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

A new public-private initiative titled “Probing Our Country’s Soil Health” is underway in the United States, aiming to better understand how soil health can inform land management decisions. Organizers are now seeking growers to participate in this innovative effort.

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.

Proper sampling of soil and diagnoses of nematode populations is essential to effectively managing nematode issues. Commonly, soil sampling takes place in early Fall after harvest, but sampling can take place in Spring or during the growing season if needed.

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.

Washington’s minimum wage will rise 2.8 percent next year, to $17.13 an hour. The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) announced the increase today; it takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.

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