Below is a summary compiled by Washington Association of Wheat Growers’ lobbyist Diana Carlen of the election results in Washington state as of last night. There are still a number of votes to count in the coming days. Governor Inslee has easily been reelected to a second term. We are also likely to continue to have split control in the Legislature ... Read More »
It was a back-to-business type of board meeting for the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) in October with updates on state and regional issues and the upcoming convention taking center stage. The falling number (FN) issue is still on many growers’ minds, especially when it comes to the Risk Management Agency’s (RMA) reporting rules on FN discounts. WAWG’s Executive ... Read More »
Two high school seniors have been selected to represent Washington wheat farmers and will serve as the Washington Wheat Ambassadors for the upcoming year. Tessa Jantz of Ritzville and Nicholas Schultheis of Colton were selected after an initial written application process that also included submitting a short introductory video. Jantz and Schultheis will each be giving a speech at the ... Read More »
Editor’s note: Sometimes, elections seem to be a remote thing that just happens and is unconnected to agriculture. Not this year. With the 2018 Farm Bill peeping over the horizon, the choices Washington wheat farmers make in November could impact their livelihood far beyond the next two to four years. While most of the farm bill action will take place ... Read More »
By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist After a crowded field of seven candidates in the primary election, only two candidates remain in the race for the Commissioner of Public Lands, the position that heads the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The two finalists are Republican Steve McLaughlin and Democrat Hilary Franz. The current commissioner, Peter Goldmark, is not seeking ... Read More »
From Washington State University “Falling numbers” refers to a test for increased alpha amylase activity, an enzyme, which when present, can significantly reduce grain quality. The lower the number, the higher the enzyme activity, and thus the lower the quality. 1. What is the falling number test? What exactly does it measure and why is this important to the buyers ... Read More »
WAWG’s Executive Director Michelle Hennings talked to RFDTV yesterday morning about the double whammy being felt by producers who have low falling numbers and are getting dinged at the crop insurance level. “When producers go in to renew their crop insurance policy, whether they take a claim or not for falling numbers, they are still being docked for yield. Our question ... Read More »
In an effort to alleviate a burden on wheat producers, the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) led the charge in requesting the Risk Management Agency (RMA) waive a reporting procedure when wheat farmers are hit with a low falling number discount at the elevator, regardless of whether or not a claim is filed. WAWG is disappointed that RMA has ... Read More »
Earlier this week, the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) submitted a letter to the Risk Management Agency (RMA) asking them to waive the reporting rules that require elevators to report falling number discounts. Those discounts are then applied to a producer’s actual production history, even when no claim is filed. In addition to WAWG, that letter was signed by the Idaho Grain Producers ... Read More »
Yesterday, the Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing on the Current State of the Farm Economy, with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack testifying. On behalf of the Pacific Northwest grain producers, The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) submitted testimony to the Committee discussing the dire economic conditions in wheat country, conveying the importance of current safety net and risk management tools. With ... Read More »
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