Last month, Washington wheat growers gathered at the Coeur d’Alene Resort in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, to celebrate the state’s small grain industry and the people that make it grow. “We had a great turnout this year,” said Michelle Hennings, executive director of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG). “We…
This article is my last one covering marketing basics before we put everything together to develop a marketing plan. Unfortunately, it covers a difficult subject that is hard to cover in a short article. First, what is a minimum pricing contract (MPC)? It is a marketing tool that combines a…
A major goal of the annual convention is to provide growers with updates and educational opportunities through the breakout sessions. Here’s a short summary of some of those sessions. Dams update Adam Ratliff, director of the Center for Sustainability and Working Rivers, spoke about recent developments surrounding the lower Snake…
Having been raised in rural Montana wheat country, it’s probably not surprising that Brad Wiley ended up with a career in the grain industry. Wiley is the foreman of HighLine Grain Growers’ shuttle train loading facility in Four Lakes, Wash. He traveled a circuitous route in his career before joining…
Last month, more than 40 growers attended a workshop at the William A. Grant Water and Environmental Center in Walla Walla, Wash., focused on the Endangered Species Act and pesticide labels. Attendees participated in activities designed to encourage conversation and generate information to inform the national conversation around pesticide labeling. Participants…
Over the years, I’ve lost count of how many times someone has asked me, “Why do you farm?” Is it the long hours, the hard work, the low pay, or maybe the camaraderie of having a beer cooler in the back of every pickup? For me, the answer is simple….
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed with what appears to be a whole lot of changes from both a tax perspective and government programs affecting farmers. The bill has received substantial media coverage, but what are the key takeaways concerning ag? Some provisions sound good on paper but have…
In early October, when Wheat Life spoke to Arlan Suderman, it was too early for him to know exactly what he’ll be talking about at the convention later this month. In fact, depending on world headlines, he might be putting the pieces together at the very last minute so growers…
Scott Corbitt calls his position as general manager at the Port of Lewiston the most diverse job he’s had, which is saying something from a man who once hunted submarines on a Navy destroyer. “This job goes in 15 different directions every day, and I have to be up on…
Wheat, potatoes, shellfish, and irrigation interests came together in late August to help state legislators “savor the land” during a day-long agricultural tour across the Skagit Valley. Approximately 20 legislators took part in the tour, which included visits to several farms, a local flour mill, a tidegate, and an estuary…
