western U.S.

Bison raised on American and Canadian ranches now has duty-free entry into the EU, and since no other country produces it commercially, U.S. ranchers have the entire new market to themselves.

Congratulations to the University of Idaho’s soil judging team, which recently placed 1st at this year’s Mountain West regional collegiate soils contest.  This was the first regional win for the team since 2008.   “We actually had a freshman from Culver, OR, Tegan Macy, who's studying crop science, who placed first overall in the individual contest," said the University’s Dr. Matt Doumit, Ass

On Tuesday, ERS reported the ongoing Western drought is the most extreme drought in the region since 2000.  As of Monday, September 19th, the U.S. Drought Monitor classified more than 18% of land in the Western States as experiencing extreme or exceptional drought.  In July...

Researchers at the University of Idaho announced earlier this summer they have found a correlation between Ag chemicals and cancer cases in both adults and in children in the Gem state as well as 11 other western states.  UI’s Alan Kolok said he and fellow researchers analyzed federal and state health and ag data for this data.  He noted one ...

It should come as no surprise that late summer features some of the lowest national pasture and rangeland conditions on an annual basis.  However, USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey pointed out things are a little worse this year compared to a "normal year'.  When it...

Back in June, the American Farm Bureau Federation distributed its third drought impact survey to members in 15 western states.  Danny Munch, AFBF economist, said the survey looked at a variety of demographics, including crop and livestock factors, as well as access to water, and what farmers are doing to cope with drought.  Th...

With the western weather wet season at its official end April 1st, the outlook for mountain snow pack water runoff and supplies for the into the spring looks like this: "Almost the entire west is reporting below average snow pack, below average snow water equivalencies, as we head into the beginning of the melt season ...

A slight improvement, month over month, is the U.S. drought monitor. "It's not quite as dark reds and browns on the drought monitor map.  Meaning that we continue to see western drought; there has been an improvement in the overall drought situation," noted USDA meteorologist, Brad Rippey, when checking the latest drought numbers which included the month of December to January 4th. ...

The ongoing drought here in the west highlights the need for water infrastructure improvements to endure future dry spells, that according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. AFBF Congressional Relations Director Shelby Hagenauer said drought is a problem for both agriculture and consumers ...

It's not only dry in the Northwest, it's becoming increasly dry across the entire west coast. "One of the problems is that we have seen premature melting of already meager snow packs in many areas," said USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey ...