wildfires

With the wet and cooler weather, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources is planning a prescribed burn for 240 acres of state land located about seven miles north of Deer Park.  DNR hopes to start that burn Monday.   The prescribed fires will help control the amount of fuel available for wildfires, improve the health of older trees and support new and current wildlife habitats.  A rec

The University of Idaho and Boise State University are conducting a two-year study that probes how wildfire smoke impact potatoes crops.  Farmers have reported smaller yields and worse quality during active wildfire seasons that produce a lot of smoke.  Univers...

A new study out of Oregon State University shows leaves in forest canopies may not be as resistant to climate change as once thought.  OSU Professor Christopher Still used thermal cameras mounted in forests around the country and in Panama.  His res...

Temperatures may be dropping across the region, and there’s even a possibility we’ll see a few rain showers this weekend across the Pacific Northwest.  But that does not mean the risk of wildfires has gone away.  At last report, over two dozen fires of size are burning across the PNW.   And if you plan to enj...

Last week a group of western lawmakers asked the Department of Agriculture and Interior Department for additional wildfire fighting resources.  Oregon’s Peter DeFazio joined 24 other lawmakers, primarily from California, asking the federal government to assist in continuing to fight fires aggressively, communicate clearly and take administrative steps now to prepare additional personnel for when t

What's the latest when it comes to smoke exposure research?  We find out when we check in with Washington State University's Tom Collins.     If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsqu...

While a number of wildfires continue to burn across Oregon, state officials say they have not seen the mega-fires that were anticipated when the fire season started.  Christie Shaw with the Oregon State Fire Marshal said because of a lack of massive wildfires, to date, they’ve been able to be proactive when it comes to fighting the current blazes and where they put personnel.   “...

Oregon’s State Fire Marshal’s Office is taking public feedback as the agency develops new statewide code for defensible space.  OSFM’s Allison Green said they’ve heard concerns from farmers and ranchers in areas that might be considered at high or extreme risk for wildfires, which would trigger potential future code enforcement.   “We have folks here...

When it comes to the ongoing conversation of climate change, the impact agriculture has, and what the future of the industry looks like, Cameron Mulrony said it's vital that producers share how cattle benefit the climate.  The Vice President of the Idaho Cattle Association pointed out the non-farming community needs to know that the beef industry is a good guy when it comes to the climate conversa

On Thursday, Dan Newhouse, Chair of the Western Caucus and 21 other lawmakers introduced legislation to reauthorized the Emergency Relief Program, formerly known as WHIP+.  The lawmakers said the ERP will offer critical assistance to producers who suffered crop damage because of natural disasters in 2022.  They added E...