Editor’s note: This article is excerpted from a Washington Association of Wheat Growers white paper published in June 2026. The full white paper is available at wawg.org/wp-content/uploads/CRP-WA-Policy-Paper-05.26.26.pdf. The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is one of the most important conservation tools available to Washington state farmers, not just for agriculture, but…
Casey Sixkiller was appointed as the 14th director of the Washington State Department of Ecology in early December 2024 by then Governor-elect Bob Ferguson. As director, Sixkiller oversees a biennial budget of $2.8 billion and a workforce of 2,200 employees dedicated to protecting Washington’s air, land, and water. Prior to…
Eastern Washington producers looking to bump up wildlife habitat on their farm might be able to find financial help from a little-known U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service program. The Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) program was established by Congress in 1987 and is accessible in all 50 states. With…
Building on the success of last year’s low-till/no-till drill demo in Franklin County, organizers are planning a similar event near Pullman, Wash., on Sept. 15. “Last year’s event was extremely well attended, and we heard from a number of producers that they’d like to have a similar event in Whitman…
Two reports are highlighting the valuable role U.S. agriculture and, more specifically, the U.S. grain and feed industry, plays in the national economy. Feeding the Economy In early March, 35 food and ag groups released the annual “Feeding the Economy” report, which analyzes the direct and indirect economic contributions of…
This month, I’d like to talk about membership in the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG), and why it is so important for wheat growers, landowners, and industry stakeholders. The decisions being made today will determine what the next generation inherits. As active members, we help shape the future of…
The business and economics of agriculture are not getting any easier. Many sectors of the agricultural industry are experiencing cyclical changes driven by shifts in the supply and demand for both outputs and inputs. Geopolitics, weather, consumer and societal trends, and the occasional Black Swan event or other unusual occurrence…
In mid-July, legislators got down in the dirt to hear directly from producers about how bills passed in Olympia are affecting the state’s agricultural industry. Every year, ag stakeholders bring legislators and staff to visit the people and companies that raise and process the products grown in the state. This…
Unexpected neck surgery prevented the 2026 Wheat College keynote presenter from appearing in person, but growers were still able to take advantage of his knowledge as he zoomed in. Following coffee and doughnuts sponsored by the Graybeal Group, Dennis Pennington, the Michigan State University (MSU) Wheat Extension specialist, appeared virtually…
One of the most recognizable landmarks in the Palouse has been given a new lease on life, thanks to the community of Oakesdale, Wash., the Innovia Foundation, and the Port of Whitman County. The Port was awarded a $1 million Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) grant in January to fund…
