H-2A visa workers on the rise - AgMinute for December 17, 2013

Use of H-2A foreign guestworkers will keep increasing in Washington state, says a farm labor leader who hopes his program expands into Oregon and California. Click here for the full story

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Small-scale producer workshop slated for January - AgMinute for December 16, 2013

The Northwest Agriculture Business Center will offer a workshop to help small-scale producers bring their value-added products to market. Click here for the full story

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

New U.S. Apple CEO has experience with GMO issues - AgMinute for December 13, 2013

The new U.S. Apple CEO brings leadership, communications skills and some experience in handling issues involving genetically modified crops. Click here for the full story

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

WSU to study wolf/cattle behavior - AgMinute for December 6, 2013

Washington State University researchers will study wolf and cattle behavior in an effort to minimize conflicts. Click here for the full story

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

U.S.-China apple trade a step closer - AgMinute for December 5, 2013

WENATCHEE, Wash. — A first public step has been taken by the U.S. government that could lead to the trade of apples between China and the U.S. within the next year, the president of a Pacific Northwest trade groups says. Click here for the full story

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Yakima firm to help with new apple variety - AgMinute for December 4, 2013

Washington State University has chosen a Yakima company to collect royalties and develop the trademark of a new apple variety. Click here for the full story

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Researcher stresses need for field work - AgMinute for December 3, 2013

Retired USDA and Washington State University plant pathologist R. James Cook delivers the keynote address during the Far West Agribusiness Association annual meeting, running Dec. 9-11 in Pasco, Wash. Cook will emphasize the need for research in the fields. The conference is designed for agribusinesses who support and hope to increase value for farmers, executive director Jim Fitzgerald says. Click here for the full story

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Chinese potato imports could start this fall - AgMinute for November 25, 2013

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee's recent trade mission to Japan and China brought movement toward access for Northwest fresh and chipping potatoes. Click here for the full story

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Northwest logs record pear crop - AgMinute for November 19, 2013

A long, dry summer made for large pears and a record crop, which may pressure prices. China's market could be a relief valve. Click here for the full story

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

ICE issues I-9 audits - AgMinute for November 15, 2013

WENATCHEE, Wash. — A large tree fruit company in Wenatchee and a smaller one in the Okanogan are undergoing federal I-9 audits that could cost them employees, the director of the Washington Farm Labor Association says. Click here for the full story

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

GMO apple comment period opens - AgMinute for November 12, 2013

The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is seeking public comments on its environmental and plant risk assessment documents on GMO apples for the next 30 days. Click here for the full story

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

WSU Swine Center to close - AgMinute for Oct. 21, 2013

Washington State University's swine center will sell off the last of its hogs and close in November. The facilities were no longer acceptable and too expensive to renovate, said Margaret Benson, chair of WSU's Department of Animal Sciences. Click here for the full story

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Not enough pickers - AgMinute for September 20, 2013

Some Washington apple growers say they don't have enough pickers. Others say they have enough. Usage of foreign guest workers has increased. Click here for the full story

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Testing the hay — AgMinute for Sept. 13, 2013

Hay exporters say rejection of a Washington state shipment because it contained genetically-modified alfalfa is probably a localized problem, not an industry-wide concern.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Apple of my pear — AgMinute for Sept. 10, 2013

A new pear that resembles an apple is being tested in a orchard near Yakima and shared with potential growers in Washington, Oregon, California, Missouri and Canada.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Just add fertilizer — AgMinute for Sept. 9, 2013

The McGregor Co. has invested more than $2 million in an abandoned biodiesel plant in Creston, Wash., turning it into a state-of-the-art distribution center for fertilizer.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Besieged by apples — AgMinute for Aug. 29, 2013

Record apple crops in New York and Michigan and increases in Canada and Mexico present the Washington apple industry with challenges for the 2013-2014 marketing season, industry sources say.

Going to the ozone — AgMinute for Aug. 9, 2013

Some tree fruit companies are increasing the use of ozone to combat decay and delay ripening in the storage of this fall's pear and apple crops.

Read about how farmers are confronting controversy over biotechnology in "Surviving a Biotech Backlash," available at http://bit.ly/BiotechBacklash

CRP slips — AgMinute for July 25, 2013

Much more acreage is set to expire Sept. 30 from the federal Conservation Reserve Program than was awarded during the recent general signup period, according to the Farm Service Agency.

Read about how farmers are confronting controversy over biotechnology in "Surviving a Biotech Backlash," available at http://bit.ly/BiotechBacklash

Testing the provenance of bladderpod — AgMinute for July 24, 2013

Officials in Franklin County, Wash., say the White Bluffs Bladderpod, currently up for consideration for protection under the Endangered Species Act, is the same as any other bladderpod.

Read about how farmers are confronting controversy over biotechnology in "Surviving a Biotech Backlash," available at http://bit.ly/BiotechBacklash

Apple packing power — AgMinute for July 22, 2013

McDougall and Sons Inc., a Wenatchee tree fruit grower and packer, is building new controlled atmosphere storage north of East Wenatchee and will soon start work on a state-of-the-art apple packing plant to open next May.

