Environmental review process for coal export facility is inching along
A draft environmental impact statement (EIS) has finally been released for the proposed Millennium Bulk Terminals coal export project in Longview. The project was first proposed back in February 2012. Environmental reviews can take a few months or several years. They must be complete before permits can be issued. One reason that this review is […]
April 11 , 2016 - Emily Makings
The importance of trade for Washington's apple industry
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently released an outlook for the U.S. fresh apple industry. It illustrates how important trade is for Washington's apple growers. Interestingly, Washington apples account for 65 percent of the nation's production, but apple acreage in Washington is only 46 percent of that of the U.S. On average across all varieties, […]
February 26 , 2016 - Emily Makings
Links: Costs of the port slowdown, Oregon's minimum wage, apples
Earlier this week, the Washington Council on International Trade released a new report on the costs of the port slowdown of 2014-15. According to the report, Washington businesses lost $769.5 million. That figure incorporates exports that were not shipped (or had to be sent more expensively by air), delayed imports, and additional costs incurred for […]
January 04 , 2016 - Emily Makings
Recommended reading: The current issue of AWB's Washington Business magazine
The current issue of AWB's Washington Business magazine is particularly good. The cover story (beginning on page 32) is about Washington's maritime sector and the challenges it faces (and is written by our former president, Richard Davis). Trade and maritime activity have long defined Washington. And the industry is well positioned to thrive here for […]
January 04 , 2016 - Emily Makings
Ag roundup: drought report, hops, immigration
Last month the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) released an interim report on the 2015 drought. It cautions that it is not a final estimate of the total economic impact of the drought: "The main conclusion from this interim report is that impacts were widespread and will be ongoing." In addition to the drought, […]
December 28 , 2015 - Emily Makings
Malting in Skagit County
The Skagit Valley Herald has an interesting story about a company called Skagit Valley Malting, which was "originally conceived in collaboration with the Port of Skagit to increase the value of local grain." The story notes, Farmers have to grow wheat or barley every few years to recondition the soil, but the wheat and barley […]
October 29 , 2015 - Mary Strow
October 27 , 2015 - Mary Strow
We're Number Two…in organic farm sales
Here’s an interesting fact we missed last month: In 2014 Washington state’s organic farms ranked second in the nation for total sales of organic products. At $515 million in total sales, we were behind only California which clocked an impressive $2.2 billion. The total amount is the value of crop production sales plus the value of livestock […]
October 09 , 2015 - Emily Makings
Value of Washington agriculture is $10.1 billion, and tariffs in several markets could be going down
Washington’s agricultural production in 2014 was valued at $10.119 billion, up from $10.061 billion in 2013. (The 2013 number was revised down from the figure that was released earlier this year.) Apples are still the highest-valued commodity in the state, at $1.896 billion. But their value declined by 11.2 percent over 2013, and by 23.6 […]
October 09 , 2015 - Mary Strow