Posts by Trista Crossley
Because a river runs through it
For the third year in a row, the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) and other river stakeholders brought a group of congressional staffers to Lewiston, Idaho, in mid-August to showcase the lower Snake River dams and the critical role they play in the region’s economy. Sixteen staffers from across the nation started the day…
Read MoreWelcome wheaties!
Washington grain growers will be cultivating solutions to yield success at the annual 2025 convention Nov. 17-19 at the Coeur d’Alene Resort in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The convention offers growers the opportunity to hear state and national policy updates, listen to nationally known keynote speakers, participate in educational breakout sessions, socialize, and maybe do a…
Read MoreSerious with a side of humor
When you see Jolene Brown’s name on the schedule, you likely know what’s coming: a lively presentation on a serious topic — think family joys vs. business or farm transitions — served up with humor, appreciation, and celebration. Brown will be one of the keynote speakers at the 2025 Washington Grain Growers Convention, Nov. 17-19,…
Read MoreRunning the rivers
In late June, Columbia-Snake River System stakeholders hosted a tour of the Pacific Northwest’s premier waterway for members of the Upper Mississippi Waterway Association (UMWA). The tour began in Astoria, Ore., and concluded in Lewiston, Idaho, and comes a year after a similar trip down the Mississippi River by many of those same Pacific Northwest…
Read MoreFlying high on drone technology
For Doug Bruce, drones seem like the perfect complement to his existing businesses; besides growing wheat, bluegrass, lentils, barley, oats, and a bit of alfalfa on his family’s farm near Farmington, Wash., he also sells ag chemicals through a local branch of the Hefty Seed Company. Drones flew onto Bruce’s radar last year when a…
Read MoreClosing the deal
An offhand comment about a crop insurance sales closing date during the January board meeting of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) sent Ben Thiel on a quest to see if he could streamline a crop insurance deadline to help growers for the 2026 crop year. Thanks to a lucky turn of events, he…
Read MoreClass is in session
At the 2025 Wheat College, Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson had a wide-ranging discussion with growers that covered growing top wheat by using grower-collected data, factors that impact wheat yields, and how to counter the public perception of agriculture. Johnson is a former wheat specialist for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs. He…
Read MoreHope and hard work
Before Grand Coulee Dam made irrigation viable in the Columbia Basin in the 1950s, farmers struggled to grow food in what was, essentially, a desert. An exhibit at the Quincy Valley Historical Society and Museum (QVHSM), “Hope and Hard Work: The Story of Our Farms and Food,” highlights the story of the region’s agriculture and…
Read MoreA 5-STAR rating
The Washington State Department of Agriculture wants to help farmers evaluate their conservation efforts and provide access to resources and technical implementation assistance through a free, voluntary, web-based program, Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources (STAR). In the online STAR tool — startool.ag — growers answer simple, production-specific questions about their rotations, tillage, nutrient applications, and conservation…
Read MoreA familiar face is back at FSA
Earlier this year, Jon Wyss was reappointed as state executive director of the Farm Service Agency (FSA) for the third time. A lot has changed since his first term in 2019, and we wanted to know what keeps bringing him back, and what’s happening at the Washington state FSA office in 2025. Welcome back for…
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