WSDA

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.

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, ...

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...

On Wednesday, the Washington State Department of Agriculture confirmed that two more indoor cats have contracted Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.  WSDA said the cats, one in King County, the other in Snohomish, were consuming Wild Coast Raw pet food, a pet food that was previously identified during a prior public health alert.  One of ...

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.     ...

The Washington State Department of Agriculture will host a webinar Tuesday, focused on preparing for Japanese Beetle treatments this year.  WSDA said the 45 minute on-line session will show those in impacted areas how the sign up for treatment, how to prepare for treatments, and know when the treatment is over.  The Dep...

Trade is always on the mind of Northwest Ag leaders, since the region is so dependent on overseas buyers.  But more and more, the American farming community as a whole is talking about trade, and what’s being done to open up new markets, or expand existing ones.  Derek Sandiso...

Now that the New Year has come and gone, the Washington State Department of Agriculture is reminding residents now is the time to sign up for Japanese Beetle treatments.  In the coming days, the WSDA will send out Japanese beetle treatment consent letters.  The Dep...

The agriculture community is still holding its breath that Congress will pass a one-year Farm Bill Extension, allowing lawmakers to address the issue in 2025.  But, what happens if the extension gets tied up in D.C. bickering?   Washington State Department of Agriculture Director Derek Sandison said the state will feel a direct impact in a variety of ways.   “Our ...