Commercial potato seed samples are requested from WA Growers for the Washington Seed Lot Trial.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is offering Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) to help agricultural producers to generate new products, create and expand marketing options, and increase their producer income through value-added activities.

Through a $50-million grant from the USDA partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities programs awarded to Oregon State University, incentive payments will be provided to farmers who use Climate-Smart practices to improve soil health of their fields, and thus reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase sequestration of carbon in soils.

The applications deadline has been extended by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development for grants to provide funds for hands-on assistance for agricultural producers applying for Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).

KFC reached a milestone by surpassing 30,000 restaurants globally which equates to a new location opening its doors every 3.5 hours on average. This is good news for potato growers as KFC uses both frozen and dehydrated potato products in their menu items. Plus, those locations in Asia carry potato products primarily from the Pacific Northwest.

Oregon State University (OSU) in conjunction with Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) and Compliance Services International (CSI) is offering four full day stakeholder workshops to explore pesticide solutions and endangered species protection in agriculture in the Pacific Northwest.

To help growers stay updated on the latest audit standards, USDA AMS will be holding a webinar April 5, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET on USDA GAP and GAP+ updates that will go into effect on May 1, 2024.

$300,000 is available in Farm to School Purchasing Grants through WSDA for school districts, childcare centers, tribal schools, tribal early learning centers and organizations that operate a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child Nutrition Program. For Washington farmers and producers, participation is a marketing opportunity to sell to small and large institutions.

To help the agricultural community understand and make sound soil health decisions, the Washington Soil Health Initiative is promoting a four-part webinar series “Making Soils Data Actionable.”

The Legislature adjourned Sine Die as scheduled on the 60th day of the 2024 Legislative Session on March 7, 2024. The legislature passed three of the six initiatives.

WSPC staff and Commissioners had a great day teaming up with Connell High School FFA students to educate kids about Washington Ag.