By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist There is only one week remaining in the 2021 Legislative Session. During the final week, the Legislature will continue to focus on reconciling differences between each chamber’s budget proposals, bills that are Necessary to Implement the Budget, and bills on the Concurrence Calendar. Budget negotiators worked over the weekend to finalize their operating, capital and ... Read More »

From Dr. Xianming Chen On April 13 and 14, we were planting spring cereal nurseries and taking the first notes of the winter nurseries at Mount Vernon on the west side of Washington state. The winter plants were at jointing stage ranging from Feekes 4 to 6. Wheat stripe rust was up to 40 percent severity on susceptible varieties. Barley stripe rust ... Read More »

There’s no question that the various carbon bills being debated by the Washington State Legislature will raise the price of fuel in Washington. The question is how much will the cost of fuel go up? Affordable Fuel Washington has released a graphic that estimates if a cap-and-trade system, a state tax increase and low carbon fuel standard are passed, fuel ... Read More »

From the Capital Press On Feb. 24 Tom Vilsack took the oath of office as the 32nd Secretary of Agriculture.It’s Vilsack’s second time as chief of the USDA. He previously served eight years in the same role in the Obama administration. Vilsack, 70, is also the former governor of Iowa, and most recently was president of the U.S. Dairy Export ... Read More »

Andy Juris, secretary/treasurer of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers, testified today in a meeting of the House Environment & Energy Committee on E2SSB 5126, the Climate Commitment Act. Here is his full testimony. Good morning Chair Fitzgibbon and members of the Committee: For the record, my name is Andy Juris.  I am a fourth-generation farmer from Bickleton, Wash.  On ... Read More »

From the Capital Press The overtime bill that’s likely headed to Gov. Jay Inslee will protect farms from back-pay lawsuits and give farm groups more time to convince the Legislature that time-and-a-half pay after 40 hours will harm farmworkers more than it helps them. The bill, Senate Bill 5172, phases in overtime pay for farmworkers. The threshold will be 40 hours ... Read More »

From NASS There were 5.9 days suitable for field work, down from 7 days reported the previous week. Temperatures throughout the state of Washington for the week ending April 11 were below normal. In San Juan, Island and Skagit counties, nights were very cool with a mix of rain and sunshine. Field work and some planting was done during the ... Read More »

From agdaily.com Defining estate tax regulations for farmers has been a hot topic this year. In an effort to preserve family farms for generations to come, Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN) introduced the bipartisan Preserving Family Farms Act. The legislation would help family-owned farms continue operations after a loved one has passed by easing the burden ... Read More »

Most of the wheat growers’ advocacy trips to Olympia and Washington, D.C., are a whirlwind of activity, hurrying from one appointment to another to fit in as many meetings as possible in just a couple of days. This year’s efforts involved a whole lot less walking but just as much advocacy. Since early March, the leaders and staff of the Washington ... Read More »

From NASS There were 7 days suitable for field work in Washington last week. Temperatures throughout Washington were normal to below normal last week. In San Juan County, cold nights and warmer late afternoons kicked pastures into awakening. Most livestock were still on stored feed. In Snohomish County, hardly any field work happened due to the wet soils. Greenhouses were ... Read More »