Posts by Trista Crossley
Working the waterways
At the end of June, a group of Columbia-Snake River System stakeholders returned from a tour down the Mississippi River impressed with the need for collaboration among all U.S. river systems and a reminder of how much of the nation’s commerce relies on these river highways. “While there are many differences between our two river…
Read MoreSpeeding along the rails
In June, Wheat Life had the opportunity to take a 144-mile speeder car ride along the Snake River, from Lewiston, Idaho, to Riparia, Wash., with local members of NARCOA, the North American Railcar Operators Association. NARCOA is a nonprofit group dedicated to the preservation and the safe, legal operation of railroad equipment historically used for…
Read MoreAg under pressure
Last month, Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) Past President Andy Juris joined a roomful of agricultural stakeholders to examine how the regulatory burden affects Washington state farms. Juris participated on a panel at the 2024 Washington State Agricultural Viability Conference in Kennewick, Wash. The Washington State Department of Agriculture and Washington State University’s College…
Read MoreRegenerating ag
At the 2024 Wheat College, Ray Archuleta had a message for growers that was both hopeful and a warning. “Agriculture can heal the planet by itself without changing anything else. I believe agriculture is the answer for the future,” he said. “Regenerative agriculture is not for everyone. I’m going to be brutally honest. Regenerative agriculture…
Read MoreCaution. Crossing ahead
With harvest right around the corner, local officials are asking growers to be aware of load limits on county bridges when they are moving equipment. Bridges without a load limit sign typically have a weight limit of 80,000 pounds or 40 tons. “Just be careful what you drive your big equipment over. The last thing…
Read MoreGoing green to grow green
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, agriculture is responsible for approximately 10% of the U.S.’s greenhouse gas emissions. A Swiss company plans to reduce that footprint by building a zero-carbon nitrate fertilizer plant at the Port of Benton in Richland, Wash. Atlas Agro has its roots in the fertilizer industry. The company was started in…
Read MoreLegal eagles
If you’ve followed the controversy over the Columbia-Snake River System, you might have wondered who was representing the people and businesses that are dependent on the waterways for their livelihoods. That would be the Inland Ports and Navigation Group (IPNG). IPNG is a subgroup of the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association that focuses on the legal…
Read MoreHighway to the future
One of the most important highways in the Pacific Northwest isn’t paved, but that doesn’t stop billions of dollars of goods and services from flowing up and down its length. Marine Highway 84, or M-84, is comprised of portions of the Columbia, Snake, and Willamette rivers and stretches from Lewiston, Idaho, down to Astoria, Ore.…
Read MoreA germ of an idea
The Port of Columbia is looking to build on the success of its Blue Mountain Station by paying tribute to the grains grown in the surrounding countryside. “I grew up on a big wheat and cattle ranch on the breaks of the Snake River, so this is my town. This is my past, my future.…
Read MoreBusiness-first or family-first farming?
The title of the Agricultural Marketing and Management Organization’s last winter workshop might have made attendees laugh, but the subject was anything but funny. Led by popular ag speaker Jolene Brown, “Stop the Fighting on the Way to the Funeral Home,” focused on doing business the right way in an industry known for its focus…
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