The Pacific Northwest Ag Network Report airs daily, Monday through Friday, during the 5, 6, and 7 AM hours on 920 News Now. Glenn Vaagen and the Pacific Northwest Ag Network team bring you the most in-depth ag news focused on products grown across the region each morning. They connect you with the latest research at WSU, OSU, and the University of Idaho, commodity group leaders, and state and federal lawmakers.
PNW AG Network News
Ag Economy Barometer Inched Higher In July
The Purdue-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose 13 points in July, snapping a three-month slide. Stronger crop prices drove the rebound, though input costs remain the top concern for nearly half the farmers surveyed. Continue reading…
23h ago
NCBA Calls On Senate To Delist The Gray Wolf
Cattle ranchers in Oregon, Colorado, and Wisconsin say gray wolf populations have bounced back, but current federal law leaves them with few options when wolves kill livestock. Continue reading…
23h ago
Progress Being Made On Trade Agreements, Voigt Says
Washington State potato growers were counting on a trade deal with Japan to open fresh potato access - it didn't happen, but the state's Potato Commission says other markets are still in play. Continue reading...
23h ago
How Are Wildfires Impacting Winter Wheat Harvest?
Smoke from regional wildfires has been a real obstacle for wheat farmers this season, but harvests across Washington, Idaho, and Oregon are moving faster than usual — Oregon jumped from 48% to 73% in just one week. Continue reading…
23h ago
Oregon's Drought Started In Late 2025
From the southwest corner of Oregon to the northeast, a wide band of extreme drought is straining water supplies and drying out fire fuels at the same time. Continue reading…
23h ago
AFT Launches National Farmers Market Competition
Since 2008, American Farmland Trust has been running an annual campaign to spotlight farmers markets — this year, ten markets will win cash awards based on votes from their own communities. Continue reading…
23h ago
Washington Wheat Yields Above Average, But Conditions Vary
It's been a mixed wheat harvest across Washington - some fields are delivering record-high yields while others hit hard by late spring freezes are telling a very different story. Continue reading...
23h ago
Lamb Import Investigation Draws Broad Support From U.S. Producers
A federal agency is looking into whether rising lamb imports have seriously harmed U.S. sheep operations. Continue reading…
23h ago
Ag Economist Wants A Clearer Picture Of Farm Consolidation
By 2017, about 40% of all U.S. cropland was being farmed by operations of at least 2,000 acres. A University of Maryland economist has spent decades tracking that shift using Census of Agriculture data. Continue reading…
23h ago
USDA Official Says Ag Input Investigations Nearing Action
Some agricultural input companies have cooperated with federal investigators, others have not. Now the USDA, DOJ, and FTC are signaling that the review phase is nearly over. Continue reading…
23h ago
NW Growers, Ranchers Encouraged To Reach Out For Assistance
Orchardists, ranchers, and crop farmers across the drought- and fire-hit Northwest are being urged to contact their local USDA office now — several assistance programs have deadlines tied to when losses occurred. Continue reading…
Aug 04, 2026
Merkley, Wyden Warn RD Reorganization Will Hurt Rural America
Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley joined 20 other senators in opposing a USDA reorganization they say could gut programs that fund rural water systems, broadband, small businesses, and health clinics across Oregon. Continue reading…
Aug 04, 2026
National Beef Herd May Have Hit Bottom
After six years of declines, the U.S. cattle herd just ticked upward — and the reasons behind it say a lot about where the beef industry might be headed. Continue reading…
Aug 04, 2026
Price At The Pump: Oil Markets Remain Skeptical
A possible U.S.-Iran peace deal nudged oil prices down slightly, but Northwest drivers are still paying more at the pump. Diesel in Washington now averages $6.16 a gallon, the highest in the region. Continue reading…
Aug 04, 2026
Idaho Aging Irrigation Infrastructure Grant Applications Due
The Idaho Water Resource Board is accepting grant applications for aging irrigation infrastructure through August 7th, with individual projects eligible for up to $2 million in state funding. Continue reading…
Aug 04, 2026
NRCS Looks To Upgrade Pumps, Pipelines In Northcentral Washington
The Oroville-Tonasket Irrigation District has old pipelines that have washed out roads and flooded a cemetery in Tonasket — and a federal planning effort is now underway to fix them. Continue reading…
Aug 04, 2026
Kotek Stops Western Oregon Data Center Proposal
Governor Kotek stepped in to halt a southeast Salem data center project, saying growth in Oregon has to make sense for the community, infrastructure, and natural resources — not just for investors. Continue reading…
Aug 04, 2026
Boozman Releases Revised Farm Bill 2.0 Ahead of Senate Markup
Arkansas Senator John Boozman released a revised Farm Bill just before a scheduled Thursday markup, with provisions covering E15 gasoline, SNAP error rates, and support for rural farming communities. Continue reading…
Aug 04, 2026
USDA Specialty Crop Assistance Applications Due This Week
Specialty crop growers can apply for USDA financial assistance through a login.gov account or at their local FSA office, with a deadline landing this Friday, August 7th. Continue reading…
Aug 04, 2026
New Initiative Seeks to Recruit Veterans
USDA is hiring veterans and military spouses for ag and food security roles. Here's what the 100 Hires in 100 Days push means. Continue reading...
Aug 04, 2026
