Forest and Timber

Julia Lauch has been designated as Idaho's State Forester.  Lauch will oversee IDL’s Forestry and Fire Division which manages wildland fire suppression, forestry assistance, and various forestry and fire management initiatives, including the Good Neighbor Authority, Shared Stewardship, and Forest Legacy programs.   Lauch ...

The Bureau of Land Management has finalized its plan to kill barred owls to save the northern spotted owl.  BLM said northern spotted owl populations are rapidly declining, and its two biggest threats are competition from invasive barred owls, as well as fire and drought-related habitat loss.   Although barred owls...

According to some local firefighters, the effects of climate change are making the fire season in Oregon and other western states burn hotter and longer, urgently requiring additional funding and manpower.  The state lost 1.9 million acres during the 2024 fire season, an area larger than Delaware.  Patrick...

Last week, the EXPLORE Act was signed into law by President Biden, including provisions of Southwest Washington’s Marie Gluesenkamp Perez as well as Idaho Representative Russ Fulcher’s bipartisan Treating Tribes and Counties as Good Neighbors Act.  The legis...

On Monday, the USDA announced that specialty crop producers have an additional two days to apply for assistance to help offset higher marketing and production costs.  FSA increased the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program payment limit from $125,000 to $900,000 per operation.   ...

If you take a look back at the top 10 weather stories for 2024, USDA meteorologist Brad Rippy said the wildfire season that blackened so many acres across the Northwest and California would easily make that list.  And while we saw many acres burn here in the west, he pointed out that the southern plains saw a host of wildfires in 2024 as well.  When lo...

As you looked at your Christmas tree this week, did you know much of the research that went into making that tree look its best has taken place at Washington State University over the past 40+ years?  WSU’s Gary Chastagner, also known as Dr. Christmas Tree...

Campbell Global, which is part of J.P. Morgan Asset Management, has purchased 40,800 acres of commercial timberland located on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula.  The property has been named Tyee, because of the Native American history in the area.  Tyee will rep...

Washington State University Extension is working with foresters in the western part of the state to tap an emerging market.  Thanks to funding from the state Department of Agriculture, WSU Extension is supporting bigleaf maple syrup production.    ...

On Tuesday, Governor Tina Kotek called a special session of the Oregon Legislature.  Slated to start Thursday December 12th, the session will allow lawmakers to appropriate funds to pay for the historic 2024 wildfire season.  A record 1.9 million acres bur...