Research

A foundation to grow on

By Trista Crossley
Editor

Washington wheat is known all over the world for its quality and keeping that quality high is due, in large part, to growers like Derek Schafer, who’s been growing registered and certified seed for more than 20 years. Schafer, who farms outside of Ritzville, Wash., said he uses approximately 20%…

Context is key to grower success

By Trista Crossley
Editor

In agronomy, context is key. That was the message growers heard from Ted Labun at the 2023 Wheat College last month in Colfax, Wash. Labun is the owner of TLC Agronomics Inc., a consulting company based in Calgary, Alberta, that works with producers to grow successful crops by incorporating best…

Update on carbon markets

By Trista Crossley
Editor

Pacific Northwest (PNW) dryland wheat growers often feel like square pegs trying to fit round holes when it comes to programs designed with Midwest farmers in mind. That’s still the case with carbon credit programs. Even as the carbon credit landscape continues to develop, opportunities for Eastern Washington farmers remain…

On Impact

By Trista Crossley
Editor

For the past four years, Mader Enterprises has been practicing harvest weed seed control on their farm near Pullman, Wash. In late October, area growers gathered at Greg Mader’s farm shop to hear some of the things they’ve learned and to meet one of the experts on harvest weed seed…

Researcher centers work on maintaining, improving soil health

By Kevin Gaffney
For Wheat Life

“I have the second-best job in the world,” said Aaron Esser, Washington State University (WSU) Cooperative Extension agent and the Adams County Extension director. “Farming is the best job of all, but I have the opportunity to be heavily involved in the ag industry, conducting research that improves how growers…

Different crops, same issues

By Trista Crossley
Editor

Farmers in the Skagit Valley may be producing crops unthinkable in Eastern Washington, but they face many of the same pressures as dryland wheat farmers do. At stop after stop, producers on last month’s legislative food and farm tour discussed issues such as farmland preservation, labor, the cost of inputs,…

peter johnson in field

Wheat College Preview

By Trista Crossley
Editor

One of the Agricultural Marketing and Management’s most popular workshops is back on the 2022 calendar as an in-person event. Wheat College will be taking place June 1 in Ritzville, Wash., with presentations by Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson, Corteva Agriscience and Washington State University Extension. Johnson, this year’s featured speaker,…

wheat field

In the weeds

By Guest Author Lisa Specht

Along with marketing information (see page 52), weed resistance was also discussed at one of last month’s Agricultural Marketing and Management Organization’s seminars. Weed scientist Drew Lyon, a professor in Washington State University’s Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, spoke to growers remotely on the latest developments in Harvest Weed…

woman speaking

Wheat and Greet

By Trista Crossley
Editor

After having to cancel last year due to COVID-19, this year’s Tri-State Grain Growers Convention had a lot of ground to cover. Producers gathered at the Davenport Grand Hotel in Spokane, Wash., Nov. 30 to Dec. 3, to listen to noted national speakers discuss the way consumers view food production;…

Snodgrass

Snodgrass to revisit weather at convention

By Trista Crossley
Editor

Want to hear more long-term weather predictions from Eric Snodgrass? The principal atmospheric scientist for Nutrien Ag Solutions will be appearing as a keynote speaker at the 2021 Tri-State Grain Growers Convention, Nov. 30 to Dec. 3, at the Davenport Grand Hotel in Spokane, Wash. In his presentation, Snodgrass will…