Pacific Northwest Ag Network

A federal court just struck down major parts of the government's new guestworker wage rule, leaving employers in limbo about what comes next.

Rural communities are catching a break after months of struggle, but farmers still face real pressure from rising costs and weak prices.

Farmers across the country watched prices drop sharply in July, with vegetable growers hit particularly hard by a 32% decline.

The House votes Tuesday on keeping the government funded through December. The bill protects USDA operations, farm support, rural development programs, and food assistance for families who depend on SNAP and WIC benefits.

For many farmers, retirement looks different than it does for other professions. Downey notes that successful transitions often mean the retiring farmer shifts into a new role on the farm rather than walking away completely.

A trade dispute with Canada threatens to flood the domestic dairy market and tank milk prices for farmers across the region.

The 2026 fruit harvest is shaping up to be mixed for growers, with apples, pears, and peaches all down while cranberries buck the trend with solid gains.

Farm exports are headed in a stronger direction. The USDA's latest numbers show agricultural exports climbing to 179.5 billion dollars for fiscal 2026, narrowing the trade gap significantly.

Rural communities are feeling the squeeze as the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service operates with skeleton crews. Farmers can't reach the loans and technical support that keep their operations running.

The biopesticides market is on track to nearly double by 2030, and the shift is already reshaping how growers think about crop protection.