Washington's First HPAI of the Year and Ag Drones Continue to Surge
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson and this is your Agribusiness Update.
**The Washington State Department of Agriculture confirmed Grant County’s first case of HPAI, or bird flu, in a large commercial poultry facility in Moses Lake.
WSDA veterinarians are urging bird owners across Washington to take precautions to protect their flocks.
State Veterinarian, Dr. Amber Itle says this first detection of the season is a sobering reminder that bird flu remains a threat to all domestic poultry.
**Avant Marketing Group recently polled members of its farmer online panel regarding their outlook for the 2026 ag economy.
While 59% of participants are either Very Pessimistic or Somewhat Pessimistic concerning the economy, another 27% are either Very Optimistic or Somewhat Optimistic.
Avant’s Online Panel includes over 1,100 producers, with over half, farming 2,500 acres or more and includes row crop, beef, pork, poultry, and specialty crop production.
www.agrimarketing.com/s/155096
**According to Research Intelo, the global agricultural drones market reached $4.7 billion in 2024, demonstrating robust momentum that’s expected to continue.
The market is projected to reach a value of $29.1 billion by 2033, driven by the escalating adoption of precision farming and the growing demand for advanced ag solutions like
crop monitoring, field mapping, and yield optimization.
