US Drought Monitor

Want to share your information on drought conditions in your state? Read this explainer from FarmProgress. This explainer covers data what the Drought Monitor takes in and includes a link to file information with the service. Read the explainer here.

Not sure what to report? Read FarmProgress' recent article on drought indicators here. The report focuses on grain crops but provides useful information for all farmers as well as links to resources on how to manage long term drought conditions. You can also read their recent article on how Plains farmers are handling drought conditions by mindful grazing here.

FarmProgress is a multi-brand farmer news and marketing group owned by Informa that covers national, regional, and state-level organizations and represents multiple ag shows.

Them's Fighting Words: Research Into How To Irrigate Vineyards Better

Let's say you had to irrigate your vineyard because you haven't discovered or implemented dry farming yet (don't get stuck in the establishment phase!). What's the best way to irrigate? Washington State University's Pete Jacoby released his decade-long research into best practices for application. The Western Farm Press and FarmProgress published an overview of his results. Read on here for his conclusions on how to do the dirty deed better.

FarmProgress is a multi-brand farmer news and marketing group owned by Informa that covers national, regional, and state-level organizations and represents multiple ag shows. The Western Farm Press is a subsidiary focusing on agriculture in the Western US.

Understanding Climate Change Loss and Damage from a UN Perspective

At the end of last year, the World Resources Institute (WRI) released an explainer defining "loss and damage" within the context of climate change. This article explores how the UN defines (or really doesn't) the terms for use during climate negotiations. This is an easy-to-read guide to understanding UN climate reports more deeply, especially on what's often an overly-politicized topic. This article goes into depth on economic and non-economic losses and the difficulty in quantifying the latter. Lengthy, but well worth the read to deepen your understanding of international policy negotiations. Read the explainer here.

WRI (World Research Institute) is an international water and development research organization.

An Outstanding Side Hustle

Need to amp up the profitability of your farm? Watch ATTRA's informative video on hosting Farm to Table dinners on your property. The video details pros and cons and offers up insightful ways to make your dream evening a successful reality. Watch the video here.

ATTRA (Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas) is a knowledge source for sustainable agriculture, created by the US Dept of Agriculture Rural Development and the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT).

A Love Letter to the Willamette Valley

Time Magazine featured the Willamette Valley as one of its World's Greatest Places in 2023. We all love the Valley, but explore what makes it rank as one of the world's best here. Don't miss other awe-inspiring picks!

This article was featured in a recent blog post by the Dundee Hills AVA Association. Don't have Time (get it?) to read the complete Time Magazine article? Check out their summary here.

Talkin’ About Organics

Did you miss Paul Muller’s, co-owner of Full Belly Farm in California, talk at EcoFarm? Read ATTRA’s summary here and learn about soil health, sustainability, and a philosophical take on humans’ responsibilities and roles in agriculture.

ATTRA (Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas) is a knowledge source for sustainable agriculture, created by the US Dept of Agriculture Rural Development and the National Center for Appropriate Technology.

Watch the recording and learn more about EcoFarm here.

This One’s For The Girls

Check out the recently published report on water security and equality for women and girls. The USAID’s Global Waters report discusses how water security positively contributes to their success. When women and girls have easy access to clean water, this directly contributes to positive outcomes for their health, economic and social capital, education, and empowerment. Read the report here.

Global Waters is a USAID-funded global water security, sanitation, and hygiene knowledge portal.

US Global Water Strategy: In Summary

Read the US’s global water strategy for 2022-2027. The mission of the program is to insure a water-secure world through improvements to infrastructure in at-risk regions. The program funds improvements to “health, prosperity, stability, and resilience through sustainable and equitable water resources management and access to safe drinking water and sanitation services and hygiene practices.” For a summary of the program’s goals, click here. For detailed information on the program, visit their main website here.

Global Waters is a USAID-funded global water security, sanitation, and hygiene knowledge portal.

Announcing New Members

A hearty welcome to the following new members who joined this quarter:

Iterum Wines: After stepping back from Dobbes Family Estate and Wines by Joe, owner and winemaker Joe Dobbes and his wife Patricia purchased an organic vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills, renaming it Orchard House Vineyard, which is the estate vineyard for Iterum Wines.

LucidWild Estate: Blair Nicholas and his family own and craft wine from their 32-acre estate in the Dundee Hills off Worden Hill Rd. The vineyard, formerly named Bella Vida, was originally planted in 1998 and is LIVE certified.

Stag Hollow Wines & Vineyards: This small family vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton is owned by Mark and Jill Huff. They planted their vineyard in the early 90s. Their estate is sustainably-focused and includes 12 acres of land preserved for oak and wetlands.

Dry Farming in the News

Start your Monday off with some fresh off the press news! Check out these recently published articles discussing rivers and drought in the Western USA.

Colorado River states announce breakthrough water sharing deal by Kirk Siegler of All Things Considered on NPR

In incredible news out of the West, the three states that are part of a water-sharing agreement for the Colorado River reached a new, updated agreement to reduce usage of the drought-ridden river. A must-read article!

One Colorado river basin has been drying for years. It’s changing a way of life.  by Michael Booth of the Colorado Sun

An excellent read for in-depth reporting on efforts to save and share the Republican River, and the painful costs and often ephemeral benefits to the local communities.

Dry years cut nitrate loads in Iowa’s rivers by Jared Strong of Iowa Capital Dispatch

Read about Iowa’s reports of reduction of runoff during dry years and environmental groups’ responses to the data. This highlights an interesting benefit to drought that calls into question the endless cycle of industrial farming and fertilization.