The applications will begin this week in Pasco, Prosser, Sunnyside, Grandview, Mabton and Wapato. The state also continues to encourage private landowners in the treatment areas to sign up to have their properties sprayed free of charge.

A variety of factors could be causing or combining to kill off honeybees at a faster pace this year. Known stressors include nutrition deficiencies, mite infestations, viral diseases and possible pesticide exposure during the previous pollinating season.

Potential impacts to research funding at Washington State University from recent federal directives are being lessened, but university leaders say that projects and programs are still expected to lose millions of dollars. 

The price of eggs has backyard farmers flocking to take a crack at raising their own chickens to secure a steady supply of eggs.

Water is starting to flow through the area’s canals, and it could be pricier this year for irrigation districts or landowners. 

Despite an uptick in bird flu cases nationwide, plans for a national egg producer to come to Pasco are still on track, according to company officials.

The agriculture-focused cooperative lending group recently launched the application window for its New Producer Grant program, which provides successful applicants $15,000, as well as educational support and mentoring to support their agricultural ventures. 

This third-generation farmer from Pasco was most recently the National Potato Council’s first vice president and vice president of trade affairs and he also served on the Washington State Potato Commission.

Washington state’s drought status isn’t looking much better after the recent bout of storms, though the drier side of the state is faring better than the west side, state officials say.