Read about how farmers are confronting controversy over biotechnology in "Surviving a Biotech Backlash," available at http://bit.ly/BiotechBacklash

No blues for blueberries — AgMinute for July 16, 2013

Acreage and yield have increased alongside per capita consumption in what U.S. farmers are calling a blueberry success story.

Read about how farmers are confronting controversy over biotechnology in "Surviving a Biotech Backlash," available at http://bit.ly/BiotechBacklash

Coal benefits — AgMinute for July 12, 2013

Washington farmers, the agricultural industry and the state economy will benefit by expanding the Pacific Northwest's coal export facilities, according to a 26-page report commissioned by the Washington State Farm Bureau.

Read about how farmers are confronting controversy over biotechnology in "Surviving a Biotech Backlash," at http://bit.ly/BiotechBacklash

Horse fight — AgMinute for July 8, 2013

Animal protection groups are suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to try to block the revival of domestic horse slaughter at commercial processing plants.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Cherries versus wheat — AgMinute for July 3, 2013

Doug Bromiley is a bit of a conflicted man these days. The wheat and cattle rancher side of him likes rain. The cherry grower side of him doesn't. "It's hard to cuss the rain," he says, "until you take your wheat hat off and put on your cherry hat."

"Western Innovators 2012," last year's collection of profiles of the best and brightest in agriculture, is free this week at http://bit.ly/WesternInnovators2012

Rained out cherries — AgMinute for June 25, 2013

Rain is taking a toll on the Washington cherry crop. Much of Central Washington has escaped with rain showers, but Mattawa and the Lower Yakima Valley had heavy rain recently.

"Western Innovators," an ebook about the best and brightest in Western ag, is free this week at http://bit.ly/WesternInnovators

Race against the cherry sorter — AgMinute for June 19, 2013

Stemilt Growers Inc. dedicated a new, state-of-the-art cherry packing line in Wenatchee on June 14, enabling it to sort and size cherries faster and more accurately to save growers money.

The Capital Press ebook "Viticulture" is free today at http://bitly.com/11jtw6y

Fertilizing organic orchards — AgMinute for June 17, 2013

Legumes grown between orchard rows as natural nitrogen sources for tree fruit are being studied by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Washington State University.

The Capital Press ebook "Viticulture" is free today at http://bitly.com/11jtw6y

Bridge woes — AgMinute for May 30, 2013

The loss of the Interstate 5 bridge over the Skagit River will likely have only a minor impact on the movement of agricultural goods, according to several authorities.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Under new management — AgMinute for May 29, 2013

As a farmer, the new Washington State Department of Agriculture director has experienced his own frustrations with government. "I know what it's like to be enforced upon by a federal agency that really doesn't give a damn about how it affects you -- they just do it because they can do it," state agriculture director Bud Hover told the Washington Grain Commission at its May 22 meeting.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

WA 38 of my eye — AgMinute for May 22, 2013

The Northwest Nursery Improvement Institute and two other entities have applied to the Washington State University Research Foundation to manage the university's new WA 38 apple variety.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

West Nile warning — AgMinute for May 21, 2013

The Washington State Department of Agriculture advises horse owners to make sure their horse's vaccination is current for protection against West Nile virus. As the weather warms up across the state and mosquitoes become more prevalent, the risk of infections increases.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Sagebrush protests — AgMinute for May 20, 2013

Washington state farmers are protesting federal protection for a sagebrush subspecies, saying they fear the government will take private property rights.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Bladderpod panic — AgMinute for May 15, 2013

Washington state farmers are protesting federal protection for a sagebrush subspecies — White Bluffs bladderpod — saying they fear the government will take private property rights.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Raising ag awareness — Washington AgMinute for April 8, 2013

The Washington Association of Wheat Growers and Washington Potato Commission are using their Washington Grown marketing campaign to raise consumer awareness of agriculture.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Odessa critics — Washington AgMinute for March 28, 2013

Retired Washington State University agricultural economists Norm Whittlesey and Walt Butcher say the plan to bring Columbia River water to Odessa area farms doesn't make financial sense.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Wheat university — Washington AgMinute for March 26, 2013

Washington wheat farmers have the chance to sign up for free "university" classes. Wheat University, presented by the Washington Association of Wheat Growers in cooperation with Washington State University, will begin at 9 a.m. May 8 at WSU's Lind Dryland Research Station in Lind.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Incubating farms — Washington AgMinute for March 19, 2013

A farmland preservation group hopes to acquire 148 acres near Rochester, Wash., and develop a farm incubator there. South of the Sound Community Farm Land Trust is one of several groups working to preserve productive agricultural land in the region.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Export education — Washington AgMinute for March 18, 2013

