The Boise River is the lifeblood of Idaho's Treasure Valley, providing irreplaceable natural, social, recreational and economic value to our community. We each benefit from the river every day.
COVID-19: the virus that has taken over everyone’s lives. Whether you have it, are scared of it, are quarantining because of it, have lost your job, closed your business, or are still working …
On May 23, Grant County received permission from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) to move to Phase 2 of the Governor's "Safe Start Washington" plan. In my recommendation to the …
Our food has never been safer, so why is it that consumers have never been more concerned? And here’s another paradox: At a time when consumers have never known more about nutrition, why is it…
The 2019 wildfire season was mild compared to the previous few years, allowing combustible fuel to grow in the forests around our state. Couple the fuel loads with the recent dry spring, the a…
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) adopted temporary emergency rules, which apply to employer-provided housing and labor-intensiv…
“We live in unprecedented times and need to take unprecedented measures.” I don’t know how many times I have heard this in the last two or three months. I know it is true, but I sure would lik…
We want to trust our leaders, but, how can we? In the “best of times,” they tax and spend, abuse power, ever expand government control, will not honestly balance the budget (their constitution…
A Seattle-based federal judge will soon decide the fate of some 1,600 Southeast Alaska salmon trollers — fishermen who are already looking at the lowest allotment of chinook in 20 years, large…
No one likes to fail. But anyone who has been successful in life is going to tell you that failure is part of a learning curve necessary to be successful.
“Alone together.” I believe that is the mantra for staying at home and trying to flatten the curve of COVID-19. If we stay separated from others, together we can continue to combat this virus.
Have you been to the grocery store lately only to find many of the shelves and coolers picked over? Maybe you went in for a loaf of bread or a couple gallons of milk, but had a hard time findi…
Sustainability is the key to addressing the effects of climate change. What does this mean? In the big picture, it means that people living on the planet must somehow adapt as our niche in the…
As our country continues to grapple with the unprecedented health crisis from the COVID-19 outbreak, the 50th anniversary of Earth Day has come upon us as a reminder of another challenge for t…
Information and guidance regarding COVID-19 is continually evolving. Although this can be frustrating and confusing, especially when recommendations change or are expanded, we can expect these…
When I was in high school, I was introduced to John Steinbeck’s work. As a high schooler, I devoured “The Grapes of Wrath” while on a road trip across west Texas and made an extreme effort to …
With COVID-19 guidance changing daily, agricultural employers have many challenges ahead. Below are several important agriculture-related laws and recommendations to keep in mind.
If you’re looking for engaging new picture books to read to the little ones in your life, consider “Tales of the Dairy Godmother: Chuck’s Ice Cream Wish” from Feeding Minds Press.
Most people in the Pacific Northwest don’t think a lot about the rivers flowing through the hearts of our communities and states and all they provide us, but farmers certainly do.
“Pass the mashed potatoes, please.” When that heaping dish of fluffy goodness comes your way, you might think to thank the person passing it to you, or the person who prepared them. However, r…
Recent opinions have attempted to discredit active forest management as part of a political campaign to prohibit fuel reduction projects on 500,000 acres of national forests. Yet there is a br…
In the coming days your household will receive an invitation to participate in the 2020 census. It’s part of a constitutional mandate for the federal government to count every man, woman and c…
As today’s politics swirls, and a big city New York candidate shows he neither knows nor respects farmers, as Oregon’s Left forgets or never learned the need for farms and basic extractive ind…
Earlier this year, I traveled to Austin and spoke at the Texas Global Food Security Summit held on the sidelines of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual convention. The meeting brought…
Because my family didn’t have television on the farm, for most of my growing up years, it was a special treat to watch TV when I would stay with my grandparents in Walla Walla during the summe…
There is a fierce battle of ideas and political willpower being waged at Oregon’s Capitol.
As a new state Farm Bureau president, I’ve been asked about my personal connection to farming hundreds of times by Farm Bureau members from all over the country.
