Making a major step to address the region’s groundwater depletion, the East Columbia Basin Irrigation District (ECBID) and over 30 landowners, elected officials, and key partners celebrated the groundbreaking of the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program’s (OGWRP) second system, the EL 86.4 system.

The East Columbia Basin Irrigation District (ECBID), along with its partners, are seeking funds to construct surface water distribution systems to replace acre for acre groundwater irrigation on approximately 70,000 acres in the Odessa Subarea including 164,000 acre feet of new diversions from the Columbia River. Funding is being sought through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program authorized by Public Law 83-566 (P.L. 83-566).

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation visited the Odessa Ground Water Replacement Program (OGWRP) on June 6, 2024. The Under Secretary toured public irrigation systems under construction, the EL 47.5 Pumping Plant and the first East Columbia Basin Irrigation District (ECBID) pumping station.

Through a Specialty Crop Research Initiative grant awarded to potato nematologists from United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture, a new website is available to educate the potato community on parasitic nematodes and the research being conducted to overcome their impact.

There are two opportunities to attend the annual PNW Fumigation Stewardship Training. The first training takes place on August 13, 2024 at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake, Washington. On August 14, 2024, an identical training will take place at the 3 Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick, Washington.

Medium sized businesses are now eligible to be included in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) Program. Their inclusion makes them eligible to apply for assistance for a percentage of the costs associated with obtaining or renewing a food safety certification. In addition, program assistance has been expanded for 2024 and 2025 expenses.

Agricultural producers should make an appointment with their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office to complete crop acreage reports before the applicable deadline after planting is complete. July 15 is a major deadline for most crops, but acreage reporting deadlines vary by county and by crop.  

For 2024, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) forecasts a $32 billion agricultural trade deficit. This forecast follows the realized $16.7 billion agricultural trade deficit in 2023.

As drought declarations have become more prevalent in Washington State, the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) is offering $1.7 million in drought planning and preparedness grants

Employers and workers have the opportunity to take part in LNI’s webinar series from July to September led by Employment Standards program staff to learn about key employment laws.

The Washington State Potato Commission’s spiral-bound publication “Insects, Nematodes & Pathogens Important to Potatoes in the Pacific Northwest” is available for the asking.

Due to lack of interest, the Washington State Potato Commission will no longer provide yellow sticky cards to monitor multiple insect pests and delta traps with pheromones to monitor adult potato tuber worm.