Posts by Jeff Malone
Looking back
As I sit down to write this final column, I can’t help but reflect on what a whirlwind this past year has been. Between the phone calls, emails, and texts (on top of farming), there were days when it felt like I was juggling 20 things at once. But when I look back, I realize…
Read MoreOptimism in tough times
As I sit in the tractor cab writing this column, the hum of the air drill in the background, I can’t help but reflect on the season we just wrapped up. Harvest is done, and the grain is in the bin. On our farm, it turned out to be an average crop, maybe a little…
Read MoreFarm bill or bust
On Sept. 30, the most recent farm bill, passed in 2018, will expire. This means we are, once again, facing a critical deadline. If you’ve been paying attention to how Congress handles the farm bill, you know we’ve been limping along on a series of extensions. A new bill should have been in place years…
Read MoreGlyphosate in the crosshairs
Our farm started using Roundup (glyphosate) close to 40 years ago. Maybe even 50. What began as a simple weed control solution has become one of the foundational tools in modern agriculture. But today, it’s under fire like never before. As regulatory and public scrutiny intensifies, it’s time we speak plainly about how glyphosate fits…
Read MoreFrom selling the future to farming with it
Before I returned to the family farm full time, I had a short but impactful detour that shaped the way I approach agriculture today. Fresh out of college with a degree in business and communications, I landed a job at Odessa Trading Company selling precision ag equipment. At the time, I wasn’t exactly sure where…
Read MoreGrower involvement matters
In the midst of global uncertainty, volatile markets, shifting regulations, and a growing disconnect between consumers and producers, there’s one thing I believe more than ever: grower involvement matters. It matters because our voices are needed now more than ever. Farming communities are shrinking. Many small and mid-sized operations have disappeared. Corporate ownership and large-scale…
Read MoreTrying for certainty in an uncertain world
Uncertainty has always been part of farming, but lately, it feels like we are being tested at every turn. The latest round of tariffs on wheat, along with those on corn and soybeans, has sent prices tumbling down 10% in just a short time. China has imposed significant barriers, and our closest trading partners, Canada…
Read MoreResearch on my mind
There’s just a lot going on these days in agriculture. Between all the new advances in technology, chemistry, biologicals, spending money, and worrying, I find that my mental dance card is a bit full! This month I’d like to highlight one particular aspect of our industry that will either fill you with excitement or make…
Read MoreWAWG: A legacy of advocacy
There’s an old saying around here that “it takes two to tango.” I’m sure most of you have heard it tossed around the coffee shop or used one way or another. In the Washington state wheat industry, it’s more accurate to say that it takes three to tango. Three organizations, the Washington Association of Wheat…
Read MoreNew year equals new beginning
As we turn the calendar to 2025, we embrace not just a new year, but the promise of new beginnings. This year, with significant changes in Congress, we have reason to hope for the substantial progress our agricultural community needs. Chief among our priorities is the passage of a comprehensive farm bill. Farmers across the…
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