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
Wolf Population Growing In Oregon, Expanding West
According to the Oregon Wolf Conservation and Management report released Friday, at least 204 wolves called Oregon home at the end of 2024. Not only did the wolf population increase from the 178 reported a year earlier, but seven breeding pa...
11h ago
UI Hosting Beef 201 Next Month
The University of Idaho is accepting applications for Beef 201, a follow up to last year’s popular multi-day workshop tailored toward helping the region’s beginning ranchers. Phil Bass, associate professor of meat science, said May’s event follows last year’s Beef 101 hosted in Moscow. "Rea...
11h ago
OSU's Beaver Classic Creamery Opens Its Doors
It was an exciting weekend for fans of both ice cream and Oregon State University, as the Beaver Classic Creamery held its grand opening on Friday. “It's not just the Creamery. We're also opening a new winery, a new retail store where we'll be selling student-made products," said OSU’s Lisbeth Goddik. ...
11h ago
Future of Farming: FFA Offers Something Other Clubs Don't
Levi Kukes, Washington's 2024-2025 state Vice President says one of the best things about FFA, is that it's a group where everyone belongs and can fit in. If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@to... Continue reading…
11h ago
Applications Being Accepted For WA's Agriculture Support Program
The Washington State Department of Licensing has expanded its Agriculture Support Program. DOL said the program will now provide payments to producers and transporters who purchased fuel for agricultural purposes between January 1st, 2024, a...
11h ago
NASS: Apple Crop Is Rebounding Nicely
Some encouraging news for Apple growers after producer prices dropped to a four-year low last April in both nominal and real terms. "Fresh apple grower prices reported by USDA NASS began to slowly increase in the first six months of the 2024-2025 marketing year,” said USDA economist Catharine Weber. She adde...
11h ago
Senate Measure Would End California's Animal-Welfare Law
Republican lawmakers in the U.S. Senate introduced legislation last week that would strike down California's animal-welfare law created as a result of Proposition 12. The Food Security and Farm Protection Act introduced by Iowa's senators Chuck Grassl...
11h ago
Trade A Top Issue In Canadian Elections
President Donald Trump’s tariff announcements, implementation, and abrupt pauses are causing markets to gyrate, threatening recession. In Canada, along with the loss of a reliable North American trading agenda, Donald Trump has now also hijacked a normal election agenda. C... Continue reading…
11h ago
Trump Floats Plan to Legalize Undocumented Farm Workers
On Thursday, President Trump suggested a new program will be set up to help legalize farmworkers and reduce the risk of farmers losing undocumented workers to mass deportations. Trump discussed easing restrictions around undocumented farm la...
11h ago
USDA Prepares for 'Reduction in Force'
USDA has warned its 100,000-plus employees that major staff cuts are coming, offices will be closed, and people will need to relocate to keep their job. USDA employees have been given the option to quit with up to six months in pay if they c...
11h ago
Earth Optics Releases '25 Predictive Ag Report
Earth Optics released the 2025 Predictive Ag Report. “Earth Optics is the leader in soil analysis and understanding the physical, chemical, and biological profile of the soil, and we use that data to inform your crop plan for the next season," said Cam Norgate, co-founder and vice president of products at Ea...
11h ago
Winter Wheat Crop Looks Good Nationwide
The USDA is out with its first winter wheat crop progress report of the season. So, how are things looking nationwide? “The national heading number on April 6 is 5%, right on par with the five-year average one point behind last year's 6%," said USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey. "Leading the way o... Conti...
Apr 11, 2025
With Irrigation Season Approaching, Central Washington Is Dry
The water outlook for the Columbia Basin isn’t looking great, but things could change. Larry Mattson, Director at the Office of the Columbia River, said a drier-than-normal winter seems to have left the Northwest with water supplies lower than normal. But he acknow... Continue reading…
Apr 11, 2025
Oregon Food Bank Struggling Following USDA Cuts
Oregon Food Bank officials met Thursday with Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, to discuss USDA cuts to hunger programs. President Andrea Williams said they never received an official notification of the funding cuts, but are no longer able to ...
Apr 11, 2025
Wine Minute: NW Center For Small Fruits Research 101
What is the Northwest Center for Small Fruits Research, how did it get its start, and what impact does it have on the Northwest wine industry? Julie Pond provides the 101 in today's PNW Ag Network Wine Minute. If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@to... Continue re...
Apr 11, 2025
SE Oregon Flood Victims Start Clean-up Process
As floodwaters recede in Harney County, people are returning home to find immense damage, and in some cases, no insurance to recoup what they’ve lost. More than 80 homes are unlivable in the Burns area. Kat Komperda told Central Oregon Daily her family lost almost everything when their house filled with four feet...
Apr 11, 2025
Reduce Food Waste, Save Some Money
If you want to save nearly three-thousand-dollars a year; waste less food. An average family wastes $2,900 a year on food they throw away, and much of that can be prevented. Jerin Dinkins, a Food Systems Specialist at the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, suggests starting with leftovers. "You can g... C...
Apr 11, 2025
Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act Reintroduced
Bipartisan legislation has been reintroduced in the U.S. Senate to address anticompetitive markets and vertical consolidation in the meatpacking industry. The “Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2025 would create the “Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters” within the Pac...
Apr 11, 2025
Thune: I'm Hopeful China Will Come To The Table
Senate Majority Leader John Thune believes China will come to deal with President Trump on tariffs, though farm groups still worry about trade damage from steep levies in place for now. Thune said he sees an upside to President Trump’s tariffs on China, now boosted to more than 100%. “I’m h... Continu...
Apr 11, 2025
Bill Would Increase Access to Dairy and Support Farmers
Earlier this week senators Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota, and Kansas' Roger Marshall introduced the Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act. It’s a bipartisan bill designed to increase access to dairy products for SNAP participants and support dairy farmers across rural America. The Act would allo... Continue readin...
Apr 11, 2025
