eastern Oregon

The higher elevations of Oregon have received much needed snow this fall and winter, leading to very good snowpack numbers across the state.  Matt Warbritton with NRCS said right now, the statewide snowpack is 142% of normal.   “Snowpack is probably most notable across many parts of Southern Oregon, Eastern Oregon, where it's now well above normal. Snowpack in those r...

The Oregon Department of Agriculture's Noxious Weed Control Program announced last week that Mark Porter has been selected as their new Rangeland Health Specialist.  In this new role, ODA said Porter will provide capacity and technical expertise to collaborative efforts across Oregon that create resilience to climate change and wildfire and conserve and improve the productivity of Oregon’s natural

New research conducted in Eastern Oregon shows strategically grazing cattle could reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires.  Oregon State University Extension’s Sergio Arispe has spent a lot of time studying invasive weeds in Malheur County.   “Invas...

In this week's Future of Farming, Julie Amos, the Oregon FFA Reporter, talks how the differences between western Oregon Ag, and eastern Oregon Ag extend well beyond the commodities.     If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@to...

On Friday, representatives from USDA’s Rural Development were in the Tri-Cities, attending a ribbon-cutting for a new biofuels facility.  The facility, owned by Vancouver-WA based Tidwater Terminal Company, received over $3 million via the Inflation Reduction Act, which looked to increase the availability of domestic biofuels.  Betsy Dirkson...

On Friday, Oregon senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced funding they say will boost habitat restoration in the eastern portion of the state.  The $679,690 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will go to five projects, supporting management of invasive grasses, reducing wildfire risks, and restoring sagebrush habitat.   “Rest...

Firefighters continue to battle more than a dozen large fires across Oregon, as this extended fire season continues.  And it should come as no surprise, much of that fire activity is primarily east of the Cascades.  Kaitlyn Webb, with the Deschutes National Forest, said vegetation is still very dry.   “We really...

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife was very busy last week with several depredations in the eastern part of the state.   Investigators were called all to private pasture land in the Silver Creek area of Harney County on Monday, February 27th.  Th...

The idea of moving the Idaho/Oregon border appears to be gaining traction in Boise.  Former Oregon House Speaker Mark Simmons, who lives in Elgin (outside of LaGrande), testified recently before Idaho’s House State Affairs Committee, in support of the Greater Idaho Movement.   "We se...

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife investigators say a livestock herding dog was killed in a depredation last week in Union County.  Crews were called to Bazine Creek area Thursday where the dog was found dead on private land.  While ODFW has not confirmed which pack is responsible for last week’s depredation, the Department says it could possibly be the same wolves responsible for a pair of d