Winds accelerated a grass fire into the north end of Wenatchee, Wash., late Sunday, June 28, burning more than a dozen homes and several tree fruit industry-related businesses and causing the evacuation of hundreds of residences. Click here for full story.
Five Western Washington counties are in a "severe drought," according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, putting boths sides of the Cascades on course to become federal disaster areas. Click here for full story.
USDA includes 18 Washington counties in federal disaster declaration. Click here for full story.
A Kansas State University veterinary expert advises that ranchers shouldn't expect their veterinarians to automatically approve uses of medically important antibiotics under new federal guidelines that fully take effect Jan. 1, 2017. Click here for full story.
An exotic fruit fly that was first detected in Idaho in 2012 appears to have gained a tentative foothold in the state and researchers are trying to determine how widespread it is. Click here for full story.
Court says government-run program can't take raisins without paying for them. For full story click here.
Pacific Northwest wheat farmers are eyeing an early harvest due to dry conditions. Click here for full story.
Leaders in Idaho's agricultural and technology sectors met during a first-ever AgriTech Summit June 16 and discussed ways both sides could benefit from a close partnership between the top two sectors of the state's economy. Click here for full story.
More than 49 million birds died or were euthanized this spring. Click here for full Story.
Packers continue to shrink remaining amounts of Washington's huge 2014 apple crop to reduce carryover into the upcoming crop and try to improve wholesale prices. Click here for full story.
Hop growers have increased acreage an estimated 16 percent this season in a continuing quest to meet demand of the growing small, craft brewery market. Click here for full story.
President Obama announced $110 million in new drought relief after holding a teleconference with Western governors. The latest round of funding adds to the more than $190 million the federal government has already spent on drought relief this year. Click here for full story.
In a move to avoid trade retaliation from Canada and Mexio, House Republicans have passed a measure to repeal country-of-origin labeling. click here for full story.http://www.capitalpress.com/Nation_World/Nation/20150611/house-votes-to-repeal-country-of-origin-labeling-on-meat
An overhaul of computer systems for managing farm programs at USDA's Farm Service Agency is way past due and over budget, an audit found. Click here for full story.
UISDA trade analysts are expecting a $12 billion year-over-year decline in U.S. Ag exports in FY 2015, primarily due to the strong U.S. dollar. Click here for full story.
WSU professors find organic foods good for farmers' financial health. Click here for full story.
Washington State University researcher Diter Von Wettstein has received further funding for his efforts to create a gluten-free wheat. Click here for full story.
Environmentalists hail the return of gray wolves, but ranchers say the apex predators — and the state's high goals — threaten their way of life. Click here for full story.
A new mobile farmers' market in Boise will bring fresh produce grown in the Treasure Valley directly to people who are least likely to be able to access and afford it. The city of Boise will provide a financial match on food stamp purchases. Click here for full story.http://www.capitalpress.com/Idaho/20150604/mobile-farmers-market-brings-produce-to-boise-neighborhoods
Despite heavy rain in May, experts say drought is still a fact of life in much of the West. Click here for full story.
Olympic Peninsula farmers agree to lease water rights on 840 irrigated acres to increase flows in the Dungeness River for fish. Click here for full story.
The Washington Apple Commission has tripled its reserves for the possibility of food safety scares, loss of federal funding and other emergencies. For full story click here.
The proposal would primarily affect energy development. Click here for full Story.
