April Clayton

Industry experts anticipate the 2022 Washington apple crop will be 11% smaller year-over-year when harvest is complete.  But why is this year’s crop smaller?   The Washington state Farm Bureau’s April Clayton, an apple grower in north central Washington, said her crop is down about 33% this year.   “So, if you do ha...

It’s been a while, thanks to the pandemic and the slow march out of state mandated restrictions, but the Chelan/Douglas County Farm Bureau will hold their Annual meeting and Dinner Monday October 3rd.  The event will take place at the Wenatchee Convention Center, starting at 5 p.m.   CDCF...

One of the many research projects funded by the 2018 Farm Bill looks to help cherry growers detect little cherry virus.  Washington Farm Bureau member April Clayton said the disease infects cherry trees through insects.   “Basically, once they bite or land on the tree, the pathogens from the bugs transfer to the trees, and then the tree becomes infected. It leaves the fruit...

The American Farm Bureau Federation is one of many ag groups calling on the Biden Administration to act responsibly when it comes to conservation. Biden’s goal to conserve at least 30% of U.S. land and water by 2030, commonly known as “30X30,” is raising many questions. April Clayton w ...

When the Washington Supreme court ruled in November that farm workers should receive time-and-a-half pay for work over 40 hours per week, it opened a bit of a Pandora’s Box. In their ruling, the High Court did not indicate if farm workers could seek retroactive pay for the previous three years, which has already triggered several lawsuits against the dairy industry. Cur ...

With cherries kicking off the 2020 harvest season across the Northwest, more and more farm laborers will descend on the area to ensure that produce gets to market in a timely fashion. As in most years, labor is a concern for growers across the region ...

It’s a bad one-two punch for the America farmer. As the coronavirus pandemic spread across the U.S., schools, restaurants and hotels canceled contracts, meaning millions of dollars worth of American Ag had no destination. And locations that could have used those commodities, could not receive them, because of a variety of logistical problems, and challenges in changing transportation schedules.

On Thursday, the Washington state Senate Ag, Water and Natural Resources Committee is scheduled to debate legislation, looking at greatly reducing the use of, or in some cases banning organophosphate pesticides, such as chlorpyrifos.  Supporters of the legislation, Senate Bill 6518, say they are looking to protect mothers and children from these pesticides.  ...

April Clayton with the Chelan Douglas Farm Bureau says the Global G.A.P program has many strengths that benefit producers and consumers alike.  The international program allows products grown in the U.S. to be sold internationally, making the commodities more attractive to suppliers.  Bu...

The proposal of charging a state fee for the H2-A program in Washington continues to receive hearings and lead discussions.  Senate Bill 5438 would charge producers in Washington that use the H2-A program, in addition to the federal fee those growers currently pay.  Ap...