To say the political divide in Salem is deep and wide would be the understatement of the new decade. Democrat leaders in Oregon share a common worldview with Sen. Bernie Sanders and his fellow…
The Letter to the Editor from Don Young dated Jan. 27 highlights the need for better understanding of ongoing efforts by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the counties …
I started out picking strawberries for our neighbors at 6 years old, and graduated to picking black caps at 10. From then, I moved to hauling hay and working on a dairy.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is conducting an experiment that threatens not only domestic animals and livestock, but may increase risk to rural residents. Because no ethic…
As my dad climbs into the tractor this spring, he’ll plug in his iPad, open an app and start planting. As the tractor rolls across the field, the screen on the iPad turns green with it.
It’s no secret that my Democratic colleagues in the State Senate want to pass a cap-and-trade bill this year (SB 1530). They tried last year with HB 2020, but were unsuccessful. They’ve been w…
Access to the internet is critical for life in the 21st century, not something that is simply nice to have. To ensure our rural communities have quality health care, college-level math classes…
America’s farmers and ranchers are at the heart of our real economy. Yet for the past six years, U.S. agricultural production has faced turbulence. From natural disasters to low commodity pric…
It is in the interests of all of Oregon’s citizens — and the world’s population — to live in a stable climate regime. There are many policies and solutions to reduce the concentrations of atmo…
The economy is humming and most people who want a job have one. This is great news.
Farmers enjoy one of the highest levels of public trust of any group or potential source of information, ranging from scientists to government experts, and certainly more than leaders in the r…
Those of us who build and maintain Idaho’s vital transportation network agree whole-heartedly with Gov. Brad Little who stated during his annual State of the State address on Monday, “One thin…
The start of a new decade holds a lot of promise for American farmers and ranchers. Much-anticipated progress in hemp regulation, sustainability, technology and a presidential election will be…
The Lower Snake River Dams Stakeholders Engagement Report draft was recently released. Shorthand, it is the $750,000 study. It is the study that politicians in eastern Washington condemned as …
Newsman’s 45-year career spanned ‘sin and religion,’ courts, city, county and state government, education, hydropower and politics. He found his niche in agriculture.
A recent article in the Capital Press brought to light certain actions taken by the government and our elected officials that may not be in the best interest of our environment. The article wa…
Factory farm. It sounds so … mechanical. Cold. Unfeeling.
When the topic of sustainability comes up in conversation in cattle circles, it’s common to see heads shaking. It’s not a topic we like to discuss in our industry — primarily because it’s so o…
How can you talk to consumers about gene editing when most have little understanding of how plants are bred?
When it’s time to sign a new farmland rental agreement, both parties can bring a lot to the table to make sure the cash rental agreement meets everyone’s needs. A few of the pieces of informat…
Every Dec. 5, USDA joins partners around the globe to celebrate World Soil Day, an annual event to bring attention to the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for sustainable management …
About a decade ago, I moved to the small town where I plan to spend the rest of my life. Excitement filled me, and I rushed to join the community and put down some roots.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) notes that 90% of the world’s fisheries are at capacity or have been overfished. By the year 2030 — a mere decade away — the world po…
I recently read the editorial entitled, “Grizzly bears pose danger to all around them,” and thought, “Holy cow, that’s pretty scary. Perhaps I’ve been wrong about bears all along? I’d better r…
America is fortunate to have a large and diverse agricultural economy. Our citizens — and millions of others across the world — have grown to depend on the high-quality food and goods we produce.
John Newton, chief economist of the American Farm Bureau recently wrote: “Agriculture will continue to play an important role in helping the world adapt to and mitigate climate change, but U.S…
Many of us can think of one-lane roads — paved, gravel, or dirt — that wiggle all around our state.
In his recent book, “On the Plain of Snakes: A Mexican Journey,” Paul Theroux writes on Mexico and the U.S., but accuses Americans — and their president — of not knowing Mexico.