The Organic Trade Association has petitioned USDA for a checkoff program for organic after more than 5,000 organic farms and businesses weighed in on the proposal and supported it 2 to 1. Click here for the full story.  Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Washington state AgMinute

Organic checkoff draws supporters, detractors AgMinute for May 21, 2015

Summer water supply in Washington's Yakima Basin is now forecast at 44 percent of normal because of drought. A major irrigation district continues its quest for water to lease. Click here for full story  Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Roza District keeps looking for water; forecast drops May 20, 2015

A state agency projects that water will be expensive and hard to come by in the drought-stricken Yakima Basin. Click here for the full story Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

State agency: Water prices high, supplies tight - AgMinute for April 28, 2015

Washington State University Extension northeast regional livestock specialist Paul Kuber took over a key position in February. Kuber wants to provide processors and ranchers with the information they need to make important decisions. Click here for the full story Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

WSU livestock specialist fights false food fears with education - AgMinute for April 24, 2015

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has started drawing down Yakima Basin reservoirs and an irrigation district is rationing water — two signs the drought has taken hold. Click here for the full stories Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Water managers respond to deepening Yakima Basin drought - AgMinute for April 23, 2015

Washington Department of Ecology is rewriting rules for CAFO permits. Click here for the full story Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

DOE rewriting rules for feedlot permits - AgMinute for April 21, 2015

The Washington Senate and House have agreed that trains hauling nitrogen fertilizer won’t have to add crew members, a proposal that farm lobbyists warned would have raised freight costs for growers. For more information visit www.capitalpress.com Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Washington Senate and House agree on rail fertilier hauling - AgMinute for April 17, 2015

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation reports the drought outlook is worsening in Yakima Basin. Click here for the full story Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Drought outlook deepens in Yakima Basin - AgMinute for April 7, 2015

Washington apple shippers are trying to maintain access into Mexico and are waiting on process for the final green light for all varieties into China. Click here for the full story Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Apple issues continue in Mexico, China - AgMinute for April 6, 2015

An idea of promoting club apple varieties wasn't embraced by the Washington Apple Commission at a recent meeting. Click here for the full story Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Apple commission not eager to promote clubs - AgMinute for April 1, 2015

A warm winter has increased the chances of strawbreaker foot rot impacting wheat appearing, a Washington State University Extension plant pathologist says. Click here for the full story Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Warm winter increases chances of foot rot, researcher says - AgMinute for March 23, 2015

Repairs on a cracked Columbia River dam in the center of Washington state are wrapping up and the dam's reservoir is being refilled. Irrigators will have water. Click here for the full story Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Wanapum Dam repairs nearing completion - AgMinute for March 20, 2015

A comprehensive review of Washington's watersheds confirms that conditions are pointing toward the state's first drought in a decade. Click here for the full story Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Washington mounting case for drought declaration - AgMinute for March 12, 2015

Washington hard cider makers are lobbying to break away from winemakers and form their own marketing association. For more information visit www.capitalpress.com Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

Hard cider makers lobby for their own association - AgMinute for February 27, 2015

A lawsuit over whether piece-rate pay includes compensation for rest breaks will be heard by the Washington Supreme Court. If growers lose, it could cost them $100 million or more in back pay to employees. Click here for the full story Subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or your favorite RSS reader.

$100 million or more at stake in Washington piece-rate case - AgMinute for February 13, 2015

Daily minute-long news updates on Washington state agriculture. A product of Capital Press, the West's ag news source. Listen to us on the radio, iTunes, Stitcher and online.