The Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) is proud to announce the hiring of long-time agricultural advocate, KayDee Gilkey, as their new outreach coordinator. Gilkey will be a familiar face to many wheat growers as she’s been involved with industry groups for years, most recently as director of industry relations with the Washington State Beef Commission. Before that, she worked ... Read More »
Current Issues
WAWG responds to lower Snake River dams final report
Recommends wheat farmers maintain strong opposition to dam breaching. The Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) released the following statement in response to the findings of the final Lower Snake River Dams (LSRD) Benefit Replacement Report and the recommendations from Sen. Patty Murray and Gov. Jay Inslee: “The lower Snake River dams allow wheat farmers in Washington and across the ... Read More »
Full-time Outreach Coordinator wanted
The Washington Association of Wheat Growers in Ritzville, WA is seeking an organized and proactive Outreach Coordinator to join our family-friendly organization. We are looking for someone who wants to celebrate agriculture and advocate for our producers and our rural lifestyle. The Outreach Coordinator supports outreach operations by coordinating all aspects of WAWG grower education, assisting the executive director with ... Read More »
WAWG leader testifies at farm bill listening session
Marci Green, past president of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers and a Spokane County producer, joined more than 100 industry stakeholders at a recent House Agriculture Committee Listening Session on the 2018 Farm Bill. The listening session was in Carnation, Wash., and was hosted by Rep. Kim Schrier (D-Wash.). During her two minutes, Green talked about the importance of crop ... Read More »
Industry leaders take part in ag business podcast
Michelle Hennings, executive director of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers; Glen Squires, CEO of the Washington Grain Commission; and Rob Rich, vice president of marine services at the Shaver Transportation Company, recently appeared on The Business of Agriculture podcast, hosted by Damian Mason, to talk about the importance of the Columbia-Snake River System. Mason and his guests discuss how ... Read More »
Growers concerned with White House report on Columbia Basin salmon, steelhead
The Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) today expressed disappointment with the draft “Rebuilding Interior Columbia Basin Salmon and Steelhead” report released by the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), which included recommendations to breach one or more of the lower Snake River dams (LSRD). “Unfortunately, the report released today fails to consider the impacts breaching the lower Snake ... Read More »
Dams are essential to wheat farmers
Wheat growers challenge scientific accuracy, economic impacts of LSRD report The Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) filed public comments in response to the Draft Lower Snake River Dams (LSRD) Benefit Replacement Report published on June 9. On behalf of over 4,000 members, WAWG urged Sen. Patty Murray and Gov. Jay Inslee to reconsider the direction of the Joint Federal-State ... Read More »
WAWG issues statement on dam breaching draft report
Last week, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) released the draft report of their study on breaching the lower Snake River dams. The Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) finds the report’s conclusions — replacement of the dams’ benefits are possible but at a significant cost and with major restructuring of the region’s infrastructure — to be ... Read More »
Interim legislative workgroups to focus on ag, salmon
By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist With unprecedented revenues for a supplemental year, the 2022 supplemental operating budget appropriated over $63 billion. Of particular interest to the agricultural industry, the final budget maintained significant spending on salmon recovery, including multiple workgroups and studies for the industry. Salmon recovery stakeholder process The 2022 supplemental operating budget provided $300,000 for the governor’s office ... Read More »
Grain Commission posts CEO job opening
The Washington Grain Commission (WGC) was established in 1958. Its mission is to enhance the long-term profitability and competitiveness of Washington small grains and small grain producers by responsible allocation of assessment funds in research, marketing, and education. The WGC is seeking applicants for Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The CEO serves as the operations and business manager, information liaison and ... Read More »