Farming

Northwest Asparagus Comes A Tad Early

Anna King — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 23:53:31 +0000

PASCO, Wash. – Northwest farmers are beginning to harvest the first asparagus of the year this week in southeast Washington. That’s a tad earlier than usual. And after last year's farm-labor shortage, growers across the region are keeping an eye on how many asparagus workers show up for the harvest.

At the Middleton farm stand near Pasco, Washington asparagus – both purple and green – is selling by the pound to passersby.

Early Economic Recovery Leaves Rural Idaho Behind

Jessica Robinson — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:37:59 +0000

New numbers out Monday show Idaho's rural areas experienced the post-recession years very differently from the state's cities. While places like Boise and Pocatello were on the mend, economic output in rural communities in Idaho declined.

At first glance, Idaho's rural counties appeared to be making an economic recovery with the rest of the state.

Farm Bill Extension Leaves Out Many In Northwest

Anna King — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 00:06:05 +0000

Many Northwest growers are left out of the partial extension of the U.S. Farm Bill included in this week’s fiscal cliff legislation. The new law largely covers conventional agriculture and not the organics, specialty crops and conservation programs that our region’s farmers are known for.

Northwest Farmers Plant Wheat In Dust, Hope For Rain

Anna King — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 13:20:12 +0000

Most of us may be enjoying the fall sunshine, but Northwest wheat farmers are instead wishing for a little rain. Correspondent Anna King caught up with one Northwest wheat grower in the vast Horse Heaven Hills near Prosser, Washington.

Study: GMO Crops Need More Herbicide To Fend Off 'Superweeds'

Jessica Robinson — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 23:22:56 +0000

Farmers of genetically engineered crops are dramatically increasing their use of herbicides. That’s according to a new study out of Washington State University. Researchers say farmers are spraying more in response to the rise of so-called “superweeds.”

Washington’s Strong Apple Crop In Danger Of Going Unpicked

Anna King — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 16:55:21 +0000

Washington state apple farmers are gearing up to harvest the second-largest crop in history, but it appears there won't be enough workers to get the fruit off the trees quickly enough. The shortage comes as apple prices are high because of crop damage elsewhere in the country. Correspondent Anna King has our report from an apple orchard outside of Prescott, Washington.

Southeast Oregon Fires Displace 20,000 Cattle

Amelia Templeton — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:15:57 +0000

Firefighters have mostly contained the Holloway fire, a massive blaze on the Oregon-Nevada border. But Amelia Templeton of Earthfix reports there is still no clear solution for the cattle left homeless by Oregon’s summer fires.

Clean Water Act: Agriculture Struggles With Temperature

Aaron Kunz — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 13:32:00 +0000

Farming is the single biggest reason rivers are failing to meet standards set by the Clean Water Act. EarthFix Reporter Aaron Kunz visited Idaho’s Pahsimeroi Valley for our series with Investigate West on this environmental law’s 40th anniversary. It turns out the problem isn’t so much what cattle ranchers and alfalfa growers are putting into the water – it’s what they’re taking out.

Northwest Ag Industry Cashing In On Strong Grain Prices, Yields

Anna King — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 00:43:02 +0000

Drought that’s sizzling the rest of the nation has largely left the Northwest states alone. Furthermore, the Midwest’s farmers’ misfortune is actually benefiting farmers here. That’s because grain prices are going up because of the Heartland’s decimated yields. Meanwhile, many Northwest farmers crops are above average.

Northwest Blueberry Yields Increase Dramatically, But Market Prices Same

Anna King — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 13:07:26 +0000

It’s not news that Washington is producing record amounts of blueberries this year. It happened last year. Next year will likely break another record and the year after that too. The real news is: Where is the fruit going, and why is it still so expensive? Correspondent Anna King explains.