Climate Change

A recent study from Washington State University shows that “cult wines” may adapt and adjust to unpredictable weather better than their more mainstream counterparts.  A rare and ultra-premium product, "cult wines" are only available to those who join a winery’s allocation list or purchase the bottles on the secondary market.    The WSU study loo...

The author of Washington House Bill 1630, requiring the state to monitor methane emissions from beef and dairy operations, said she wants to make sure the state has the most up-to-date data.  Olympia Representative Lisa Parshley said she talked with a variety of animal vets before sponsoring this legislation.  She not...

Legislation introduced in the Washington state House last week looks to establish bull kelp as the state’s marine forest.  House Bill 1631, introduced by Kitsap Representative Greg Nance cleared the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations Friday.   “Kelp is one of...

ABC News is reporting the USDA has directed agency officials to review and remove content related to climate change from its public websites.  ABC News said they obtained internal e-mails that say the directive instructs web managers to identify, archive, or unpublish materials mentioning climate change by "no later than close of business Friday”.  In an email sent Thursd...

This Sunday is Groundhog Day, and it will be the 139th time Punxsutawney Phil has forecasted the weather, letting us know if we have six more weeks of winter in front of us or if we can expect an early spring.   "I would not be surprised to see clear skies and a forecast for another six weeks of winter," noted USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey.  ...

Farming activities in the U.S. accounted for 10.5% of America’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2022.  From 2021 to 2022, agricultural greenhouse gas emissions decreased from 681.6 to 663.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent and decreased from 10.8% to 10.5...

Odds are your jack-o-lanterns won’t be around long after Halloween this Thursday.  But, before you pitch that pumpkin, Susan Baker, Deschutes County Waste Diversion Manager, said you don’t want to put it in the trash.   “There is a way for folks to go ahead and compost their leftover pumpkins after Halloween. Also, remembering that if you h...

Total factor productivity. What is that?   “Agricultural productivity growth, measured as total factor productivity increases either by generating more output with the same or fewer resources and inputs, or by maintaining the same output while using fewer resources and inputs," said Tom Thompson of Virginia Tech University.  He added this...

Oregon State University researchers led an international coalition in developing a report on climate change.  And researchers say the data warns of an escalating crisis.  Previous reports looked at a few factors causing climate change.  OSU's Dr. Lillian...

The owner of East Coast grocery chains Food Lion, Giant Food and Stop & Shop is investing alongside General Mills to expand regenerative agriculture for key ingredients such as wheat and oats in an effort to reduce emissions across their shared value chain.  A...