Ag New Roundup: September 27th, 2020
September 26, 2020
In today’s Ag News Roundup, wildfire ash not expected to ruin garden harvests, WDFW allowing wolves over livestock on grazing lands, COVID-19 concerns expressed by Yakima county farmers, import requirements waived by Washington to help Oregon farmers, and a youth livestock auction is a success amid the pandemic.
Take Care with Garden Harvests and Wildfire Ash
According to Oregon State University Extension Service, wildfire ash that falls on garden vegetables and fruit does not ruin the produce, nor will it penetrate the outer skin. The experts do strongly urge growers to strip away the outer portion of lettuce and other leafy plants, as well as thoroughly rinse any ash off fruit or vegetables before storing or consuming.
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Wolves Allowed Over Livestock to Graze Washington Lands
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is said to be planning to revise grazing policies for 110,000 acres of grazing lands. Wolf recovery may be given priority over livestock, according to a story from Capital Press.
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Yakima County Farm Owners Concerned Over COVID-19 Rules
From the Washington State Farm Bureau, Yakima County farmers are hoping some of the rules surrounding COVID-19 can change to help them avoid financial losses. Currently, Yakima county is in phase 1 of reopening, which does not allow for agritourism, such as pumpkin patch u-pick farms.
Washington Helps Oregon Farmers by Waiving Import Requirements
The Washington Department of Agriculture announced it would waive import requirements on Oregon raised livestock, allowing animals displaced by wildfires. The move is temporary, say state officials, with animals required to return to Oregon within a specified timeframe.
Youth Livestock Auction Raises $510,000
From the East Oregonian, the Umatilla County Fair’s Youth Livestock Auction may not have raised as much as prior years, but it still brought in around $510,000. Because of the COVID-19 related online-only format, less animals were up for auction. Just 208 lots were auctioned in 2020 when compared with 265 in 2019.
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