Matthew Weaver

Spokane

Spokane Field Reporter at Capital Press

Spokane field reporter for the Capital Press. This is my professional account.

Articles

Oregon FFA spotlights farmer mental health

1 week ago | capitalpress.com | Matthew Weaver

Published 9:05 am Monday, April 14, 2025 Several Oregon FFA members recently shone a spotlight on farmer mental health and farm stress as part of their projects. Each year, FFA members select speech topics based on current agricultural issues that resonate with them, said Kjer Kizer, Oregon FFA CEO. Advisors provide guidance, but the choice of topic is entirely student-driven.
WSU emeritus professor: ‘Deep worry’ amid researcher firings, budget cuts

2 weeks ago | capitalpress.com | Matthew Weaver

Published 7:04 am Friday, April 11, 2025 PULLMAN, Wash. — Washington State University’s research community has “deep worry” amid mass federal staff firings and rehirings and state and federal budget cuts, an emeritus professor and geologist says. Kent Keller began working at WSU as a soil and water researcher in 1988. His tenure includes five years as director of the School of the Environment.
New community platform helps farmers connect to food system

2 weeks ago | capitalpress.com | Matthew Weaver

Published 4:04 pm Thursday, April 10, 2025 The Ryzosphere is a new community platform to help farmers navigate the supply chain. “We have so many great producers across the country using regenerative methods and management, but they have no way to connect to markets that value that,” said founder Joni Kindwall-Moore.
Pulse farmers brace for trade uncertainty

2 weeks ago | capitalpress.com | Matthew Weaver

Published 11:26 am Wednesday, April 9, 2025 China’s announcement of 34% reciprocal tariffs on ag products against tariffs from the United States has U.S. pulse farmers bracing in anticipation of further trade uncertainty, an industry leader says. China is a large market for U.S. peas and an emerging market for lentils and chickpeas, said Tim McGreevy, chief executive officer for the USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council. The U.S. sends about 80,000 metric tons of pulses to China each year.
USDA: Small bumps for Northwest wheat, corn planting; small drops for barley, hay

2 weeks ago | capitalpress.com | Matthew Weaver

Published 9:27 am Monday, April 7, 2025 Pacific Northwest farmers expect to plant slightly more wheat and corn, and slightly less barley and hay this year, according to USDA’s prospective plantings report. Washington farmers will plant 2.35 million acres this year, up 2.4% from 2.3 million acres in 2024. Winter wheat is estimated to be 1.85 million acres, up 2.8% from 1.8 million acres the previous year. Spring wheat is estimated at 500,000 acres, up 11% from 450,000 acres.
Experts: Wheat market shrugs off Trump tariffs

2 weeks ago | capitalpress.com | Matthew Weaver

Published 8:00 am Saturday, April 5, 2025 After an initial “violent” reaction, the U.S. wheat market has proven mostly indifferent to President Donald Trump’s April 2 tariff announcement, wheat market analysts say. Wheat got caught up in the sell-off scene across all market sectors, but tariffs aren’t expected to affect supply and demand, said Darin Newsom, market analyst in Omaha, Neb.
Idaho farmer touts ‘importance of export’ as U.S. Wheat chairman

3 weeks ago | capitalpress.com | Matthew Weaver

Published 11:21 am Thursday, April 3, 2025 RIRIE, Idaho — Clark Hamilton wants fellow farmers to know how hard U.S. Wheat Associates is working on their behalf. As chairman of U.S. Wheat, the overseas marketing arm for the industry, Hamilton traveled the globe over the last year. He visited U.S. Wheat offices, attending conferences in Asia and South America and meeting customers, hearing from them about the importance of quality and reliability of America’s wheat crop.
Kentucky farmer leading NAWG as president

3 weeks ago | capitalpress.com | Matthew Weaver

Published 10:11 am Wednesday, April 2, 2025 Pat Clements, a sixth-generation Kentucky farmer, recently began his one-year term as president of the National Association of Wheat Growers. “Well, we still don’t have a farm bill,” Clements told the Capital Press when asked about priorities. “We did lobby and get some aid that’s going to be distributed soon, but we need a farm bill, we need crop insurance.
USDA scientist asks bigger weed questions

3 weeks ago | capitalpress.com | Matthew Weaver

Published 11:15 am Monday, March 31, 2025 PULLMAN, Wash. — USDA research weed scientist Olivia Landau asks big questions about weeds in wheat farming. Landau is part of the Pacific Northwest Herbicide Resistance Initiative, which identifies herbicide-resistant weed populations. She’s involved in projects related to weed genomics, weed seed physiology and high throughput phenotyping.
Former WSU rye researcher seeks farmer input

3 weeks ago | capitalpress.com | Matthew Weaver

Published 10:24 am Monday, March 31, 2025 A former Washington State University graduate student is looking for farmer input about cereal rye. Laura Valli, a former Ph.D. student at Washington State University’s Bread Lab in Mount Vernon, Wash., studied the minor cereal grain for her dissertation, entitled “The Meaning of Rye.” She was a popular speaker nationwide on the subject and taught an online undergraduate course about rye through Yale University.