Canada Expected to Renegotiate Columbia River Treaty
The Washington State Department of Agriculture says that the U.S. and Canada are close renegotiating the 60-year-old agreement that helps coordinate flood management and optimizes hydropower generation. Per the agreement, Canada receives 50 percent of the power generated downstream in Washington and Oregon.
U.S. Meat Exports Grow
According to the U.S. Meat Export Federation, U.S. beef exports are up 10 percent in 2017. Additionally, pork experts are up as well, now up 9 percent over the previous year. Top importers include Japan, South Korea, China, South America, and Africa.
Blueberry Farmers in Skagit County Using Honeybee Research
New findings by Washington State University Mount Vernon Research Center show that dispersing hives throughout a blueberry field can increase fruit yield by 2.65 pounds per plant. That is a significant increase, considering honeybees are not very good at pollinating blueberries. Additionally, mason bees have been found to more easily pollinate blueberry bushes.
Infestation of Gypsy Moths Identified in Pierce County
According to the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA), an infestation of actively reproducing gypsy months has been identified in Pierce County. In addition, the WSDA’s annual trapping program has caught the highest number of months in traps since 1995. An eradication was conducted in 2016 on 10,000+ acres. No moths were found on that land in the latest search.
200 Hermiston Foods Employees to Get Help Finding New Jobs
As Hermiston Foods prepares to close this month and consolidate its operations to a facility in Quincy, Washington, those being laid off will soon receive help with transitioning to unemployment or their next job. The state of Oregon says the goal is to help re-employ as many workers as possible.