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 »

Friday was the 28th day of the 2017 Legislative Session and the end of week 4. There have been 1721 bills introduced thus far. The first legislative deadline is Feb. 17 when all policy bills must pass out of their policy committee to remain alive. Senate republicans regain their majority after a temporary tie Last week, the Senate was temporarily tied ... Read More »

This week, the National Association of State Departments (NASDA) established priorities for the next farm bill. NASDA called for enhanced investment in American agriculture that provides producers the tools they need to succeed.  Further, NASDA emphasized that the farm bill is vital to providing consumers access to the safest, highest quality and most affordable food supply, which is essential for our nation’s economy ... Read More »

For the past week, leadership and staff of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers has been back in Washington, D.C., meeting with our congressional delegation and taking part in the National Association of Wheat Growers’ winter board meeting.   Read More »

From the Capital Press Lawmakers are considering legislation to double the maximum payout for crops lost to deer and elk and also compensate farmers for damage by the ungulates to fences and irrigation systems. Instead of $10,000, a Washington farmer could receive up to $20,000 a year under a program administered by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. House ... Read More »

This week, the leadership and staff of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers is in Washington, D.C., to meet with the state’s federal delegation as well as agency heads. The 2017 federal priorities the association will be discussing include: • WAWG supports maintaining and an increase of funding for the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Market Development (FMD) program. ... Read More »

By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist Senate republicans have temporarily lost the majority due to one of their members, Sen. Brian Dansel (R-Republic), resigning last week to take a job in the Trump Administration as a special assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. With Dansel’s resignation, the Senate is currently tied at 24-24 until a replacement is appointed to fill the ... Read More »

Protect Existing Tax Policy • Retaining all food and farm-related tax incentives are critical to the agricultural industry.  Agriculture tax preferences are a valuable benefit to our economy and offer farmers a more level playing field with other major ag production states.  Preferences are intended to be a long-term state investment into the agricultural industry. Preserving Washington’s Economic Competitiveness • ... Read More »

Fresh off their successful lobbying trip to Olympia, leadership and staff of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers are headed to Washington, D.C., next week to take their message to a national stage. “Many of our issues, such as maintaining and expanding overseas markets with sound trade policies, improving on farm bill programs that are critical for risk management and ... Read More »