By Larry Ludwig Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Caucus Four resolutions sponsored by the Agriculture and Rural Caucus (ARC) of the Washington State Democrats were adopted at the statewide Jan. 30 meeting of the Washington State Democratic Central Committee in Seattle. The resolutions touched on concerns relating to genetic cloning, electrical equipment used in renewable energy [...]
By Sue McDonald, Visitor services manager Mid-Columbia River National Wildlife Refuge Complex U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials are making their annual plans for prescribed fires within the Mid-Columbia River National Wildlife Refuge Complex. These planned fires accomplish refuge management objectives for reducing fire hazards and enhancing wildlife habitat. Hazardous areas are burned to reduce [...]
By Jim Pearson Contributing writer This edition is Pearson’s third annual pig report, complete with photo of an ugly but delicious wild pig killed in northern California. Three of us left an ailing Tom Perry in Yakima and drove 563 miles to Red Bluff, Calif., where we turned left another 10 miles to the Dye [...]
Washington’s declining snow- pack is increasingly worrisome to water managers. And given the latest water supply outlook report from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), that anxiety may be justified. According to the NRCS, snowpack conditions statewide are 74 percent of average, down from 84 percent just a month ago. Snowpack conditions in the Green [...]
Two scientists have been hired to help with mapping the ground water in the Columbia Basin by the Ground Water Management Area. The announcement was made at the Jan. 28 board meeting by Paul Stoker, executive director. “These two guys (Torrey Copfer, ground water hydrologist, and Patrick Royer, GIS spatial analyst) will be key role [...]
Washington State University Extension’s 4-H Youth Development Program is among the handful of higher education institutions working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Defense to strengthen support for military families throughout the United States and abroad. WSU has been awarded a one-year, $1.75 million grant to enhance the communications and information resources [...]
Scientists from the USDA Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory in Logan, Utah, will meet with Adams County ranchers Monday, March 1, to review their ongoing lupine and crooked calf research conducted on several Adams County ranches, Tom Platt, Washington State University Extension Educator in Davenport, said. Veterinary toxicologist and research leader Kip Panter will present this [...]
Farmers who sell their agricultural and food products directly to consumers now have a new tool to help launch a business or expand into new products: The Washington State Department of Agriculture’s (WSDA) Small Farm and Direct Marketing Handbook. Announced at the annual meeting of the Washington State Farmers Market Association last week, the handbook [...]
The Washington State Hay Growers Association and the Pacific Northwest Vegetable Association are pleased to offer $1,000 scholarships for the 2010-11 school year. The scholarships are renewable for an additional year pursuant to the guidelines. The WSHGA and PNVA will give preference in the following order – 1) Members of the WSHGA and PNVA (and [...]
It was that time of the year again, when the potato industry calls on the capitol and reminds everyone how good $3.5 billion for the state’s economy can taste. Washington potato growers spent Feb. 9 and 10 in Olympia meeting with legislators and agency heads, discussing what’s important to the potato industry. “This is a [...]
