By Briana Alzola Staff writer Most economic development in the area is somehow connected to agriculture, managing director of the Grant County Economic Development Council Jonathan Smith said during the group’s quarterly meeting at Big Bend Community College July 15. “It’s clear what the economic background of our community is,” he said. “We wouldn’t be [...]
By LuAnn Morgan It’s been a long process, but after several years of work, the draft Environmental Impact Study for the expansion of the Columbia Basin Project is expected to be on the table this month. With a promised release date by the end of July, a public hearing has already been scheduled for Aug. [...]
By Briana Alzola A new training program at Big Bend Community College (BBCC) has partnered with Skone Irrigation, Reinke and the Washington State Potato Commission (WSPC) to give students the hands-on opportunity to learn about new technology being used in fields across the country. “It is a brand-new program to train people to do repairs [...]
The Coulee Corridor Consortium held a ribbon cutting Friday, June 25, at Lake Lenore Caves to celebrate the completion of four interpretive panels. The CCC received a National Scenic Byway grant to complete this project. Ken Caylor, Othello City Councilman, is an active member and promoter of the Coulee Corridor National Scenic Byway and was an instrumental person who has worked many [...]
The Farmable Wetlands Program (FWP) is a voluntary program to restore up to one million acres of farmable wetlands and associated buffers by improving the land’s hydrology and vegetation. Eligible producers in all states can enroll in the FWP through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Producers plant long-term, resource-conserving covers to improve the quality of [...]
By LuAnn Morgan Three years ago, Grant County Public Utility District conducted a cost-of-service analysis, which specified exactly how costs were broken down. Along with that, a resolution was adopted for restructuring rates. “The policy guarantees power will stay with the people of Grant County,” Bob Bernd, board president, said. “Through my kids’ lifetime, we [...]
The Bureau of Reclamation has just released the March 2010 forecast for irrigation water supply in the Yakima Basin. The forecast is based on flow data, the snowpack and precipitation data. “We are expecting a below normal water supply at this time,” Chuck Garner, Yakima Project River Operations supervisor, said. “The March 2010 forecast indicates [...]
The Quincy-Columbia Basin Irrigation District plans to start filling the West Canal on Wednesday, March 17, barring any unforeseen delays. Priming will continue on smaller canals and laterals through the first week in April, depending on the weather and the demand for water deliveries. Telephone recorders will be available on March 22 in all watermaster [...]
Valmont Irrigation has announced Lad Irrigation, of Othello, as a Valley Performance Plus Dealer at the company’s 2010 Global Meeting. Lad Irrigation has earned this designation for excelling in the areas of sales, service and aftermarket parts. Each dealership is scored based on departmental evaluations and annual customer satisfaction surveys, as well as the success [...]
Growers who plant forage grain blends now have data to back their seed selection decisions. As the planting of annual grain blends for forage production increases in the Northwest, so does the need to rethink how we select the seed for our blends. Steve Fransen, Washington State University forage agronomist, sees most blend selections made [...]
