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On March 31, 2026, the National Agricultural Statistics Service released the 2026 Prospective Plantings report. Washington growers report planting 1,850,000 acres of winter wheat, unchanged from 2025. Spring wheat is projected to be 450,000 acres down 5% from 2025, which was at 475,000 acres. Barley acres are up just slightly…

On March 31, the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) urged the United States International Trade Commission to revoke countervailing duty (CVD) orders on phosphate fertilizers from Morocco and Russia, citing significant economic harm to U.S. wheat farmers. In a letter to Secretary Lisa R. Barton, NAWG emphasized that maintaining these…

By Douglas Poole When I came back to my family’s dryland farm near Mansfield, Washington, after 20 years away, the land told me something had to change. My grandfather and father had worked this ground for over 70 years, and the soil showed it. In places, erosion had taken it…

From the Capital Press A Washington State University economist says it’s time for farmers to sell their wheat, as the conflict in Iran has pushed prices higher. But, the conflict is likely to increase input prices for farmers. Last fall, economist Randy Fortenbery told farmers they might want to start…

On March 24, 2026, the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) released a new report highlighting the significant financial burden that countervailing duties (CVD) on phosphate fertilizer imports have placed on U.S. wheat farmers. The report finds that these duties have greatly increased fertilizer costs, contributing to nearly $1 billion…

By Dr. Xianming Chen On March 18, we were checking wheat fields in Franklin, Benton, Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, and Whitman counties. Wheat plants ranged from Feekes 3 to 6. Stripe rust was found in all counties. In Franklin County, stripe rust has developed quickly since the field check on March 3, forming…

From smallgrains.wsu.edu Weather data collected by USDA’s Dr. Xianming Chen from November 2025 to February 2026 indicate severe epidemic levels of stripe rust. Highly susceptible varieties could experience yield losses of 40-60%. Commercial fields will likely have yield losses between 8% and 40% without a fungicide application.  Read the rest…

Washington’s premiere agriculture leadership program, AgForestry, is transitioning to a nine-month format in an effort to improve accessibility for prospective applicants and their organizations. The change will take effect beginning with Class 47, which is currently accepting applications through April 30, 2026. The Class 47 time commitment is September 2026…

From the Capital Press Washington in 2024 ranked No.1 in producing apples, blueberries, hops, pears, onions and sweet cherries. It was No. 2 in grapes, potatoes, raspberries and winter wheat, grapes. And in take-home farmer pay, it ranked No. 50. Despite excelling at growing high-value crops, Washington agriculture actually lost…

By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist The Legislature adjourned on the 60th day of the 2026 Legislative Session on March 12 at around 8:30 p.m. In the final week of the session, the Legislature adopted the supplemental 2025-2027 operating, capital, and transportation budgets. The Legislature also spent the final week passing…