washington state department of agriculture

Japanese beetles have made their first appearances of the year in the Lower Yakima Valley.  The Washington State Department of Agriculture said nine beetles were detected in ten traps in Grandview and one beetle was detected in a trap in Wapato on June 9.   ...

The Washington State Department of Agriculture's Farm to School Purchasing Grant Application is open for the 2025–2027 biennium.   WSDA said the grant provides funds for schools and early learning services to source and prepare high quality, nutritious, culturally relevant foods for their meal programs. The program emphasizes p...

The Washington State Department of Agriculture is gearing up for another season of pest hunting.  Each year, WSDA surveys for over 130 insects, weeds and pathogens.  And WSDA points out while some of these pests, such as spongy moth, have been found in the state, most of these pests have not yet been found in Washington but could threaten agriculture or the environment should they establish here.

Just because new cases have not been reported, does not mean the threat of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has gone away.  Those words from Washington state Veterinarian Dr. Amber Itle who said the opportunity for exposure to bird flu will increase in the coming weeks as more and more migrating waterfowl cross the Northwest.   ...

On Tuesday, we told you the state of Washington achieved Stage Four status in the USDA’s National Milk Testing Strategy program.  The designation means the state’s dairy herd is free of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.   Markus Rolli...

Last week, the Washington state Department of Agriculture announced the state had reached Stage Four status in the National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS) program.  That status means no cases of bird flu or Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) have been confirmed in the state’s dairy cattle or milk supply.  The NMTS program, ...

The Washington farming community is being asked to participate in a survey in an effort to help lawmakers better understand the challenges of the Ag industry.  The survey, hosted by the Washington state Department of Agriculture, is open tree fruit, dairy, wheat, potatoes, grapes or hops producers.  The goa...

This year, as in year’s past, the Washington State Department of Agriculture will deploy thousands of traps to monitor for Japanese beetle adults.  While the program traps around nurseries and farms throughout the state, most traps are placed at pathways like airports, railways, or transfer stations.  The Departmen...

MyLand, a company focused on regenerative agriculture, recently announced a new $4.8 million dollar effort to enhance soil health for farmers across Washington.  The program, funded in combination by the Washington State Department of Agriculture and Washington State Department of Commerce, focuses on supporting sustainable agricultural practices and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.   ... Read M

This is Washington Invasive Species Awareness Week, and to mark the occasion, a webinar focused on the Japanese beetle will take place Tuesday.  The Washington State Department of Agriculture says the webinar will provide an opportunity for the farming community and the general public as well to learn more about this highly invasive pest that can feed on more than 300 plants.     ...