alfalfa

Increasing demand for surface water, and greater use of ground water and recycled water for irrigation, has led to H2O with high salt concentrations being used for crops.   “Plants they do not like high salt in irrigation water or in the soil," said USDA geneticist Devinder Sandhu.  "So, thi...

Like many other Northwest commodities, 2024 was a trying year for Northwest Hay growers.  Andrew Eddie, President of the Washington State Hay Growers Association said two challenges made this year difficult.   “All alfalfa price between 2023 and then this year in 2024, there's a sharp decline in price, but also combined with that, it was a very drastic decline in movement of product as well,"

Based on August 1st numbers provided by NASS, winter wheat in Idaho is forecast at 59.5 million bushels, up 1% from the July 1st and up 6% year-over-year.  Harvested area, at 700,000 acres, is up 10,000 acres from the previous forecast and up 70,000 acres from 2023. Yie...

University of Idaho Extension forage and small grains researchers are testing a seemingly counterintuitive theory that local farmers could reap rewards by planting alfalfa varieties that weren’t bred to withstand Idaho’s cold winters.

Why is the reported average yield of alfalfa for US farms well below the potential of what growers could actually produce?

Sound Agriculture, new to the Pacific Northwest, is looking to help producers improve their bottom line by reducing their input usage and costs.  Because of that, Zach Carlson with Sound Ag said they have introduced Source to the region.  He note...

Sign-up for the 2023 USDA Dairy Margin Coverage is now open through December 9th.  FSA Deputy Administrator Scott Barlow said several improvements to coverage have been made over the past year.   “ the feed cost formula will pay for high quality alfalfa hay."   He noted, ...

Legislation recently introduced seeks an excise tax on the sale and export of water-intensive crops grown in the U.S. by foreign governments.  Arizona Democrat Representative Ruben Gallego introduced the Water Protection Act of 2022, as Arizona and other states face prolonged drought. ...

Central Oregon Irrigation District has announced that it will continue to run at the current delivery rate until October 1st; at that time, deliveries drop to season five flows .  When it comes to the last day of the season, October 13th has been set as the final shut off date for the Central Oregon Canal (service area east side of Bend/Alfalfa/Powell Butte), while October 14th will be the last da

The Washington state Department of Agriculture is investigating what caused several horses to recently become sick.  The Department confirmed on Facebook they are investigating reports of suspected hoary alyssum in hay, possibly causing several horses to become ill.  Ac...