The Washington State Department of Agriculture is updating their pesticide rules to meet federal standards set by the 2017 update to EPA's Federal Pesticide Certification and Training (C&T) Rule (40 CFR Part 171).

The Potato Sustainability Alliance (PSA) opened enrollment for 2025 On-Farm Assessments on October 1, 2025 and enrollment will remain open through December 19, 2025.

The U.S. Department of the Interior has officially added phosphate and potash to its final Critical Minerals List, a major win for American agriculture and fertilizer producers. The move, applauded by The Fertilizer Institute (TFI), underscores the strategic importance of these nutrients to U.S. food production and national security.

For Washington’s potato growers, this development is more than symbolic. It directly affects the cost and availability of two fertilizers essential for maintaining yield, quality, and soil health across the Columbia Basin and beyond.

The Potato Variety Management Institute (PVMI) held its Annual Meeting on November 12, 2025 in Portland, Oregon. Board members from the Tri-State region gathered to approve annual financial distributions to universities and discuss ongoing research priorities.

In an era where reliable seasonal labor is vital to agricultural operations, the Washington Agricultural Field Labor Association (WAFLA) is once again stepping up to support employers navigating the complexities of the H-2A guest worker program. This fall, WAFLA will host two regional H-2A Summits providing a premier opportunity for education, collaboration, and strategic planning in the agricultural labor sector.

Mark your calendars for the 52^nd Hermiston Farm Fair taking place December 3-4, 2025 at the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center (EOTEC) located at 1705 East Airport Road in Hermiston, Oregon.

The Department of Ecology (Ecology) has launched a new Agricultural Exempt Fuel Retail Seller Directory providing guidance on which fuels are exempt under the Climate Commitment Act and how retail fuel sellers can register to be included in the directory.

Happy 2026 Water Year! The University of Washington Climate Impacts Group, Washington State Climate Office, Oregon State University Oregon Climate Change Research Institute, and Oregon Climate Service is asking for your participation in helping us document weather and climate impacts of the 2025 water year (October 1, 2024-September 30, 2025) for the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, and Idaho).

As part of the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s (WSDA) Focus on Food Initiative, WSDA is offering Local Food System Infrastructure (LFSI) grants.