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1 week ago | 
capitalpress.com | Kyle Odegard
Published 7:00 am Friday, May 9, 2025 The Honey Bee Health Coalition has requested the USDA Agricultural Research Service authorize its scientists to share analysis of what caused “catastrophic losses” of 60% of U.S. honey bee colonies. Beekeepers still don’t know if 1.6 million estimated hive die-offs were caused by a new pest, disease or pesticide event.
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1 week ago | 
capitalpress.com | Kyle Odegard
Published 9:33 am Thursday, May 8, 2025 U.S. noncitrus fruit crops — led by grapes, strawberries and apples, all primarily grown on the West Coast — climbed 5% in value, hitting $18.9 billion in 2024, according to a new USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service report. The utilized production value of U.S. tree nuts — topped by California almonds, pistachios and walnuts — skyrocketed 15% from 2023, reaching $9.4 billion.
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1 week ago | 
capitalpress.com | Kyle Odegard
Published 9:24 am Thursday, May 8, 2025 McMINNVILLE, ORE. — Willamette Valley sparkling wine caught the perfect wave. Just as bubbly experienced an upswell in demand, the region was ready with a surge in supply of traditional method sparkling wines. That led to rave reviews and more momentum. Oregon already is recognized for world class Pinot noir, but experts believe the Willamette Valley can become the new world equivalent of Champagne. “We’re not there yet, but we could be.
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1 week ago | 
capitalpress.com | Kyle Odegard
Published 3:43 pm Tuesday, May 6, 2025 Farmer sentiment improved in April as long-term optimism outweighed tariff concerns, according to the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. The latest edition of the barometer, released May 6, climbed 8 points to 148, just off the recent peak of 152 in February. “I was a little bit surprised with the increase, given what’s taken place,” said James Mintert, Purdue ag economist, in an online analysis.
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1 week ago | 
capitalpress.com | Kyle Odegard
Published 9:38 am Monday, May 5, 2025 Two women in agriculture were honored by Travel Oregon, the state’s tourism agency, during a recent awards ceremony. Emily Iverson, farm manager for Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm near Woodburn, Ore., was named an Oregon Tourism Rising Star for the Willamette Valley. Remy Drabkin, founder and winemaker for Remy Wines near Dayton, Ore., received the Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion Award.
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2 weeks ago | 
capitalpress.com | Kyle Odegard
Published 1:50 pm Wednesday, April 30, 2025 U.S. sales of certified organic products grew 5.2% to hit a record $71.6 billion in 2024, according to a new report from the Organic Trade Association. The overall marketplace rose by 2.5%. “It’s outcompeting the rest of the store,” said Brenna Davis, CEO of Organically Grown Company. Experts said the region should be making more of a concerted effort to build up its processing and supply chain capabilities to meet demand for organic.
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2 weeks ago | 
greatoffshoresportsbooks.com | Kyle Odegard
Larry Fitzgerald is the rarest of birds — a star NFL player who remained with the same team for his entire career. Could Kyler Murray be the next Cardinals player to pull it off? The star quarterback is entering his seventh season in Arizona, and while he could still play another decade or more in the NFL, Murray made it clear he wants it all to come with the Cardinals. “If I could play my whole career here, finish it out here, sign me up,” Murray told sports anchor Cam Cox on 12 News Tonight.
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2 weeks ago | 
capitalpress.com | Kyle Odegard
Published 3:44 pm Monday, April 28, 2025 The Northwest Nursery Improvement Institute has pledged $600,000 to Washington State University’s plant growth facility to ensure the state’s tree fruit industry remains competitive and sustainable for generations to come. The commitment is the largest donation pledge so far for the $18.2 million complex, said James Smith, senior director of development for WSU’s College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences.
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3 weeks ago | 
capitalpress.com | Kyle Odegard
Published 11:12 am Friday, April 25, 2025 California’s bearing almond acreage had its smallest increase in more than 20 years in 2025, according to a new industry report from Land IQ. Bearing almond orchards at harvest will cover 1.389 million acres, an increase of about 6,000 acres. That follows revised figures for 2024 that showed an increase of just 9,000 acres, then the lowest figure since 2004.
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3 weeks ago | 
capitalpress.com | Kyle Odegard
Published 10:40 am Friday, April 25, 2025 A new study from the University of California-Davis estimates that a single wolf can cost cattle ranchers more than $160,000. “It is clear the scale of conflict between wolves and cattle is substantial, expanding and costly to ranchers in terms of animal welfare, animal performance and ranch profitability,” said Tina Saitone, a UC-Davis cooperative extension specialist in livestock and rangeland economics.
