By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyst Last Friday, we reached the first deadline of the legislative session.  Any policy bills that did not move out of their original committee by last Friday at 5 p.m. are dead for this session (unless otherwise revived). This drastically reduces the list of bills that are likely to move this session. The only legislation not ... Read More »

From NAWG Yesterday, the House Agriculture Committee approved two measures regarding the regulation of pesticides. The Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act (H.R. 953) would eliminate the duplicative permit requirement for use of pesticides that have already been approved by the EPA in the Federal Insecticide Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Senator Crapo (R-Idaho) has also introduced similar legislation in the Senate. The National ... Read More »

The Washington Association of Wheat Growers applauds the appointment last week of Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA) to the President’s Export Council. The Washington state wheat industry exports approximately 90 percent of its product to overseas markets, and effective trade agreements are essential in maintaining and expanding wheat markets. “Rep. Reichert has been a stalwart supporter of trade in Washington state,” ... Read More »

Randy Uhrich, 62, passed away on Jan. 16, 2017, at his home after a courageous battle with cancer. He leaves behind his wife, Mary, and daughter, Katie. Randy was born in Wenatchee, Wash., to Clarence and Anne Uhrich. He was raised on the family’s wheat ranch in Waterville, Wash. He worked side by side with his father learning the family ... Read More »

By Nicole Berg Appeared in the Tri-City Herald My family, which farms 21,000 acres of wheat, alfalfa and vegetables in Benton County, often jokes that our great-grandfather Lenzie Berg should have perhaps thought twice before he decided to stake his claim in one of the driest regions west of the Mississippi. We are kidding, of course — we wouldn’t have ... Read More »

By Trista Crossley During last month’s trip to Olympia to advocate for the Washington wheat industry, several members and staff of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) testified in front of the Washington State Senate’s Agriculture, Water, Trade and Economic Development Committee during a public hearing on SB 5051, a bill relating to nondefault termination provisions in state land ... Read More »

From the Capital Press El Niño will return to the Pacific Northwest, bringing with it a warm, dry spring, weatherman Art Douglas says. Douglas said the El Niño weather pattern began developing in January as surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean began to increase. A ridge of high pressure off the West Coast will also develop, blocking storms from ... Read More »

From Ohio’s Country Journal Though it seems like the last farm bill has just been finally implemented, discussions are already ramping up for the next farm bill in Washington, D.C. With a new administration, a challenging farm economy and the ever-shifting whims of public perceptions about agriculture, there is plenty of uncertainty about the outcome. Read the rest of the ... Read More »

From the USDA’s Economic Research Service When wheat prices posted at county elevators fall below the annual county and class-specific marketing assistance loan rate, producers become eligible to receive loan deficiency payments (LDP). An LDP is a direct payment to farmers that covers the difference between the current local price and the pre-determined county loan rate. A 2016/17 marketing year ... Read More »

From the Capital Press What’s Upstream organizers planned to spend nearly $200,000 in federal funds during and after the 2016 legislative session on a “robust” campaign to regulate Washington farmers, according to Environmental Protection Agency records. It’s unclear how much money was actually spent. The media blitz was scheduled to last six months, but faltered after three. Congressional anger over ... Read More »