Agriculture

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.

Lamb Weston: Competition, soft international markets balance gains in North America

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

It was a mixed bag for Lamb Weston in its latest quarterly report, where company officials noted net sales increased quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year but net income declined.

Bud break starts in Columbia Valley vineyards

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The first signs of the wine grape growing season have appeared in regional vineyards, about two weeks ahead of the average start of the season.

Benton County among sites for newly recorded bee species in Washington survey

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Benton County is among the locations where the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s Washington Bee Atlas identified a bee species never before recorded in the state.

Army Corps plan for Columbia River dredge spoils could cost SW Washington ports millions

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The federal agency that maintains the Columbia River’s shipping channel is proposing to build seven giant in-water pens as part of a $377 million project to manage dredge spoils over the next 20 years. Meanwhile, the river’s shipping industry is working to get local ports off the hook for part of the $132 million they will soon have to pay for the project.

Innovative ag producer secures additional funding

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

An indoor agriculture company with greenhouses in Pasco has secured an additional $15 million in financing as it looks to grow its operations.

WA ag officials: Sign up to have your property treated for invasive beetles

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The Washington State Department of Agriculture is again pressing property owners in Pasco and parts of Kennewick to sign up to have their property treated for invasive Japanese beetles that can devastate numerous crops as well as gardens and lawns.

Richland farmworker advocacy organization gets funding for workplace safety

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0500

A Richland-based nonprofit focused on promoting and protecting the contributions of farmworkers is among nine organizations across the state to share in $1.1 million in workplace safety grants.

Federal judge orders increased spill from Snake, Columbia dams

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500

A recent federal ruling that sets how much water must spill from and stay behind the lower Snake and some Columbia River dams is garnering mixed reactions from advocates for the infrastructure that supports agriculture, energy and transportation needs across the Pacific Northwest.

A record fourth year of drought in the Yakima Basin is likely

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500

The Yakima Valley hasn’t experienced four consecutive years of drought since record-keeping began in the late 19th century. That could change this year, as the window closes for snowpack to build across the Cascades.

Prosecutors allege exploitation of foreign workers brought to Mid-Columbia through fraud

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Three Tri-City residents are among four individuals indicted for allegedly obtaining temporary work visas under false pretenses and bringing 500 workers from Mexico to Eastern Washington between 2022-24.

Connell farm to be featured on ‘Ask This Old House’

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500

A Connell grass seed farm along with a Washington State University researcher will be featured in a Feb. 19 episode of a long-standing public television show helping homeowners address everything from ceiling fans and leaky faucets to landscaping issues at their older homes.

State continues studying potential impacts of Snake River dam removal

ty@tcjournal.biz — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500

The federal government may have pulled out of an agreement that could have led to removal of the four Lower Snake River dams, but the state continues to evaluate how their removal in the future could impact transportation networks.

More leadership changes at Lamb Weston

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500

The global potato processor with a large presence in the Mid-Columbia is shuffling more new faces into its top leadership roles as it continues to recover from sluggish sales and other challenges from past years.

Prosser fruit processor wins $20K state grant to expand

ty@tcjournal.biz — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500

A popular Prosser fruit and chocolate artisan shop will use a recently-awarded state grant to expand its ability to produce more of its cherry-based treats.

Mid-Columbia ports to partner with Seattle, Tacoma on logistics hub

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Representatives from the ports of Benton, Pasco and Walla Walla will sign an agreement Feb. 5 in Olympia with the ports of Seattle and Tacoma to leverage the Tri-Cities’ strategic location and resources to ease trade with the global market.

Free nitrate testing available for some WA residents

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Residents in the Lower Yakima Valley whose wells may have been polluted by nitrates have access to free testing and water filters, thanks to a Washington nonprofit.

The latest attempt to legalize homegrown marijuana in Washington

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500

After more than a decade of failed attempts, supporters of amending Washington state law to allow for homegrown marijuana are growing frustrated, but not giving up.

Franklin County to host Trump administration officials

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Franklin County is inviting community leaders to a Rural Prosperity Summit when it plays host to multiple officials from federal agencies, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to the Small Business Administration.

Proposal would give WA agricultural workers more options to form a union

erick.bengel@wsu.edu — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500

A proposed law would give Washington’s agricultural workers a formal process to engage in collective bargaining with their employers, extending an advantage that many private-sector workers have.

Robotic arm gives Washington apples a helping hand

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Researchers at Washington State University, along with those at the Prosser Research Extension Center, have developed a low-cost robotic arm that can pick apples, potentially lending a mechanical hand to orchard workers and easing the crunch of seasonal labor shortages.

This local vodka is grown and distilled in the Mid-Columbia

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:00:00 -0500

An influential Pasco farming family has developed the state’s first farm-to-bottle distillery and received early accolades for their premium potato vodka, taking top honors in a Best of the Northwest contest.

New bill would shield WA immigrant workers from surprise raids

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500

In response to increased immigration detentions across the state, Washington Attorney General Nick Brown and other state lawmakers have introduced the Immigrant Worker Protection Act for the 2026 session.

In Washington orchards, immigration crackdown sows fear and uncertainty

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 21:00:00 -0500

Immigrants not legally authorized to work in the U.S. represent an estimated 40% of the people who help to produce many fruits, vegetables and other labor-intensive crops.