Drought halts planting program

Anticipating a continued drought, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has suspended spring erosion plantings in Eastern Washington for the first time since the program began 20 years ago.

The Conservation Reserve Program splits the cost with growers for planting grasses, small trees and shrubs that control soil erosion, improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitat.

The USDA decided to temporarily halt CRP plantings after receiving reports last month of extremely dry soils.

A few thousand acres out of the 80,000 enrolled last year may be affected. Overall, about 1.4 million acres are enrolled in CRP.

Producers who believe their soil is moist enough – especially after recent rains – that plants stand a reasonable chance of surviving the drought can apply for a waiver.

Avista maintenance to affect Davenport

More than 1,000 Avista Utilities customers in the Davenport area will lose electrical service on Sunday due to maintenance work on a substation.

The power will be out from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. on Sunday, Avista said in a news release. Areas affected by the power outage include Davenport and the rural areas east of there to Highway 231, south to Zellmer Road and north to Lane Road.

Nick Marriott, operations supervisor for Davenport, said in the release that the outage is scheduled for a time that will have the least impact on customers. Customers with questions should call Avista at (800) 227-9187.

Favoring Seattle, Safeco to leave Redmond

Safeco Corp. said Wednesday that it will close its suburban Redmond offices and expand its Seattle headquarters to accommodate those workers, instead of the other way around.

The Seattle insurance company had been debating which office to keep but ultimately decided to house all its 3,200 workers in Seattle, where it has had offices since 1936.

Some workers will continue to work in Redmond until 2008, when construction in Seattle is expected to be completed.