Climatologists forecast brief break in the heat. Ag Minute Aug 31, 2015

U.S. Climate Prediction Center issues two-week forecast that departs from region's summer long weather pattern. Click here for full story.

Washington grower must pay $16,000 to DOL before he can sell his apples. Ag Minute Aug 28, 2015

"Basically, they had me over a barrel,” a Mesa, Wash., grower said after DOL stopped his apples from being packed. Click here for full story.

Grant boosts IWC promotion, education efforts. Ag Minute For Idaho Aug 27, 2015

The Idaho Wine Commission will use an $88,000 grant to help fund a host of marketing, promotional and educational efforts. Click here for full story.

Grasshopper, aphid numbers on the rise. Ag Minute for Aug 27, 2015

Washington State University researchers recommend farmers monitor their fields for grasshopper and aphid activity. Click here for full story.

Hop estimate up 5.5 million pounds. Ag Minute for Aug 26, 2015

The latest estimate of this year's U.S. hop crop is 7 percent greater than a month earlier because the crop is more mature. Demand still exceeds supply. Click here for full story.

Pea buyers look to Eastern Idaho growers. Ag Minute for Idaho Aug 25, 2015

Growers see promise in peas as a rotation crop with wheat, though finding buyers has been a challenge. Click here for full story.

Apple price recovery may take time, expert says. Ag Minute for Aug 25, 2015

Washington wholesale apple prices should rise this season due to a smaller U.S. crop, but they still may take time to rebuild. Click here for full story.

Farmers should report fire, drought losses to Farm Service Agency, officials say. Ag Minute Aug. 24, 2015

The USDA Farm Service Agency is starting to hear from growers impacted by wildfires. State outreach coordinator Chris Bieker recommends photo documentation. Click here for full story.http://www.capitalpress.com/Business/20150821/farmers-should-report-fire-drought-losses-to-farm-service-agency-officials-say

Investment firm plans to spend $300 million on farmland. Ag minute for Aug. 21, 2015

A new REIT is looking to buy up $300 million of farm properties in the Northwest and the South. Click here for full story.

Bad wildfire season is quickly burning through federal firefighting budget. Ag Minute for Aug 20, 2015

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said firefighting costs are consuming an ever-greater share of the agency’s budget, taking money away from programs that could help prevent wildfires. Click here for full story.

China licks other nations in ice cream consumption. Ag Minute for Aug 19, 2015

China has overtaken the U.S. as the largest market for ice cream. Click here for full story.

Wildfire claims apple packing plant. Ag Min for Aug 18, 2015

Wildfires that quickly grew out of control around Chelan, Wash., on Aug. 14 destroyed a major apple packing plant, homes and businesses. Click here for full story.http://www.capitalpress.com/Washington/20150817/wildfire-claims-apple-packing-plant

Idaho, Oregon ranchers fighting one of nation’s largest wildfires. Ag Weekly for Aug 18, 2015

A large fire in Southwestern Idaho has destroyed tens of thousands of acres of grazing land and is threatening ranches and cows. Click here for full story.

Army Corps memos disparage EPA over WOTUS. Ag Minute for Aug. 14, 2015

Internal memos by Army Corps of Engineer brass sears EPA's disregard for Corps concerns over the final WOTUS rule and its portrayal that the process represented a joint endeavor. Click here for full story.

Inslee’s trade trip to include pitches for spuds, blueberries, wine. Ag Minute for Aug 13, 2015

Potatoes, blueberries and wine to be part of Washington Gov. Jay Inslee's trade trip to Japan and South Korea. Click here for full story.

Price rebound predicted for Washington apples. Ag Minute for Aug 11, 2015

The Washington apple industry is hoping for better prices in the 2015-2016 sales season off a 2015 crop expected to be 10.5 percent less than last year's crop. Click here for full story.

Predator control lawsuit resurrected. Ag Minute for Aug 10, 2015

An environmental lawsuit that challenges USDA's killing of predators to protect livestock has been resurrected after an earlier dismissal. Click here for full story.

Bill would allow governors to end port slowdowns. Ag Minute for Aug 7, 2015

A bill aimed at preventing massive disruptions of trade at U.S. ports, like the slow downs at West Coast ports last winter, has been introduced in the House. It's a companion to one introduced in the Senate two months ago. Click here for full story.

Farm groups disappointed as Ag Security Act struck down. Ag Minute for Idaho Aug 8, 2015

A U.S. District judge on Monday ruled against an Idaho law passed last year to protect farmers and ranchers from activists gaining access to their operations under false pretense to secretly obtain records or make recordings with the intent to cause injury. Click here for full story.http://www.capitalpress.com/Idaho/20150804/farm-groups-disappointed-as-ag-security-act-stuck-down

Earlier drought planning needed, Ag Director says. Ag Minute for Aug 6, 2015

The state was caught "flat-footed" in drought planning this year and needs to do a better job next year, the director of the state Department of Agriculture says. Click here for full story.

Poll: Americans favor farmers and food during drought. Ag Minute for Aug 5, 2015

When asked to rate the importance of competing needs when water is scarce, 74 percent said agriculture should be a top or high priority. Click here for full story.

28 state AGs want WOTUS implementation delayed. Ag Minute for August 3, 2015

Nearly 30 states that filed lawsuits against EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers over a new rule defining federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act are requesting a delay in implementation to allow for judicial review of the challenges. Click here for full story.