The Washington Department of Agriculture is offering free seminars to help agriculture-related businesses build export connections. Participating businesses will meet one-on-one with marketing experts from China, Japan, Korea and Mexico.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Safer salmon — Washington AgMinute for March 15, 2013

Pesticide concentrations have generally declined in several of Washington state's salmon-bearing streams flowing into Puget Sound and the Columbia River, officials say.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Regal Gala apples — Washington AgMinute for March 14, 2013

More Gala trees are being planted by the Washington apple industry than any other variety but Honeycrisp is coming on strong, according to a survey by Tree Top Inc.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Apple maggot money — Washington AgMinute for March 12, 2013

A bill allowing the state Department of Agriculture to transfer money to local pest boards to help them fight apple maggot has passed the state House.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Leadership attracts leader — Washington AgMinute for March 11, 2013

Jim Moyer, Washington State University's new Agricultural Research Center director, says he was attracted by the school's strong leadership. "The dean and associate deans have really done some innovative things coming through tough times, and have lobbied for programs for innovation," he said.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

To listen, click here.

EPA deals with dairies — Washington AgMinute for March 8, 2013

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and five Yakima Valley dairies have reached legal agreements to reduce nitrates and improve water quality.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

To listen, click here.

Eldridge to retire — Washington AgMinute for March 7, 2013

Washington state veterinarian Leonard Eldridge has announced plans to retire July 1. Washington ranchers say accessibility was Eldridge’s hallmark.


Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

To listen, click here.

Asparagus bonanza — Washington AgMinute for March 6, 2013

Good money awaits growers in asparagus but it's hard to get farmers interested because pickers are hard to find, an industry expert says.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

To listen, click here.

USDA readies grants — Washington AgMinute for March 4, 2013

State agriculture departments expect to award about the same amount of money in specialty crop grants in fiscal year 2013 as they did in 2012. The departments have received word from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that $55 million will be available in 2013.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

To listen, click here.

Evergreen milk — Washington AgMinute for Feb. 27, 2013

Washington was the only state to gain dairy herds last year, and 33 states lost herds, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. Only 16 states did not lose herds.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

To listen, click here.

Immigration reform — Washington AgMinute for Jan. 31, 2013

President Barack Obama missed an opportunity to lead on immigration reform while eight senators showed more courage with their bipartisan bill, says Dan Fazio, the director of the Washington Farm Labor Association.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

To listen, click here.

Seeking workers — Washington AgMinute for Jan. 30, 2013

The Washington Farm Labor Association will escort several employers from Washington state to a job fair in Nogales, Mexico, to recruit H-2A guestworkers.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

To listen, click here.

Little cherry disease — Washington AgMinute for Jan. 29, 2013

It's by no means epidemic, but incidences of little cherry disease have increased the last three years in the Wenatchee vicinity, a Washington State University research scientist says.

This podcast is brought to you by the Columbia River Water symposium. Listen to a live stream of the event at Earthfix.OPB.org.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

To listen, click here.

Stinkbug watch — Washington AgMinute for Jan. 28, 2013

Scientists want growers to watch for the brown marmorated stink bug this summer which they say could devastate biological pest management in Central Washington tree fruit.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

To listen, click here.

Vilsack rejects biotech labels — AgMinute for Jan. 18, 2013

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said he knows of no health reasons for foods containing genetically modified ingredients to carry special labels.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

To listen, click here.

Westward wolves! — Washington AgMinute for Jan. 16, 2013

A lawmaker from Eastern Washington says if wolves are so welcome on the west side of the state, they should be moved there. Rep. Joel Kretz, R-Wauconda, plans to propose legislation this week to move wolves into Western Washington near their supporters.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

To listen, click here.

Pickers wanted — Washington AgMinute for Jan. 14, 2013

A record number of people worked in Washington's record apple harvest this past fall, but still some apples were left on trees because more pickers were needed, sources say.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

To listen, click here.

World dairy thirst — Washington AgMinute for Jan. 11, 2013

Increasing overseas demand for dairy products has helped stabilize Washington state's processors and producers, industry representatives say.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

To listen, click here.

Wolf science dispute — Washington AgMinute for Jan. 10, 2013

The Stevens County Cattlemen's Association is accusing state wildlife officials of creating wolf policy based on social pressure, not science. The association submitted public records requests to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife seeking specific data related to wolves.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

To listen, click here.

Boon and profit — Washington AgMinute for Jan. 9, 2013

High prices and huge volume continue to mark this year's Washington apple crop.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

To listen, click here.

Stone fruit ballot — Washington AgMinute for Jan. 8, 2013

Cherry and stone fruit growers in Washington have until Jan. 16 to vote and postmark ballots to decide whether to assess themselves $5 million for Washington State University research.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

To listen, click here.

Hay export fight — AgMinute for Jan. 2, 2012

U.S. hay exporters, most of whom are on the West Coast, are continuing to slowly lose market share in the major markets of the Middle East, China, Japan and South Korea because of high U.S. prices, two top exporters say.

Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

To listen, click here.