Agriculture

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Trump Admin rebukes Washington regulators over attacks on family farms, Seattle Red, Jan 30
Family farms in Washington are singing the praises of the Trump Administration for pushing back against the Washington State Department of Ecology’s “war on agriculture.” Save Family Farming, a local advocacy group, was especially thankful to Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins for her forthright support of King Ranch in Eastern Washington.
 

Washington lawmakers mull ban on rodenticides, Capital Press, Jan 27
Several Washington State Pest Management Association members turned out Jan. 27 for a hearing on a bill that calls for a two-year moratorium on widely used rodenticides.
 

Washington timber industry sees ‘ecosystem services’ as another cut, Capital Press, Jan 29
At Upthegrove’s request, legislators are considering authorizing the Department of Natural Resources to sell “ecosystem services,” possibly by delaying or canceling timber harvests.
 

Washington lawmakers consider bills that would give farmworkers a path to unionizing, NWPB, Jan 26
Lawmakers introduced bills in the House Bill 2409 and Senate Bill 6045 this month that would give farmworkers’ unions an avenue for recognition with oversight by the Washington State Public Employment Relations Commission.

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Washington Politics​

Republican WA congressman: Immigration crackdown has ‘gotten out of hand’, State Standard, Jan 28
U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse said Wednesday that “a lot of questions need to be answered” in the wake of the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minnesota, but stopped short of calling for new leadership at the Department of Homeland Security.

Democrats’ plan to revamp WA’s initiative process stirs backlash, State Standard, Jan 26
Supporters say the bill will rein in well-funded groups pushing measures to the Legislature and voters. Critics say it’s voter suppression and a threat to direct democracy.

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Climate & Endangered Species

 

25 years of revitalization efforts, leads to a record-breaking salmon spawn in Putah Creek, CapRadio, Jan 29
Putah Creek, the 85-mile long stream that forms the border between Solano and Yolo counties, just had a record breaking year for salmon. 2,100 Chinook returned to the waters of Putah Creek to spawn in 2025. A decade ago scientists estimated about 1,700 salmon returned to the stream.

Salmon bycatch measures worry Alaska officials in Dutch Harbor, Undercurrent News, Jan 30
The Unalaska City Council recently took up the issue of proposals to curtail salmon bycatch in the Bering Sea trawl fleet at meetings this month, siding with bycatch avoidance programs.

EV sales fell last year in Washington. More subsidies would be a mistake., Washington Policy Center, Jan 27
Electric vehicle (EV) sales took a hit in 2025 with the percentage of new car registrations that are all-electric falling to about 17 percent – a percentage point lower than 2024. That decline was punctuated by poor sales in December, when fewer than 10 percent of newly registered passenger vehicles were EVs.

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Trade & Markets

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Jared Balcom Named 2026 Potato Person of the Year for Global Trade Advocacy, PotatoPro, Jan 29
Jared Balcom, a fourth-generation potato grower from Pasco, Washington, has been named the 2026 Potato Person of the Year in recognition of his long-standing leadership and advocacy on behalf of the United States potato industry. The recognition was announced by The Packer and the National Potato Council, highlighting Balcom’s instrumental role in advancing trade access and representing grower interests at the international level.

Washington bill seeks permanent halt to public funding for automated port equipment, Kuehne + Nagel, Jan 30
Longshore unions support new legislation restricting state money for fully automated container‑handling systems at Seattle and Tacoma terminals.

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Research

 

WSU research sees rise in grant funding for 2025, in fifth straight year of growth, WSU Insider, Jan 30
They are developing new varieties of wheat for a warming planet and working to bring healthier whole-grain foods to the market. They’re looking to protect the power grid as energy demands rise, seeking answers for sleep disorders, and pursuing new sources of sustainable fuel.

A season of recognition for WSU’s longest-serving Extension specialist, WSU Insider, Jan 29
Though the content of Margaret Viebrock’s Extension coursework has changed since she started working for Washington State University in 1970, the mission of strengthening her community never has.​

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This week in history

On February 2, 2014, the Seattle Seahawks won the Super Bowl in a rout, beating the Denver Broncos 43-8. When the team arrived home, it received a victory parade that was the biggest gathering in Seattle's history, even though it was one of the coldest days in recent memory.[Historylink.org]