THE YAKIMA RIVER BASIN – Heavy fall rains might have returned to Western Washington, but east of the Cascade crest, people still look to the skies, waiting for much-needed water.

Fruit and vegetable farmers across the U.S. said that labor was the biggest barrier to adopting sustainable practices, with many farmers perceiving the labor requirements to be higher than they are.

The wizard of crops: Microsoft’s ‘Oz’ aims to transform farming

A new University of California San Diego study uncovers a hidden driver of global crop vulnerability: the origin of rainfall itself.

"Understanding the role of the different minerals, chemicals, and microbes involved will help improve models..."

The word 'broadcasting' dates back centuries, and originally described a method of sowing seeds. But it took on a new meaning with the rise of radio in the 1920s.

Most Western SARE research projects use science to develop new knowledge, insights or practices to help farmers and ranchers in their quest to be more successful and sustainable. Some, though, rediscover and refine old knowledge – like the effectiveness of range riding to protect livestock from predators like wolves, mountain lions and bears. “It’s fascinating […]

This story first appeared in the Washington State Standard.

WALLA WALLA, Wash. — Washington’s handful of Walla Walla sweet onion farmers are right in the thick of harvest. “I would say we have an average to slightly-above average crop,”  […]

Washington state has already declared some areas in drought. There’s not enough snowpack in many areas, and much of it is melting out faster than expected.

Andy Juris seeds his spring soft white wheat fields with a hulking John Deere tractor outside of Bickleton, Washington. (Credit: Anna King / NWPB) Listen (Runtime 3:50) Read Inky black […]

For two decades, farmer John Burk has been working to improve the soil on his farm in Michigan, taking a few extra steps to make it more resilient and productive. His efforts have paid off. “When we have the dry, hot summers or lack of rainfall, our crops can sustain the dry spells better. We […]

Trump administration cuts of more than $1 billion in local food programs has hurt some of the nation’s smallest farmers along with schools and food banks relying on their products.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation forecasts Yakima Basin irrigators with junior water-rights will receive 48% of their full allotments and could receive far less if the spring turns warm and […]

Conservation easements have checked development from gobbling up agricultural tracts for decades, but growers increasingly chafe against the policies’ size restrictions.

A meander through Cheney High School’s halls means passing by dozens of classrooms to entertain the senses: like the dissonance of band class or the squeaking of sneakers on the gym floor. But only one amuses the olfactory system with an enticing aroma of eucalyptus, flowering stock and roses.

The Federal Trade Commission and two states accuse Deere of costing farmers time and money by unfairly limiting software access and forcing the use of only authorized dealers.

Harmful chemicals in sewage sludge spread on pasture as fertilizer pose a risk to people who regularly consume milk, beef and other products from those farms, in some cases raising cancer risk “several orders of magnitude” above what the Environmental Protection Agency considers acceptable, federal

The next generation of farmers from across the region will be in the Tri-Cities next month to learn how to better communicate.

Small orchardists say they are unable to sustain losses for years on end amid economic conditions they feel will only continue to worsen.

The Washington State Department of Agriculture hopes more property owners this year will give the department access to spray for Japanese beetles, a pest gaining ground in Eastern Washington. The department will seek consent from more than 17,600 property owners in Benton, Franklin and Yakima counties, about double the number of property owners contacted last year.

WENATCHEE — Washington lawmakers and researchers strategize to address mental health challenges among farmers. Farmers are 3.5 more likely to die by suicide than the general population, according to the

The University of Idaho is gearing up for the 57th annual Idaho Potato Conference, which will take place January 22nd –23rd in Pocatello.