Agriculture

Chukar Cherries meets processing goals despite challenging harvest

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 21:00:00 -0400

A Prosser-based family business known for its cherry and chocolate confections is reporting it reached its processing goals despite a challenging cherry harvest.

She ran the winery. Now she’s running the vineyard, too

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:00:00 -0400

When the Frichettes first bought the Red Mountain land for their vineyard and winery and lived in a mobile home on the property, Shae Frichette kept several raised beds of flowers and vegetables. Now she’s taking on her grandest gardening project to date as vineyard manager, along with creating overnight lodging experiences.

Immigrant worker protections slated to begin Oct. 1

Mon, 07 Sep 2026 21:00:00 -0400

A new set of worker protections take effect Oct. 1, and state justice officials and business groups are advising business owners to learn what their new obligations are under the law.

Northwest late summer days marred by historic drought, exacerbating wildfires

abaumhardt@americanpublicmedia.org — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The last weeks of summer find much of the Northwest experiencing historic drought causing water supply shortages for public water and electric utilities, costing farmers tens of millions of dollars in lost crops and leaving vegetation and soils dry and susceptible to fires.

Plant operations shift to Pasco amid layoffs

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Twin City Foods plans to lay off more than 100 employees as it consolidates its Ellensburg and Pasco plants.

Kennewick Irrigation District appoints district manager, board secretary

Sun, 23 Aug 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The Kennewick Irrigation District Board of Directors has appointed a new district manager and board secretary.

Columbia Hills becomes WA’s newest appellation

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Heads up, wine enthusiasts: There’s a new appellation in Washington’s wine country and there’s already some well-established wineries within it.

Conflict brews over ag worker housing project

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 23:00:00 -0400

A group of Mid-Columbia irrigators and the Washington Department of Ecology are sparring over a long-planned housing project for agricultural workers west of Paterson along the Columbia River.

Tyson putting Wallula beef facility up for sale

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 23:00:00 -0400

National meat processor Tyson Foods is downsizing its operations and its plant outside the Tri-Cities is on the block.

Ag operator settles Oregon nitrate claims

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 21:00:00 -0400

One of 17 defendants in a lawsuit over nitrate-contaminated groundwater in Oregon’s Umatilla and Morrow counties will pay $6.2 million to resolve legal claims against it.

Rising tension in central WA as farmland is eyed for energy and data center projects

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Klickitat County is covered by rolling hills of hay production, vineyards and grazing livestock. But the county, which is roughly the size of Delaware and has about 24,300 residents, is also an epicenter in the region’s battles over clean energy facilities and more recently, data centers.

Halfway through water year, WA drought shows no sign of ending

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 21:00:00 -0400

State ecology officials recently said it’s not all bad news when it comes to the current state of Washington’s water year. But just like water, good news is also in short supply.

Egg facility inspections in WA still falling short of state requirements

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Washington’s Department of Agriculture did not complete hundreds of mandated inspections at egg production and packing plants for the past two years, posing health risks to consumers, according to a new state audit.

Lamb Weston sees upward trajectory to wrap up fiscal year

Sun, 26 Jul 2026 21:00:00 -0400

One of the Tri-Cities' largest employers closed out its 2026 fiscal year on a high note according to its latest quarterly report.

Report: Columbia Basin water supply becoming more vulnerable

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The latest long-range forecast of the Columbia River’s future water availability leaves the region high and dry within the next 20 years.

Pasco seeks farmers market, specialty kitchen operator

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The city of Pasco is seeking proposals for the management and operation of two city-owned programs and facilities.

Farm labor contractor faces fines for worker violations

ty@tcjournal.biz — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 21:00:00 -0400

A farm labor contracting company that manages workers at farms in Benton and Franklin counties, and connected to two other operations under state and federal scrutiny, is facing $700,000 in fines for farmworker violations.

WA Commerce awards $2.5M for Franklin County renewable natural gas facility

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 21:00:00 -0400

A $70 million project to install an anaerobic digester to convert dairy cow manure to renewable natural gas at a Franklin County dairy just got a financial boost from the state.

WSU uses history to breed better cherries

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Washington State University is diving into its extensive history of cherry breeding to better understand the genetics underlying new, tasty fruits that benefit consumers and growers.

Washington begins annual invasive pest survey

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Of the agency’s top priorities is the eradication of Japanese beetles in south central Washington. They’ve been found in Kennewick, Pasco, Sunnyside, Mabton, Wapato and near SeaTac.

Indoor ag company makes growth leaders list

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 21:00:00 -0400

An indoor agriculture company with a Pasco greenhouse was one of 1,000 companies named to TIME’s World’s Growth Leaders 2026 list.

Tri-Cities’ first state-licensed cannabis retailer moves

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 14 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

The Pasco location of the Tri-Cities’ first state-licensed cannabis retailer is moving to a more visible spot.

Local Bounti continues to see growth

Wed, 13 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

A Montana-based greenhouse operation continues to see growth for its produce, thanks in part to a Pasco greenhouse.

Another court ruling blocks Trump’s wide-ranging tariffs

amurray@statesnewsroom.com — Sun, 10 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

President Donald Trump’s trade agenda faced another major setback when the U.S. Court of International Trade handed a win to two small businesses and the state of Washington after they challenged the president’s 10% global tariffs, imposed after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down his previous emergency tariff regime.

Drought drives new statewide initiative, water monitoring tools

Wed, 06 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

As irrigators around the state wrestle with another year of drought, state officials have launched an effort to brainstorm solutions with communities along with a new tool to help Yakima Valley property owners track water restrictions.

Farmers markets beginning to open

Mon, 04 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Farmers market season kicks off this month with Pasco welcoming vendors and patrons alike to its downtown mercado.

Temporary irrigation cutoff coming for many Kennewick residents

Sun, 03 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Nearly all customers of Kennewick Irrigation District will be without irrigation water for up to 10 days as the pumping facility that supplies its canals undergoes repairs.

‘Our new normal’: WA confronts another year of drought

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Farmers face tough row to hoe

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:30:00 -0400

Farmers face a fourth consecutive year of drought, forcing tough decisions on irrigation, crop survival and water management for orchards and vineyards across the state.

Soaring diesel prices hit WA family farms' bottom line

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The conflict in Iran has caused fuel prices to soar and Washington State farmers said it hits them hard when they are putting crops in the ground.