Tagged: Farming

Drought that’s sizzling the rest of the nation has largely left the Northwest states alone. Furthermore, the Midwest’s farmers’ misfortune is actually benefiting farmers here.

That’s because grain prices are going up due to the Heartland’s decimated yields. Meanwhile, many Northwest farmers crops are above average.

Todd Ray is the owner of 10 New Holland tractor dealerships in Washington and Oregon. He says Northwest farmers may be doing better than the rest of the country, but they still have to think about high input costs –- like gas, tires and fertilizer.

The drought that’s gripped much of the country is hurting farmers from Texas to North Dakota. And here in Idaho, the effects of drought could be mixed for farmers and consumers.

Take your average grocery bill. Expect it to go up because of the drought says Paul Paterson.  The agriculture economist with the University of Idaho says the decimation of Midwestern crops like corn and wheat will increase the cost of most processed foods.

U.S.  Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) said today he’s frustrated with the gridlock in Washington.  Decisions on the nation’s budget, debt, taxes, and other major issues have been put off repeatedly. 

Crapo believes these issues won’t be resolved until after the November elections.   He says, "Unfortunately, I don’t think any of the major things that we need to do will happen with the possible exception of a farm bill, on which we are developing some bipartisan support, and, hopefully, a transportation bill."

Northwest farm groups are cheering a federal decision this week to dump proposed child labor rules. The Department of Labor decided to withdraw the plan after it received thousands of comments opposing the change. But child safety advocates say the fierce opposition was based on faulty information.

Politicians from farm and ranch country called the regulations an attack on family farms, going as far to say the rules could outlaw chores and 4-H for farm kids.  However, the regulations specifically exempted children working on farms owned or operated by their parents.

The Northwest spring is getting off to a wet start. But Eastern Washington farmers appear to be right on schedule. 

Asparagus is the herald of spring. That’s because the crop depends heavily on soil temperature to sprout.

Farmer Alan Schreiber says if he and his neighbors harvest asparagus before April 5th it’s an early year. If they harvest after April 15 it’s late.

So far, it looks like the green and purple spears will pop up right on time. Schreiber says growers have been out in the field working for more than a month.

Idaho farmers this time of year are thinking a lot about water and wondering if there will be enough for their crops and livestock. A wet spring has boosted snow packs and hopes throughout the region. But in Southern Oregon’s Klamath Basin, farmers are a bit worried.  That's because local officials have declared a drought in Klamath County.   

Rob Unruh’s farmhouse is just about a mile from the border with California. This winter, he planted wheat in the field in front of his house, to hold the soil in place. Skinny green stalks, almost invisible, poke up out of the ground.