Glenn Vaagen

Hi, my name is Glenn. I'm the Program Director of the Pacific Northwest Ag Network. I've been blessed with multiple national farm broadcasting awards, receiving the 2019 Editor's Choice award, as well as the 2020 Excellence in Ag Reporting award from the National Association of Farm Broadcasters. I started my radio career as the Program and News Director at KMAX-AM in Colfax, WA. I also served as a reporter/anchor at KXLY-AM in Spokane, WA. Before launching the PNW Ag Network, I served as the Program and News Director for KBNW-AM/FM in Bend, OR. While there, our station was recognized for reporting excellence by the Oregon Association of Broadcasters in 2009. I'm a former University of Idaho football player, currently, I'm married with four children.

Farm Bill Extension More Likely Than New Legislation Being Passed

Congress may take the only Farm Bill action politically possible this month, which is to extend the old Farm Bill yet again. “In the Senate, we can’t reach an agreement that reflects what the House has done in a bipartisan way to make sure the next five-year farm bill reflects the inflation in agriculture that has been obvious since 2018," noted Senate Republican Chuck Grassley of Iowa. I

Clark: Oregon Policy Making It Difficult To Farm

Are farmers in Oregon and Washington moving east because of policy that makes it more and more difficult to farm? Some say yes. Madi Clark has a front row view from her farm Eastern Oregon farm situated south of Ontario. She said the...

Oregon Company Receives Fertilizer Production Expansion Program Funds

Last week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the latest funds dolled out by the USDA's Fertilizer Production Expansion Program, or F-PEP. “We're announcing an additional 7 projects that we're funding in seven states, an investment of about $35 million in expanded fertilizer capacity.” The p...

ODFW Confirms Four Depredations In Final Days Of August

The final week-and-a-half of August was a busy one for crews with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. On August 21st, ODFW responded to a depredation on public land in the Crane Prairie area of Grant County, where a six-month-old calf was found dead. On...

NASS Looking At 2024 Small Grain Production

Small grain growers should expect to see an Ag Survey from NASS in the coming days, as the agency takes a comprehensive look into the 2024 production and supply of small grains, including wheat, oats, barley and rye. NASS says it will contact nearly 1,400 producers across Idaho to determine acreage, yield, production as well as on-farm stocks for small grain crops. In addition,...

Final Round Of USDA Organic Awards Announced

Building capacity building infrastructure, building demand, all aspects of the USDA grant program centered on organic growers and the organic industry. “We're excited to announce our 4th and final round of the Organic Market Development Grants. This is $...

Reservoir Storage Mixed Across the Northwest

With the end of the most intense portion of the irrigation season with in sight here in the Northwest, how is water storage fairing as we prepared to head into fall? USDA meteorologist Brad Rippy said when it comes to the 11 Western states they watch, nine of those states either close to normal or above normal storage. “...

Idaho Hemp Acreage Continues To Increase

Idaho farmers are on track to plant almost twice as many hemp acres as they did last year. According to the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, producers across the Gem State planted 1,273 acres of hemp in 2023, up from the 459 acres reported in 2022, the first-year hemp was a legal commodity within the state. ...

DeHaan: Fuel Prices Expected To Continue Downward As September Starts

Time for your PNW Ag Network Price at the Pump. Monday may have been a holiday here in the U.S., but trading continued across the globe. And in that trade, we saw oil prices continue to slip, with West Texas Crude trading Monday down slightly to $73 per barrel. And it’s not just...

Spokane County Farmer Fined For Unpermitted Water Use

The Washington Department of Ecology has issued a $15,000 penalty to a Spokane County farmer for reported continued unpermitted irrigation of 69 acres near Deer Park, despite warnings, a cease-and-desist order, and an earlier penalty. Ecology water resources staff said they tried repeatedly to inform the farmer, Robert H. Greiff, ...