How Oregon farms manage manure and what’s changing this year - OPB
CAFO permits aim to protect Oregon waters from agricultural pollution. The rules for CAFOs are changing, and that could bring new accountability — and new costs — to some of the state's larger farms.
GRASS FOR THE FUTURE | Research Center | capitalpress.com
Washington's grass seed industry is developing new varieties to serve farmers and consumers, with the help of Washington State University's rejuvenated grass breeding program. "It's grasses for the future, both for the consumer and the farmer," said Orlin Reinbold, one of the owners of Clearwater Seed in Spokane. "We have consumers that want low-maintenance lawns. And it's got to be able to yield, and the farmer has to make money growing it."
Global warming has unleashed a cascade of unintended consequences and whipped up climate anxiety. CNN Chief Climate Correspondent Bill Weir has five tips to weather it.
Federal environmental regulators are pressing ahead with plans to cancel a fungicide used in Northwest orchards despite the USDA’s concerns about unintended consequences.
USDA Seeks Members for Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production | Natural Resources Conservation Service
USDA is seeking nominations for four positions on the Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production May 7, 2024, to July 7, 2024.
Avista to begin blackouts during storms to avoid fires | The Spokesman-Review
Rolling blackouts will now be part of the plan to combat Spokane area wildfires, according to an announcement Wednesday by officials at Avista Utilities.
For farmers, watching and waiting is a spring planting ritual. Climate change is adding to anxiety | AP News
As climate change drives an increase in spring rains across the Midwest, it can mean more anxiety for farmers eager to carry out the ritual of spring planting.
WA Ranchers bearing brunt of grizzlies returning to North Cascades | Washington | thecentersquare.com
(The Center Square) - After years of discussion and public meetings, the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have signed a final agreement to bring grizzly bears
Outlook worsens for Yakima River basin irrigators | Orchards, Nuts & Vines | capitalpress.com
Yakima River basin irrigators with junior water rights will receive only 54% of normal water supplies, the worst May outlook since the historic 2015 drought, the U.S. Bureau Bureau of Reclamation projected.
Columbia Basin farmers hopeful irrigation program will stretch water resources | Washington | thecentersquare.com
(The Center Square) – Farmers in the central and eastern portions of Washington state are hoping recent developments related to the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program will mean the eventual completion
Clark County farmers say Farm Bill vital to climate-smart agriculture, urge Congress to pass funding - The Columbian
With the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture expected to begin discussions on the federal Farm Bill later this month, farmers and leaders from Clark County and farther afield gathered at the Second Mi
Personal, community choices can reduce wildfire loss | Rural Life | capitalpress.com
Bigger and more intense wildfires across much of the West, including Hawaii, are leading to higher premiums and more restrictive terms for property insurance, participants in an insurance forum said
Feds greenlight return of grizzlies to WA’s North Cascades | The Seattle Times
Grizzly bears will be brought to Washington from elsewhere over the next five to 10 summers. The goal is to rebuild a population of 200 bears in a century.
Washington Fish & Wildlife Commission approve $24 million land acquisition | Washington | thecentersquare.com
(The Center Square) – The Washington Fish & Wildlife Commission voted to approve the acquisition of Springwood Ranch in an effort to save declining salmon populations and secure water supplies.
Taters for the taking: Droves flock to the mound of free potatoes ditched by the Hutterites | The Spokesman-Review
A mound of potatoes unloaded from 10 semitrucks by the Hutterite community just west of Airway Heights on Friday has sparked a free-food frenzy, with droves of people bringing trailers and buckets to get their free taters.
A federal program could fix Washington’s salmon-killing culverts | Crosscut
It would cost the state about $7.5 billion to repair culverts that violate Indigenous fishing rights, but millions from the U.S. government could help.
US wheat farmers face bleak crop economics as grain oversupply hits | Reuters
Profit is growing further out of reach for U.S. wheat farmers and many do not expect to break even in 2024 as ample global supply keeps prices around their lowest in nearly four years at the same time costs including equipment and transport remain high.
Bend spotlighted in national DEI backlash following city meeting hate speech - OPB
More than 60 Oregon cities have diversity, equity and inclusion programs. But as the City of Bend recently saw, a national political movement to end these programs can energize hatred toward local leaders.
Proposal to federally list native turtle draws sharp divide among environmentalists, farm groups • Oregon Capital Chronicle
A move by the federal government to protect an inland turtle that lives in freshwater and wetlands mainly west of the Cascades is drawing support from thousands of environmentalists but opposition from farm groups that fear a potential listing would bring unwanted restrictions. The northwestern pond turtle or western pond turtle ranges from coastal Washington, […]
More Washington farmers face broken CREP contracts | Washington | capitalpress.com
More than 400 Washington farmers in 20 counties may have their Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program payments ended or reduced, continuing the fallout from government errors in overseeing the salmon-enhancement program.