Washington County

As spring rolls in, so does the urgency to keep a notorious beetle from wreaking havoc on Oregon's farming communities and backyards.

Oregon’s Department of Forestry takes another step this week in its fight against the Emerald Ash Borer, better known as EAB.   “It’s coming.  All we can do is employ various tools that we have to slow it down,” noted EAB Specialist Matt Mills.  He said the tiny bug can decimate en...

The deadline for the disposal of cull onions in Ada, Canyon, Gem, Payette, Owyhee, and Washington counties is Saturday March 15th.  According to the The Idaho State Department of Ag, under the Rules Governing the Disposal of Cull Onions and Potatoes, all cull or waste onions not suitable for human consumption must be disposed of by an approved method prior to March 15th each year.  After M... Read

A cat in Oregon’s Washington County was recently euthanized after coming down with avian influenza, following exposure to wild birds.  The owner said the kitten was outdoors fulltime, and that they live next to a wildlife refuge, exposed to wild waterfowl.  While new reports ...

On Friday, the Oregon Department of Agriculture confirmed that a Washington County cat had tested positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza, more specifically avian influenza type A H5N1.  ODA said the outdoor cat with a history of exposure to wild waterfowl was examined by a veterinarian after exhibiting symptoms, including a fever, runny nose and eyes, lethargy, difficulty breathing and los

A group of organizations hope to grow excitement in Oregon for school gardens.  Oregon Agriculture in the Classroom wants kids learning where their food comes from.   “School gardens just really represent this crucial entry point for getting young people excited about growing food," said Anita Spaeth, OAIC's Washington County programs coordinator.  She added school garden...

The Oregon Department of Agriculture recently received the OK from the Emergency Board for $550,000 to fund additional Emerald Ash Borer response efforts.  The Board operates during the interim when the Legislature is not in session to consider and allocate agency requests for emergency funds.  The mon...

On Tuesday, Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue designated Malheur County, Oregon, as a primary natural disaster area. Producers who suffered losses caused by recent drought may be eligible for FSA Emergency Loans. The designation allows FSA to extend emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters. Em ...