WAWG
All Franklin County wheat growers are invited to attend the county’s annual meeting on Nov. 8, at the Kahlotus Grange Hall from 9 a.m. to noon. The meeting will include special presentations covering dryland peas as a wheat rotation; legislative updates; herbicide updates; carbon sequestration; new tax law implications; precision field mapping; and overseas market updates. The meeting will be catered by Rollin’ BBQ out of Washtucna.
The county wheat growers will also vote on a resolution that calls for the permanent funding of a club wheat breeding position at Washington State University through either the university or its partner, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research (ARS) Service.
Kelly Cochrane, president of the Franklin County wheat growers, said in the past, it’s been a trend of ARS to vacate positions when the current holder retires. While the current club wheat breeder, Dr. Kim Campbell, has announced no plans to step down, she is one of the only designated club wheat breeders in the world, and club wheat is critical to maintaining and increasing many of Washington wheat’s foreign markets.
“It is imperative to the Washington wheat industry that this position be staffed and funded at a sustainable level in perpetuity,” Cochrane said. “Franklin County would like to see this addressed before the position becomes vacant. All Franklin County wheat growers are welcome to attend the meeting and voice their opinion on this resolution.”