It’s hard to say how 2022 will play out for Washington’s cherry growers.“It’s always a weather-vulnerable crop, and there are many ways the cherry crop can be sabotaged by weather,” said Jon DeVaney, president of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association. “The joke is that cherry growers don’t have to...
So many variables can send farmers’ careful preparations sideways.It’s been a common refrain this spring among leaders at many of the state’s commodity groups.Shipping delays affecting the export market.Inflation gobbling up profitability.The war in Ukraine creating market instability.Unpredictable and unseasonable weather.Despite the challenges, potato growers are ready to produce their...
By Jared BalcomDespite all the changes the nation has experienced over the two-plus years of this pandemic, the U.S. potato industry remains as committed as ever to fighting for federal policies that protect our businesses, our families and the communities we support. Years ago, when I first attended the potato industry’s...
By Pam LewisonFor some farmers, growing potatoes is about a passion for growing things and connecting with consumers.Reagan Grabner, of CSS Farms, is one of those farmers. His family is one of the more than 300 families who make up Washington state’s potato growers.“I was raised on a wheat farm...
As summertime approaches, consumers begin to look to local markets for the parade of fresh fruits, and apple orchards buzz with preparations for the late summer harvest.Last year, 122 million bushels were harvested in Washington, the nation’s leader in apple production.It was a moderate crop compared to past years that...
By Mary CoffmanMore than 84.6 million pounds of hops were grown in Washington in 2021, a 14.1% increase over 2020.“We were all kind of surprised to see a record crop last year, after the spring heat dome, which hit when the vines were vulnerable,” said Maggie Elliot, science and communications...
Thanks to a very wet April, the Pacific Northwest has a lot of water.That’s potentially great news for water users.After declaring a drought in the Mid-Columbia on July 14, 2021, the Washington Department of Ecology downgraded Benton and Franklin counties to “drought advisory” status in late May.Five watersheds spanning parts...
How tough was 2020 for Northwest agriculture?This tough: Discovery+ is streaming “Attack of the Murder Hornets,” a 90-minute documentary about the hunt for bee-murdering, crop-threatening Asian giant hornets in Washington state.The documentary crew followed Sven Spichiger, managing entomologist for the Washington State Department of Agriculture, and his team of hornet...
Washington farms and ranches produce more than 300 different crops with a combined value of about $11 billion – a figure that triples once food processing is factored in.Agriculture is one of Washington’s most important private sectors, along with aerospace and tech.The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agriculture Statistical Service...
Derek SandisonBy Derek SandisonDirector, Washington State Department of AgricultureAs we reach the midway mark of 2021, many of the adjustments made in response to the coronavirus pandemic appear likely to remain with us for some time, from ongoing public health measures, teleworking for many workers who used to report to...
