From the Capital Press River advocates say it is important for farmers, ranchers and other industry representatives to attend meetings about the Washington governor’s study on dams on the Lower Snake River. Environmental groups have for years called for the removal of the Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose and Lower Granite dams, citing their impacts on federally protected salmon ... Read More »

Loss of dams would also significantly increase carbon emissions and impacts to fragile economies The removal of four lower Snake River dams would cost the U.S. over $2.3 billion over the next 30 years, lead to significant additional carbon emissions that contribute to climate change, and jeopardize health, safety and livelihoods in already economically fragile local and regional economies, according ... Read More »

From NASS The recent wet weather patterns around the Puget Sound helped soil moisture, penetrating the dry layers from autumn. These rains refreshed the soils and reduced fire danger. The last few days of December brought wind. Most livestock were moved to higher ground or heavy-use areas. Orchards and berry plantings were pruned. CSA operations have continued production for winter ... Read More »

By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist On Jan. 13, 2020, the Washington State Legislature will convene in Olympia for a 60-day “short session.” The main task of legislators will be to pass supplemental budgets for the operating, transportation and capital budgets. The supplemental budgets are generally minor adjustments to the biennial budgets (passed in the 2019 “long session”) based on updated ... Read More »

From the Tri-City Herald Breaching the Snake River dams is a divisive proposal — we’ve known that for decades. So why did the state need to spend $750,000 to tell us what we already know? That’s the three-quarter-million-dollar question. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

A draft report on the impacts of breaching the lower Snake River dams, which was commissioned by the Governor’s Office last year, has been released and is open for public comment. The report can be accessed at lsrdstakeholderprocess.org. Directions for submitting comments, either electronically or by mail, are included on the website. Public comments will be accepted through Jan. 24. ... Read More »

From Agri-Pulse Today, we mark the one-year anniversary of President Trump signing into law the 2018 Farm Bill, the Agriculture Act of 2018. Lots of folks said we couldn’t do it, that it was too big of an undertaking in such a fiercely divided political landscape, where bipartisanship has become a four-letter word. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

From the Capital Press Over the last three years we’ve learned to be cautious with our optimism on matters of trade. But, it looks as though there was some positive movement on that front last week. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

From the Williston Herald Expanded loss coverage in WHIP+, $1.5 billion in additional disaster funds, and more sugar beet assistance are among features of a $23.4 billion ag appropriations bill for discretionary funding of food and farm programs. Read the rest of the article. Read More »

From Progressive Farmer China and the U.S. reached a preliminary agreement on the first phase of a trade deal that includes increased purchases of U.S. agricultural products, although the amount wasn’t specified. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »