annual reviews instead of renewing it long-term — and for dairy farmers, that matters. Mexico alone bought 2.58 billion dollars worth of U.S. dairy last year.

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association is looking for singers and performers for CattleCon 2027 in Nashville — the National Anthem Contest and Beefs Got Talent competition are both open through October 15.

Washington state farmers planted 175,000 acres of canola this year, a 17 percent jump, as the U.S. set a new all-time record for canola acreage with nearly 3 million acres planted.

Washington beekeepers are invited to join a three-year WSU study on varroa mite management, led by Puyallup-based researcher Bri Price, that includes a free ten-part video series launching in December 2026.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is proposing stricter rules for people who own or sell captive deer and elk, following the first confirmed cases of Chronic Wasting Disease in the state last year.

UC Davis researchers tracked how pesticides build up inside honeybee queens over time and discovered the queen offloads those chemicals directly into her eggs, potentially setting off a slow collapse of the whole colony.

Diesel prices dropped across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho this week, but refinery disruptions tied to the war in Ukraine are keeping fuel costs from falling as fast as oil prices.

West Nile Virus has already been detected in mosquitoes in Washington state this summer, and Oregon health officials say the highest-risk times are early morning and evening near water.

Employers struggling to fill entry-level jobs may be overlooking a ready-made talent pool — FFA graduates who've already logged real-world work hours across hundreds of career fields.

Bayer wants the federal government to slap tariffs on glyphosate coming in from China, but farm organizations say that would cut competition and push herbicide prices higher for growers across the country.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller sent a formal letter to the FDA asking for emergency authorization of ivermectin-medicated livestock feed to help stop the spread of New World Screwworm.

Anyone who farms, files acreage reports, or participates in an FSA program may be eligible to run for a local county committee seat, with nominations due August 3rd.

Governor Kotek has asked the federal government to step in after a pear psylla outbreak left Hood River and Wasco County orchards coated in sticky honeydew and black mold, wiping out an estimated $40 to $45 million in crops.