Ellington

Good harvests for for potatoes, apples, wheat and raspberries in 2025

MOSES LAKE – With Fall in full swing, growers around the area are either completing their harvests or are on the verge of harvesting all their produce for the season. This year potatoes, apples, wheat and raspberries around Eastern Washington are all on track to see a successful output. Potatoes Eastern Washington’s potato varieties had a strong growing season this year. Chris Voigt, Executive Director at the Washington Potato Commission said this year lacked any extended periods of heat and overall had ideal weather conditions for potatoes. “Just the entire growing season has been really good,” said Voigt. “It’s really kind of set up for a nice harvest season.” The harvest season for potatoes started out warmer than usual which caused a delay since harvesting potatoes in hot weather can harm the potatoes when they are transferred into cold storage, said Voigt.

Nurturing seed potatoes in Walla Walla

WALLA WALLA — Located near Walla Walla, Frog Hollow Farm has carved a niche for itself in the agricultural community through its specialization in seed potatoes. The farm’s owners have worked to establish themselves as authorities on the diversity of potato varieties and the importance of choosing the right seeds or seed potatoes for successful cultivation. “We have over 20 different varieties of seed potatoes here,” said Amy Dietrich, co-owner of Frog Hollow Farm. “Each type has its unique characteristics and best uses, so educating our customers is a vital part of our mission.” From early-season favorites like ‘Yukon Gold’ to the rich and earthy ‘Purple Majesty,’ the farm offers an extensive selection, she said, ensuring both home gardeners and large-scale farmers can find the ideal match for their growing conditions and culinary needs.

CWU building new geothermal plant, academic complex

ELLENSBURG — Central Washington University is making strides in its sustainability efforts with the development of the GeoEco Center and North Academic Complex, a project aimed at reducing campus-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030 and achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The construction of the Academic Complex, currently underway, is set to replace two aging academic buildings that were built in the 1970s and are deemed energy-inefficient. CWU’s commitment to forward-thinking geothermal technology represents a pivotal shift in its approach to campus energy use. “We are excited about the GeoEco Center’s potential to not only provide efficient heating and cooling for our campus but also to position CWU as a leader in sustainability,” said Jim Wolpert, president of Central Washington University. “This project is not just an investment in infrastructure but also an investment in our planet’s future.” The GeoEco Center will utilize an open-loop ground source heat pump system, which is designed to provide heating and cooling for over half a million square feet of campus infrastructure. The geothermal plant is expected to come online by early 2026, serving as a cornerstone for CWU’s initiative to decarbonize its district energy system over the next 15 years.

Northwest Hort Expo coming to Wenatchee Dec. 8-10

The Northwest Hort Expo has outgrown its space. “Historically, this show has only been in the (Wenatchee) Convention Center,” said Event Coordinator Dawn Milne. “Now we’ve opened it up into the (Town) Toyota Center as well. Typically, we used to only have 150 exhibitors, but now that we have more room, we’re getting some new types of industry people because we have more space.” The two locations are about a mile apart, Milne said, so the expo is offering a shuttle to get attendees back and forth. “The shuttle is also huge for parking,” Milne said. “The Convention Center is a little shy on parking, so we have additional parking over at the Toyota Center, and they just go back and forth between the exhibit venues.”

2025 rodeo standings

The rodeo for the Columbia River circuit is wrapped up until February. It was another successful season of competition in the Pacific Northwest. Russell Cardoza from Terrebonne, Oregon leads the all-around standings for his performances in steer wrestling, team roping and tie-down roping.

Sackmanns, Dent named to Agriculture Hall of Fame

MOSES LAKE — Two local agricultural powerhouses were named to the Moses Lake Ag Hall of Fame Oct. 21: cattle and hay growers Debbie and Sid Sackmann and aviation advocate, and bison grower Tom Dent, who also represents Washington’s 13th district in the state House of Representatives. Debbie and Sid Sackmann were introduced at the ceremony by state Sen. Judy Warnick, also of Washington’s 13th district. “Throughout his career, Sid has served on numerous agricultural committees, representing the farmers of the Columbia Basin with integrity and perfection and passion,” Warnick said. “He spent more than 15 years on the Hay Growers Association Board, and 19 years on the Farm Credit Services Board, in addition to his and Debbie’s service with Moses Lake 4-H and FFA Booster Committee, A highlight of his hay growing career was being named the 2014 Grant County Fair Hay King … Sid and Debbie could often be found calling on local businesses and collecting donations to support the 4- H and FFA livestock sale at the Grant County Fair. Bidding on local youth projects was Sid’s favorite part of the work, and Debbie and I were right there keeping the budget on track.”

USApple aims to support apple growers

As any farmer knows, when it comes to export markets and trade, regulatory policy, labor regulation and combating misinformation are a challenge. American apple growers founded USApple to help them navigate some of the challenges that affect the industry. “We represent the 27,000 apple growers in the US,” said Jim Bair, USApple president and chief executive officer. “We try to focus like a laser on the things that we’re good at, and that would be government affairs here in Washington, crisis communication, public messaging about apples.” USApple is supported by growers, packers, processors and other groups in the apple industry to advocate for industry interests at the federal level, as well as working to provide accurate information about apples and apple production. Steve Smith, vice-president of marketing at Washington Fruit, Yakima, and the current USApple board chair, said the organization focuses on government affairs at the federal level.

Commodity report for Nov. 14, 2025

Apples, potatoes, onions

Bringing quality parts from the basin to the nation

OTHELLO – Waters Tractor is a long-running local family business that started in 1980 as a tractor repair shop. Over time, owner Dan Waters transitioned to focusing on salvaging and selling tractor parts that are sold today all around North America. “I always wanted to have my own business and do my own thing, so I was always doing it,” said Waters. “I wasn’t very big in 1980, but I just gradually grew.” Waters has been working with different kinds of machinery since he was young and worked in his own father’s shop, where he sold motorcycles, along with spending time on the family farm with the farm equipment. Waters said his dad’s entrepreneurial background is what inspired him to start his own business. “We stock a lot of new parts too, but our main bread and butter is more the used parts,” said Waters.

Bird flu detected in grant county

Officials warn of risks and precautions

GRANT COUNTY – The Washington State Department of Agriculture confirmed the first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, in Grant County on Oct. 11. The detection was reported in a large commercial poultry facility in Moses Lake. This case acts as a sobering reminder of the ongoing threat that HPAI poses, not only to poultry but also to surrounding wildlife and potentially to humans. In 2025, as of Nov. 12, according to the Washington State Department of Agriculture, there were four cases in counties including Snohomish, Grant, Mason and Franklin. State veterinarians were first alerted to the presence of sick birds on October 7, prompting intensive testing that ultimately confirmed the HPAI strain H5N1. In response, WSDA veterinarians have urged bird owners throughout Washington to heighten their biosecurity measures to protect their flocks. “This first detection of the season is a sobering reminder that highly pathogenic avian influenza remains a threat to all domestic poultry — large or small — statewide,” stated Dr. Amber Itle, Washington State Veterinarian. She emphasized the importance of keeping birds away from wild waterfowl, limiting access to poultry flocks, and ensuring species separation as effective strategies to mitigate the risks associated with this disease.