Washington

Did you know the state vegetable of Washington is the Walla Walla Sweet onion?

Finding veterinarians in rural communities, especially vets that work with large animals is becoming more and more difficult.  Because of this growing problem, several western schools have teams up to try to address the problem for farm country.  Michael...

On Tuesday, central Washington’s Dan Newhouse, Chair of the Western Caucus, and California’s Doug LaMalfa, Vice Chair, introduced the Forest Protection and Wildland Firefighter Safety Act of 2023.  In addition House Legislation, companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by Wyoming's Cynthia Lummis.   Supporters o...

Last week, the USDA announced that eight companies nationwide were receiving grant dollars to beef up domestic fertilizer production.  Perfect Blend LLC, headquartered in Othello-WA, will receive part of the $29 million announced under the USDA’s Fertilizer Production Expansion Program.   “Today...

According to NASS, honey production in Washington last year hit 2.75 million pounds, a 10% drop from 2021.  There were 86,000 honey producing colonies, 10,000 lower than the previous year.  The yield per colony averaged 32.0 pounds, unchanged from the previous year.  Washington's...

Earlier this week, the Department of Agriculture announced the first investment of a $1 billion effort to mitigate wildfire risks as the nation faces an ongoing wildfire crisis.  USDA announced a $197 million investment for 100 projects that benefit 22 states as part of the Community Wildfire Defense Grant program.  The For...

X-disease is a deadly disease creating problems for cherry growers across the Pacific Northwest.  OSU Extension's Ashley Thompson talks about what's being done to better understand how this disease travels from tree to tree.     If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-9791, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.c...

Earlier this month, Washington representative Kim Schrier was named Chair of the New Democrat Coalition’s Farm Bill Take Force.  She says she’s very honored to represent her district as well as the New Dems in this way.   “ Pro growin...

The potato is one step closer to becoming the state vegetable of Oregon.  State Senator Bill Hansell posed this question before this week's vote.   "Should the potato the Oregon vegetable be, or not to be, that is the question before us."   Hans...

According to NASS, Hop Stocks across the Pacific Northwest fell 4% from 2022’s numbers.  The inventory of hops held by growers, dealers, and brewers on March 1st, totaled 186 million pounds, off from the 193 million pounds reported last year.   That’s...