Oregon

The U.S. House voted last week to repeal, on a largely symbolic 227-198 vote, the EPA’s controversial WOTUS rule.  The Senate could follow suit as soon as this week.  Democrats argued clean water is a human right that will suffer with the GOP’s move.  However nine Democrats, inclu...

A bill supporters claim will fix Oregon's farm worker overtime law has cleared the state Senate.  But, opponents say the measure doesn’t mitigate the risk to the state’s farming community.   House Bill 4002 cleared the state legislature last year, mandating overtime for ag workers, and creating a host of problems for producers.  The new bill introduced ...

On Thursday, Klamath Falls-area farmer Brent Cheyne was elected President of the National Association of Wheat Growers.  Cheyne farms with his son Rodney where they raise wheat, barley, oats, alfalfa and Angus cattle.  In 2011, Cheyne began his time with the Oregon Wheat Growers League as the president before accepting the position of NAWG Secretary in 2015.   "It is an ...

As we prepare to “spring forward” this weekend, a bipartisan bill in the U.S. Senate looks to stop the twice-yearly time change.  Oregon’s Ron Wyden recently reintroduced the Sunshine Protection Act, which would keep Daylight Saving Time year-round.  But fellow Oregon Democra...

It may be cold with snow on the ground, but the U.S. Forest Service is already looking to the fire season ahead.  Oregon’s ongoing drought, more frequent heatwaves and less rain and snow, mean longer and more intense fire seasons.   “The h...

The Washington State Department of Agriculture will host an open house on Thursday, March 9th to address plans to eradicate the Japanese Beetle.  The open house is scheduled to run from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Grandview Library, 500 W. Main St....

Chris Arnold with Darigold says, for a variety or reasons, now is a good time to be a Northwest dairy producer.   If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-9791, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com 

Over the past couple of years, demand for water in the Harney Basin has increased while groundwater levels in the region have decreased.  Now the Oregon Water Resources Department is slated to begin rulemaking which intends to address those declining groundwater levels in the basin.   ...

A bill supporters claim will apply fixes to Oregon’s farm worker overtime law is advancing.  When House Bill 4002 passed last year, mandating overtime for agricultural workers, supporters insisted they would consider updates this session.  House Bill 20...

The Northwest has seen several storms over the past couple of weeks, boosting the snowpack numbers.  But unfortunately, those storms have done very little to address the on-going drought.  Climatologist Zach Hoylman said the Pacific Northwest has seen cooler than average temperatures this winter, helping the region’s snowpack.  But, he was quick to po...