Current Issues

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 »

Written Testimony of the National Association of Wheat Growers Gordon Stoner, President Before the Senate Agriculture Committee The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Current State of the Farm Economy  September 21, 2016 Chairman Roberts, Ranking Member Stabenow, thank you for holding this hearing to review the “Current State of the Farm Economy.” Following several years of widespread drought in many ... Read More »

From the Washington State Department of Ecology In an effort to protect all that Washington has to offer future generations, the Washington Department of Ecology is launchinga new plan to combat climate change. After months of stakeholder meetings, and public review and input, Ecology yesterday adopted a first-of-its-kind clean air rule that caps and reduces carbon pollution. “Today marks a watershed ... Read More »

Recently, several members of Washington Association of Wheat Growers’ leadership team and staff took part in a meeting with Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) to discuss the high rates of low falling numbers in this year’s soft white wheat harvest. “It was an informative meeting with many different aspects of the falling number problem discussed,” said WAWG Executive Director Michelle ... Read More »

From the National Association of Wheat Growers Record yields across the U.S. and favorable conditions around the world this harvest season have brought the lowest price of wheat in nearly a decade, with wheat futures down, causing a dilemma for elevator operators as an oversupply of wheat has caused overcapacity in some areas. Affecting everyone from farmers to agriculture suppliers, ... Read More »