WAWG
Amid gray skies and heavy downpours, a large group of Washington Association of Wheat Growers’ (WAWG) members, leadership and staff spent two days in January crisscrossing the state capitol to visit more than 50 legislators and agency leaders.
“I want to thank those members who took the time out of their busy schedules to come with us to Olympia,” said WAWG President Kevin Klein. “It makes a huge impact on legislators to have a wheat grower come to their office and tell their story. We are able to personally explain how certain legislation might hurt or help us.”
Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler (front row, third from the right) took a minute to pose with a group of WAWG visitors.
This year’s priorities included:
• Opposing regulations related to carbon emissions. This was a frequently discussed topic during legislator meetings. WAWG’s position is that regulatory costs to comply with a carbon cap will raise fuel, fertilizer, transportation and processing costs. Farmers cannot pass those costs on because they are price takers and cannot dictate the price of grain. Additionally, none of the proposed policies or regulations factor in the significant benefit agricultural soils provide to sequester and store carbon through sustainable farming practices.
• Protecting existing tax policy. Although the ag-related tax incentives are relatively safe this session, WAWG reminded legislators of their importance to the ag industry and the state’s economy. Members explained how the preferences offer farmers a more level playing field with other major ag-production states, most of which have more ag-friendly laws than Washington.
On the right, JT Austin, a natural resources/environment policy advisor for Gov. Jay Inslee, met with a WAWG delegation to discuss issues, including carbon regulation and the Snake River dams.
• Investing in the future of Washington state agriculture by supporting funding for research and education. Although the next round of funding for Washington State University’s new plant sciences building won’t happen until next year, WAWG members reminded legislators that research and education is critical to the success of the state’s ag industry.
Members also encouraged legislators to support a bill that would allow vehicles to exceed weight limits by 2,000 pounds when carrying an ag commodity (SB 6265/HB 2611), as well as a bill that requires cities and counties planning under the Growth Management Act to permit rail-dependent uses (SB 6334/HB 2468).
2016 Wheat Ambassadors Hallie Jo Galbreath (left) and Taylor Kulm (right) took part in an advocacy visit to Washington State Department of Ecology Director Maia Bellon.
On the other hand, WAWG is in opposition to two bills currently circulating through the legislature. HB 2532 would require riparian restoration and planting as part of the eligibility to receive farmland preservation funds. It also adds mandatory buffers to salmon-bearing streams. HB 2392 is a pesticide notification bill that puts onerous requirements on a person who is intending to apply pesticides.
“Olympia Days is one of the most important events of the year for the Washington Association of Wheat Growers. The event was a huge success,” said WAWG Executive Director Michelle Hennings. “I would like to thank WAWG staff for all their hard work behind the scenes. Lobbyist Diana Carlen provided a wide variety of meetings and visits that gave the farmers the opportunity to reach across party lines and increase the visibility of our industry.”
The 2016 Wheat Ambassadors, Hallie Jo Galbreath and Taylor Kulm, also participated in the trip, giving them a first-hand look at how WAWG advocates for the wheat industry. Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler took Galbreath and Kulm to lunch at the members-only Senate cafeteria.
“Their generation is our future, and it is critical they are educated on advocacy and how to tell their story,” Hennings said.
Besides the legislative visits, WAWG also held a legislative reception one evening.