washington state department of agriculture

Last week, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture members and leadership traveled to Vietnam.  The delegation embarked on the organization's first trade mission to explore global emerging markets through the Department of Agriculture Emerging Markets Program.   ...

Washington State Department of Agriculture officials confirmed last week that Japanese beetles have spread beyond the initial quarantine area established earlier this year.  On Thursday, December 15th, the WSDA filed an emergency rule to expand the boundaries of the internal quarantine of Japanese beetle.  The Dep...

The State Department of Agriculture is asking Washingtonians to check their Christmas trees, wreathes and other purchased holiday greenery for invasive species.  Last week WSDA confirmed elongate hemlock scale, Fiorinia externa, on out-of-state sourced holiday greenery.  The Dep...

The Washington State Department of Agriculture has confirmed a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in a large commercial flock.  The Franklin County operation first reported a high number of sudden deaths of chickens to the WSDA last week.  Investi...

Unfortunately, it’s a familiar theme at many fairgrounds across the state of Washington; rundown facilities that have seen better days.  But the state Department of Agriculture is trying to help address some of those needs.  The Washington State Department of Agriculture and the State Legislature recognize the importance of Washington’s fairgrounds, especially to the rural, more remote locations a

For the first time in seven years, the Washington State Department of Agriculture has confirmed equine infectious anemia in two horses.  The two horses come from separate farms in Yakima County but were together on one of the farms earlier this summer.  A priva...

Backyard bird owners across Washington, and the entire Pacific Northwest, are reminded to practice strong biosecurity measures as migration season starts to increase across the region.  The Washington State Department of Agriculture’s Dr. Amber Itle say...

Locally grown food will take center stage at cafeterias across the Evergreen state Wednesday as Taste Washington Day returns.  According to the Washington state Department of Agriculture, the annual celebration of farm to school connections is a chance to enjoy and learn about the bounty and diversity of healthy and delicious Washington grown foods.   ...

With the fall migration underway across the nation, the state of Washington is preparing for an uptick in highly pathogenic avian influenza cases. Veterinarians predict newly infected wild birds will join the already infected, resident wild waterfowl populations: increasing the risk of transmission to backyard flocks...

Late last week, the Washington state Department of Agriculture was awarded more than $16 million in grants to help small farms and food businesses recover from ongoing economic impacts from the pandemic.  State lawmakers created the Local Food System Infrastructure Grants to improve the strength and resiliency Washington’s food systems.  Applicants offered...