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,…
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…
Think back to the early days growing up on the farm and helping out. Do you remember all the great times you had? It seemed like stress levels were much lower. I remember my first solo combine job in 1982-83. I ran a cabless Gleaner-G Harvester. It was itchy and…
According to the most recent census from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one-third of America’s 3.4 million farmers are over the age of 65. This statistic might not come as a surprise when you consider the demographics of your local farming neighborhood or perhaps even the age on your own…
Wheat growers and other farm producers throughout our state are well aware of the great harm that would be done to farming, power generation, and greenhouse gas emissions if the lower Snake River dams are removed. But what they may not realize is if that disaster should happen, it will…
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…
In January, I was given the opportunity to accompany the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) to Olympia where we lobbied for our wheat farmers at the state level. Throughout this trip, I was able to meet and converse with legislators, have an in-person experience on how our government operates,…
Land is often a farm’s most important asset, and many retired farmers and farm families are opting to become landlords rather than selling land. Recognizing that fact, the Agricultural Marketing and Management Organization held a special workshop specifically for landlords in March. Attendees heard a market update from Rob Froom,…
Variety performance may be the cornerstone of Washington State University’s (WSU) summer plot tours, but there’s a lot of other information also on offer for growers. “While growers can get the information online, there’s something tangible about being able to see the different varieties,” said Clark Neely, WSU’s cereal variety…
Following a months-long audit, the Washington State Farm Service Agency (FSA) office has announced that more than 500 Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) contracts in 21 counties may have been erroneously approved. Impacted producers were invited to join a call last month with FSA State Executive Director Jon Wyss to…
