Agriculture Business

March 3-24: Free farm talks on both sides of state

By Kate Halstead, WSU Extension EVERETT, Wash. – Four free farm talks addressing the challenges facing small farms will be held 6-9 p.m. Thursdays, March 3-24, at the Gray Wolf Building, 2000 Tower St., Everett, and at Washington State University Spokane County Extension, 222 N. Havana, Spokane, Wash.

Jan. 19: ‘Cultivating Success’ helps establish, grow small farms

By Kate Halstead, WSU Extension EVERETT, Wash. – A 12-week course, Sustainable Small-Acreage Farming and Ranching, begins Jan. 19 and will be held 6-9 p.m. Tuesdays at Washington State University Snohomish County Extension’s Cougar Auditorium, 600 128th St. SE, Everett. It is the first course in the Cultivating Success series.

Purple needle eater threatens noble fir holiday boughs, trees

By Sylvia Kantor, College of Agricultural, Human & Natural Resource Sciences PUYALLUP, Wash. – Noble fir, the iconic tree of holiday greenery, is under attack by a disease known as purple needle eater. The mysterious disease attacks new growth, causing needles to turn purple and die. 

Holiday greenery harvest adjusts to ‘Godzilla El Nino’

By Sylvia Kantor, College of Agricultural, Human & Natural Resource Sciences OLYMPIA, Wash. – Harvest of evergreen boughs for holiday garlands and wreaths got a late start thanks to the warmest October on record. Just what the economic impact is won’t be clear until the holiday season is over.

Oct. 22, 23: Workshops on livestock impacts on water quality

By Scott Weybright, College of Agricultural, Human & Natural Resource Sciences ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Washington State University will host two workshops for landowners, cattlemen, natural resource professionals and others interested in how cattle grazing may affect water quality.