In early October, Grassl Farms in Franklin County was a hive of activity as more than 100 growers gathered to learn about low-till and direct seeding methods and see several drills in action. The low-till drill demonstration was organized by Kara Kaelber, district manager of the Franklin Conservation District (FCD);…
As I sit down to write this final column, I can’t help but reflect on what a whirlwind this past year has been. Between the phone calls, emails, and texts (on top of farming), there were days when it felt like I was juggling 20 things at once. But when…
Growing up on the farm provided me with several opportunities to operate equipment with manual transmissions. Several sets of gears allowed the operator to find the very best speed/power for any circumstance, whether in the field or out on the road, empty or fully loaded with produce. One gear in…
The 2025 wheat harvest in Eastern Washington was a mixed bag. Winter wheat yields were average to above average in most locations with good quality. Unfortunately spring wheat yields were poor thanks to an unusually dry spring and summer. As the calendar turns over to October, harvest memories are already…
Scott Ford and his parents, Allen and Cheryl Ford, are the fifth and sixth generations to farm their family’s ground north of Walla Walla that was established right at the turn of the 20th century. They are 100% no-till and grow mostly winter wheat. “We’ve done some spring crops over…
For Chad and Marie Denny, watching their son, Jon, begin his farming career highlights the importance of supporting the next generation. “I feel like we’re a bridge. We’re going to own it for a little while, and then it can move on to the next generation,” Marie explained. “It’s not…
“In Garfield County, if you throw a rock, you are going to hit a Koller,” said Wyatt Koller with a laugh as he described how his great-grandparents, Richard and Ollie, arrived in the area and established the family’s farm after stints blacksmithing and working at a slaughterhouse. Wyatt’s grandfather, Edwin,…
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…
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,…
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…
