I hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend.
After a day full of meetings to make up for the short week, I head to Pasco and Kennewick for a couple of days. In Pasco I will meet with the Dairy Farmers of Washington (DFW), then join some of the members for a tour of Ruby Ridge Dairy. After previously spending so much time working on dairies or visiting them, it always feels a bit like “home” when I have a chance to get back to one.
I appreciate the opportunity to meet with the DFW at the conference table and more informally during the tour. I’m also looking forward to some car time with Gordon Murdoch. The DFW agenda includes the Port of Pasco’s Randy Hayden, who will talk about plans for an Agricultural Innovation Center. I met Randy just about a year ago through Naidu Rayapati, who has kept the Prosser Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center a part of the conversation as the Agricultural Innovation Center develops. I think we will learn more about center planning in the coming months.
The Washington State Agriculture Viability Conference is in Kennewick on Wednesday and Thursday this week. Registration is strong, with more than 180 participants. I am eager to learn what participants see as the biggest challenges in their farming operations. Participants represent all sizes and types of farms. Collectively, the information will inform a new IMPACT Center study aimed at keeping agriculture viable in Washington.
It is hard to believe we are about to say farewell to May! June travel picks up considerably, including some vacation plans to maximize the daylength. Before we know it, we will be welcoming what appears to be an even bigger CAHNRS class.