Washington

Last week, Idaho senators passed House Joint Memorial 4 which asks the federal government to remove the grizzly bear from the Endangered Species List.  The Memorial, which already cleared the House, says grizzly bears have reached recovery goals in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, and those elevated population numbers have led to conflicts between bears and both humans and other animals alike.     Fol

According to NASS, honey production in the United States dipped 4% last year to 134 million pounds.  Nationwide, there were 2.6 million colonies producing honey in 2024, a 3% increase from 2023.  However, yield per colony averaged 51.7 pounds, down 6% y...

On Wednesday, Lawmakers from across the Northwest, including central Washington’s Dan Newhouse, eastern Washington’s Michael Baumgartner, eastern Oregon’s Cliff Bentz, and northern Idaho’s Russ Fulcher introduced legislation aimed at protecting the Lower Snake River dams.  The three bills include:   ...

As we move into the final months of the western snowpack season, how might what we see in the higher elevations translate to support of regional water supplies for agricultural irrigation and municipal H2O?   “Following two favorable winters, previously, California's intrastate reservoirs remain in reasonably good shape," noted USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey.  "This ye...

Clocks change to Daylight Saving Time on Sunday.   But two bills in the Oregon Legislature could eventually make that twice-a-year change obsolete.  State Senator Dick Anderson wants Standard Time all year.   "A growing body of research has shown that regions in countries that have abolished Daylight Saving Time, such as Arizona and Hawaii, have seen positive results," he noted.     Stat

Bill Perry, the new President and CEO of AgWest Farm Credit, is a familiar name to the Northwest farming community.  Perry has been with AgWest for over 20 years, starting in rural Montana, and now working in Spokane, WA.  Looking at the Northwest farm economy, he noted that while several commodities are struggling, there are a few bright spots, such as cattle and dairy.  Despite the host ... Read

The value of trout sold and distributed, excluding eggs, across Idaho totaled $44.5 million in 2024, up 21% year-over year.  Idaho accounted for 41% of the total value of fish sold and distributed.  The total value of fish in both Washington and Oregon was withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.  NASS noted the to...

New research from Oregon State University shows wild birds continue to be the biggest carriers of avian influenza.  Wastewater detections of bird flu are highest in or near communities with important wild bird habitats, according to the new OSU study, meaning detections of the virus in wastewater does not automatically signal human cases.  Multnom...

In 2021, when the national average of egg prices was under $2 a dozen, Nevada joined several other states requiring that eggs sold in the state come from cage-free chickens.  However, a dozen eggs costs an average of nearly $5 across the county, thanks to the bird flu.  In response last week,...

Last week, Oregon's Cliff Bentz and Washington’s Marie Gluesenkamp Perez joined a bipartisan group of Representatives introducing the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act.  Supporters of the Act say the funding will support classrooms, expand opportunities for outdoor education, help retain and hire teachers, and equip students with hands-on learning resources.  The legi...