Mark your calendars and grab your pre-registration tickets—attendee registration is officially open for the 2026 WA/OR Potato Conference, taking place January 27–29, 2026, at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick, Washington.

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.

Registration is open for the Columbia Basin Development League (CBDL) Conference and Annual Meeting on Thursday, November 13, 2025. Early bird savings are available to attendees registering by September 1, 2025.

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.

Washington’s unemployment trust fund, one of the key financial backstops in our state’s economy, is showing signs of strain. According to a recent report from the Washington State Standard, projections indicate that the funds’ balance could slip below the statutory threshold that keeps employer taxes stable. For Washington’s potato growers, this isn’t just a line in a budget report, it could mean higher costs at a time when every dollar counts.

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.