Posts by Trista Crossley
Spring Flat Creek controversy
A Whitman County stream, parts of which run dry in the summer, is causing tensions between landowners and the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology). Whitman County landowners who own land along Spring Flat Creek are being told by Ecology that they are polluting the waterway and will have to take steps to remedy that…
Read More2025 Wheat College preview
Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson will be the featured speaker at this year’s Wheat College, which will be held June 4 at the Wheatland Fairgrounds in Ritzville, Wash. Johnson is the resident agronomist with Real Agriculture, where he hosts a weekly podcast, “Wheat Pete’s Word.” He spent 30 years as the Ontario cereal specialist and operates…
Read MoreNetwork keeps the weather forecast local for Washington growers
In a state known for its microclimates, Washington State University’s AgWeatherNet has been providing localized weather information to growers for more than 40 years. According to Lav Khot, director of AgWeatherNet, the system dates back to the 1980s when rudimentary weather stations were deployed, mainly in central Washington, to help tree fruit and grape growers…
Read MoreHelping farmers bounce back
In a recently released report, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is tackling ag viability in the face of a changing climate and figuring out ways to help farmers come out ahead. Published in March 2025, the “WSDA Climate Resilience Plan for Washington Agriculture” is designed to support the state’s ag viability and vitality…
Read MoreCRP seeding window narrows
Planting a successful Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) stand depends heavily on adequately preparing the ground, but some growers in the driest parts of Eastern Washington are concerned their preparation window is being closed too early. According to the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) policy, conservation plans must be seeded within 12 months of the CRP effective…
Read MoreHealthy mind, healthy farms
Last month, a group of Washington wheat growers took steps to overcome the stigma of mental health by addressing suicide myths, learning to recognize the signs of suffering, and finding help for somebody in crisis. The session concluded the Agricultural Marketing and Management Organization’s winter schedule. The session was led by Darla Tyler-McSherry, founder of…
Read MoreMarketing at a glance
In mid-February, producers had the opportunity to hear marketing updates at both the macro and micro levels from two experts: Allison Thompson, owner of The Money Farm, and Randy Fortenbery, a professor and the Thomas B. Mick Endowed Chair in Grain Economics at Washington State University. The session was part of the 2025 Agricultural Marketing…
Read MoreUSDA agency updates
Wheat growers took over two Washtucna, Wash., institutions last month as part of the Agriculture Marketing and Management Organization’s (AMMO) winter schedule. Growers met at the local Lion’s Club to hear updates from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials and then gathered at Sonny’s Tavern for lunch afterward. Roylene Comes At Night, state conservationist for…
Read MoreCover crop conundrum
With the last administration’s push on climate-smart practices, a lot of attention has been focused on cover crops. But how do you implement a cover crop if your cash crop is winter wheat, and you don’t have many other rotation options? The answer, according to Jake Westlin, vice president of policy and communications for the…
Read MoreStrategies for spraying
In the first Agricultural Marketing and Management session of 2025, some of the top researchers in the region explored the weeds and weed management practices Eastern Washington wheat growers are working with. Drew Lyon, a professor and holder of the Endowed Chair Small Grains Extension and Research, Weed Science at Washington State University (WSU), tackled…
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