Senate committee passes immigration bill

United Farm Workers of America issued a statement praising Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and the Senate Judiciary Committee for passage of an immigration reform bill on May 21, but the union may be straining its relations with the agricultural industry. UFW worked for amendments concerning wor ...

Bernardo fills in as WSU interim provost

The dean of Washington State University's agricultural college will take on a new role at the school for the coming year. Beginning June 1, Dan Bernardo, vice president of agriculture and extension at WSU and dean of the College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences, will serve for ...

High prices propel dry pea acres in Idaho

Dry pea acres in Idaho are expected to be up significantly from last year, as pea prices have reached levels not seen in 40 years. That increase in pea acres will come at the expense of lentil acres, which are expected to be down from last year. "We're seeing dry pea prices at their ...

Wheat theft retrial rescheduled for October

The retrial of a Washington man accused of stealing more than $100,000 worth of wheat from a grain elevator has been rescheduled to this fall. James William Hughes, 53, of Endicott, Wash., faces 21 counts of theft from Whitgro in Whitman County Superior Court in Colfax, Wash. Hughes' first tr ...

New WSU feed barley has disease resistance package

Washington barley growers will have another new variety to consider next spring. Muir is a spring, two-row feed barley developed by Washington State University barley breeder Kevin Murphy in Pullman, Wash. Muir performs well in lower rainfall regions, complementing Lyon, another new barley re ...

Wolf compensation bill becomes law

OLYMPIA -- Gov. Jay Inslee has signed into law a measure that compensates livestock owners for wolf-related losses. The signing came on May 21, the final day for the governor to act on measures adopted during the regular session of the Legislature. Sen. John Smith, R-Colville, introduced Sena ...

Washington license plate fee to help pay for wolf kills

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- Legislation signed Tuesday by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee adds $10 to the cost of a personalized Washington license plate with the money going to help compensate livestock owners for wolf kills. The legislation was requested by the state Fish and Wildlife Department to rei ...