Posts by Trista Crossley
The narrator of agriculture’s history in Eastern Washington
If you’re involved in agriculture in Eastern Washington, there’s a good chance you’re familiar with Alex McGregor. Not only is he chairman of The McGregor Company, which provides seeds, inputs and research to Inland Northwest farmers, he’s also managing general partner of his family’s generational ranch in Hooper, Wash., author of several Pacific Northwest agricultural…
Read MoreUSDA analyzes impacts of absentee landlords
Given the low turnover in farmland ownership, access to farmland through rental markets is an important option for entry into farming or expanding existing farming operations. In 2014, 39 percent of farmland, or 355 million acres, in the 48 contiguous states was rented. Of this share, 80 percent was owned by landlords who did not…
Read MoreLeaving a legacy
Janet Walthew may live on the west side of the state, but her family’s legacy in Adams County runs deep as they continue to own and lease out the family’s fourth-generation dryland wheat farm. Recently, she came across photos of her grandfather, Henry Bauer, along with an article published after his death in the Ritzville…
Read MoreAMMO on tap
Once again, the Agricultural Marketing and Management Organization (AMMO) has brought together a winter schedule packed with educational, informative content. Sessions begin Feb. 10 and continue through the month of February with a mix of in-person seminars and webinars. See ad on page 34 for more information. “This year, we kept what worked from 2021…
Read MoreCommunication key when family is on both sides
Walt Neff has the key to a successful, long-term relationship, whether it’s a marriage or a generational family farm. “Communication. That’s the biggest secret right there,” he said. Neff is part of a landlord group that includes his two brothers and a cousin. Neff’s son, David, is the group’s primary tenant, but they also lease…
Read MoreWheat and Greet
After having to cancel last year due to COVID-19, this year’s Tri-State Grain Growers Convention had a lot of ground to cover. Producers gathered at the Davenport Grand Hotel in Spokane, Wash., Nov. 30 to Dec. 3, to listen to noted national speakers discuss the way consumers view food production; the importance of mental, not…
Read MorePlotting a route
Leaders at the Washington Soil Health Initiative (WaSHI) now have a better understanding of the route ahead thanks to a recently released road map that outlines issues and concerns and sets milestones on the journey to improving the state’s soils. The road map, available at soilhealth.wsu.edu/washington-state-soil-health-roadmap/, divides the state into eight focus areas, representing more…
Read MoreQuestions to ask before signing a farm lease
As the end of the year approaches, it’s a good time for landlords to review their farm leases. The Center for Agriculture and Food Systems at the Vermont Law School has developed an online Farmland Access Legal Toolkit to provide a resource for both landlords and farm tenants. The toolkit can be accessed at farmlandaccess.org.…
Read MoreWhat does Washington congressional leader have to say?
Wheat Life reached out to Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) to see what he thought about the climate and carbon mitigation efforts in Washington, D.C. What are some of the major red flags for you when you are considering any climate/carbon-related legislation? The U.S. is already a global leader in emissions reduction. We should be building…
Read MoreClimate, Carbon efforts in the crosshairs
Nearly a year into the Biden Administration, efforts focusing on climate, clean energy and carbon markets continue to ramp up. The Washington Association of Wheat Growers works through the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG), the national wheat industry organization, to monitor these efforts and to provide feedback. Jacob Westlin, NAWG’s vice president of policy…
Read More
