WACD Reading List

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

Wastewater plants are failing to remove a group of potentially toxic chemicals before pumping treated water into rivers and lakes — and climate change may be making the situation even worse, a new report finds.

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

In Oregon, human-made barriers have turned centuries-old migratory routes into life-or-death struggles for fish.

While the start of a new year brings eternal optimism, it also means that the state’s lawmakers will soon return to Olympia to address the concerns of Washington residents. In Washington, …

Biologists, avian scientists and other experts explain the need for the Barred Owl Management Strategy to protect endangered northern spotted owls.

After retirements of longtime legislators, a few redistricting switch-ups, and some departures for higher office, there will be 29 new faces.

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

Now that the New Year has come and gone, the WSDA is reminding residents now is the time to sign up for Japanese Beetle treatments.

Non-native plants are crowding out native ones in the Pacific Northwest and posing new challenges for the organizations that manage them.

Hiring only for ‘professional management’ doesn’t work, Steve Jobs said

Adam Griffin is still in disbelief over how quickly he was robbed of nearly $500,000 in cryptocurrencies. A scammer called using a real Google phone number to warn his Gmail account was being hacked, sent email security alerts directly from…

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today unveiled a new program to support American wood processing facilities. USDA Rural Development is partnering with USDA Forest Service to provide funding through the new Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program (TPEP). The program will support the processing and utilization of wood products from National Forest System lands to improve forest health and reduce the risk posed by wildfires, insects, and disease and the detrimental impacts they have on communities and critical infrastructure.

A Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife scientist said chronic wasting disease, a brain ailment that afflicts deer, likely will persist in Washington for at least decades. Washington State University in mid-December confirmed three deer harvested in Spokane County and one harvested in Pend Oreille County this fall had the disease.

NRCS updated its regulations for watershed projects to allow Indian tribes or tribal organizations to sponsor needed watershed projects.

Why are farmers burying underwear in their fields?

WHITE SALMON — The air is changing, the mountains are getting early snow, and soon there may be snow in town to enjoy. It’s the perfect time of year to

Applications are now open for the Washington Conservation Corps, an AmeriCorps program for young adults and military veterans interested in the

OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is now accepting grant applications for volunteer projects that benefit the state’s fish and wildlife resources and the public’s enjoyment of them.WDFW estimates having approximately $896,900 available for grants, funded through the state’s Aquatic Land Enhancement Account (ALEA), for projects occurring between July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027.  The final amount available will be subject to legislative appropriation and won’t be finalized unless approved in the 2025 legislative session.

Every farmer can reduce tillage — from the number of passes to the aggressiveness or the depth of the tillage tool. Learn more about reduced tillage practices such as vertical-till, strip-till, zone-till and no-till.

Conservationists are teaming up with the U.S. Forest Service and logging companies to clear scorched land and make room for new reforestation projects.

Washington farmland owners with pastures and relatively low-value cropland stand to make more money leasing property to wind and solar developers, a state Department of Commerce study reports. Solar-power companies typically pay $200 to $350 per acre annually, though payments can be as high as $1,000 an acre. Wind developers typically pay thousands of dollars per megawatt, according to the study.

The Oregon Farm Bureau is the title sponsor for the 2025 Northwest Ag Show.

When Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980, lava incinerated anything living for miles around. As an experiment, scientists later dropped gophers onto parts of the scorched mountain for only 24 hours. The ...

The Biden administration has finalized its proposal for protecting greater sage grouse, which thrive in Eastern Oregon and in other Western states.

Chickpeas, lentils, beans and peas are a fast-growing food market, with new uses going well beyond bean salads and hummus—think brownies, vegan meats, and salad dressing. Researchers like Chitra Sivakumar ...

New technology called “virtual fencing” is catching on in Idaho and the West.

Groups across the U.S. said nitrate from farm fertilizers, manure, is contaminating water and disproportionately hurting rural communities.

SPOKANE, Wash. - Washington workers will now pay higher premiums in 2025 for paid family and medical leave.