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Program: Washington Ag Today
Washington Ag Today
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Ecology expects to make drought declaration
Department of Ecology officials told a joint legislative committee yesterday that a drought declaration is expected this year and money is needed for drought relief programs.
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A year later and Mexican tariffs still in place over trucking dispute
Washington agricultural products are still being impacted by Mexican tariffs iimposed a year ago over that trucking dispute with the U.S.
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Washington ag spared most direct hits in legislative revenue packages
House and Senate passed revenue packages don't include a lot of those tax proposals that would hit agriculture directly but the legislative session isn't over yet.
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Streamflow outlook dims; moisture a concern for grain growers
As Washington snowpack shrinks so does the outlook for average streawmflows this summer. Meanwhile dryland grain growers would like some more moisture.
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Crop insurance deadline coming up
March 15th is a sales closing date on federal crop insurance for 2010 spring crops. Changes this year include coverage on buckwheat and specialty barleys.
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Deadline for organic EQIP
To get in on the cutoff for 2010 funding or organic funding under EQIP, applications have to be in by March 12th. That's for the high tunnels pilot program too.
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USDA sees continued decline in beef herd
The U.S. beef herd got about one percent smaller this past year and the USDA thinks the size will decrease again this year. Fed steer prices could be stronger in 2010.
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New products for WSU AgWeatherNet
WSU's AgWeatherNet has some new products that wiil provide information to mobile devices. There is also a grape-cold damage decision tool.
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Ag in Uncertain Times goes Spanish
The popular webinar series "Ag in Uncertain Times" is going to have three sessions in Spanish this month.
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WSU gets federal grant to target genetics of E. coli in cattle
A federal grant will allow WSU to research which on the ranch management practices are most effective on the strains of E coli 0157:H7 that are significant to human health.
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Trans-Pacific Partnership could expand ag trade
U. S. Trade Represenative Ron Kirk says the U.S. has started consultations that could lead to a Trans-Pacific free trade agreement including the so called BRIC countries.
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Senator calls budget plan war on agriculture
Farmers and ranchers would face increased taxes under the budget plan proposed by Senate Democrats. Republican Senator Mark Schoesler calls the plan a war on agriculture.
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Risk Protection for specialty barleys
USDA's Risk Management Agency is offering crop insurance for specialty barleys based on contract prices. That includes malting barley.
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Tax proposal called triple hit on Washington farmers and ranchers
A significant hike in the state's hazard substance tax could mean higher, fuel, fertilizer and crop chemical costs for farmers and ranchers.
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Northwest FCS reports 2009 earnings; food inflation
Northwest FCS says it had solid earnings in 2009; USDA's outlook for food inflation
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EPA challenged on greenhouse gas endangerment finding
The National Cattlemen's Beef Association and other industrygroups want the EPA to reconsider its endangerment finding on greenhouse gases in light of "climategate."
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Washington farm numbers; Ag burning fee bill passes Senate
The number of farms in Washington is unchanged at 39,500. The State Senate has pass a bill raising the fee cap on field burning.
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Another option to keep some CRP land with an expiring contract in the CRP
Rod Hamilton of the state FSA office talks about the Continuous sign CRP as an option to roll some expiring CRP over.
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An option for expiring CRP contracts
The SAFE program is one option for expiring CRP contracts. FSA's Rod Hamilton explains the program in today's report.
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USDA issues final rule on organic pasturing
USDA has issued a final rule that says to call milk or beef organic, the animals must be on pasture at least 120 days a year during the grazing season. A grain finishing period is allowed for animals headed to slaughter.
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Washington cattleman named to national Beef Checkoff committee
Waterville cow/calf producer Sid Viebrock has been named to the national Beef Promotion and Operating Committee. That's the group that decides on the final budget and program priorities for the beef checkoff.
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Weathergate bullies
A speaker at the recent Pacific Northwest Farm Forum in Spokane knows some of the scientists involved in Weathergate and he describes them as bullies pushing their own cause.
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Water ouitlook worrisome
Washington's snowpack continues to decline which could impact irrigation water supplies and the weather outlook isn't optimistic.
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Groups collaborating on ag education outreach
Several groups that were providing ag education materials to schools in Washington are now collaborating. They have created AWARE, Agriculture in Washington: Resources for Educators.
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Stripe rust forecast; cattlemen in Olympia
2010 is forecast to be a moderate year for stripe rust in wheat in the PNW. Washington Cattlemen Association members in are Olympia working on the stock water well issue.
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General CRP sign up possible in late summer
Holders of CRP contracts that expire this fall could get a chance to renew in a general sign up late this summer if an environmental impact statement on the CRP is completed in time. If not there may be other options offered.
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All of WSU ag research is at risk
Some restrictions that came with federal stimulus funding, which do not apply to research, may make ag research an attractive target for state budget cutters. CAHNRS Dean Dan Bernardo says ag research as we know it at WSU could be eliminated.
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Saving money on fuel
Tina Hampton of R. E. Powell Distributing talks about locking in fuel prices to save in you operation. She spoke at the Pacific Northwest Farm Forum in Spokane this week.
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Dairy replacement heifer numbers up; an upcoming labor conference
Despite an economically tough 2009, U.S. and Washington dairy producders have increased the number of heifers they have to replace dairy cows. And the Farm Bureau Labor Conference is later this month.
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A smaller Washington Cattle Herd; Spokane Ag Show
Washington's cattle herd is down four percent from a year ago with beef cow numbers down even more. Spokane Ag Expo and the Pacific Northwest Farm Forum begin their three-day run tomorrow.
