From the Association of Washington Business Last week, shortly before he took off for Paris and the global climate summit, Gov. Jay Inslee met with members of AWB’s Executive Committee. The meeting provided an opportunity for a frank and informal discussion that might have touched on a half dozen or more issues, but it was clear that both the governor and ... Read More »
WAWG’s Olympia Days will be held January 20-22. Please sign up today by calling the WAWG office at 509-659-0610. County farmer representation is instrumental in relaying our message over in Olympia. The Spokane Ag Expo will be held February 2-4, 2016. If you are interested in filling a 2 hour shift at the WAWG booth, please contact the office at 509-659-0610. A pass to the Expo and ... Read More »
More than 500 wheat growers, industry representatives and stakeholders gathered Nov. 11-14 at the Davenport Grand Hotel in downtown Spokane, Wash., to take care of business, recognize industry leaders and hear updates on state and national issues. Attendees heard from motivational speaker Jolene Brown on the need for learning, growing and advocating in family businesses. Jack Bobo, senior vice president ... Read More »
Compiled by Keva Guszkowski, WAWG policy director Legislative Results 9th District, Position 1- Rep. Mary Dye (R-Pomeroy) 63.34% 30th district, Position 2- Rep. Teri Hickel (R-Federal Way) 54.79% The House of Representatives is now comprised of 50 democrats and 48 republicans. Ballot Measures Initiative Measure 1401 – yes by 70.29 percent. 1401 will make it illegal to trade endangered animal products ... Read More »
From DTN Progressive Farmer Note: The Farm Service Agency has not officially confirmed this news. WAWG will continue to monitor the issue and will update this website as necessary. Nearly $4 billion in Agriculture Risk Coverage-County checks were deposited in farmers accounts by early November, but the Farm Service Agency announced late last week it will recalculate payments for growers ... Read More »
From the Capital Press The Pacific Northwest agencies representing grain farmers will unite to take a proactive approach against what they say is misinformation about the value of dams. The Idaho Wheat Commission, Oregon Wheat Commission and Washington Grain Commission made the decision Nov. 11 in Spokane during a tri-state commission meeting. Read the rest of the story here. Read More »
From Agri-Pulse The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is in the process of fine tuning the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) promising to make it more transparent, simpler to understand and easier to apply for. The interim final changes updating the program in line with the 2014 Farm Bill are in place, but the agency intends to look at ways to ... Read More »
From Agri-Pulse The White House has posted the text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, triggering the start of a public review process. The 30 chapters of the TPP agreement include a sanitary and phytosanitary measures section meant to prevent countries from using standards for food safety and animal and plant health as trade barriers. There are other chapters on ... Read More »
From the Capital Press Despite White House objections, the Senate voted for a resolution Nov. 4 to scrap new federal rules to protect smaller streams, tributaries and wetlands from development and pollution. Senators voted 53-44 in favor of a “resolution of disapproval,” a measure that would void the regulations if also passed by the House and signed by the president. The ... Read More »
From Agri-Pulse The Senate could vote as early as next week on a resolution killing the Obama administration’s new rule re-defining what ditches, wetlands and other areas are regulated by the Clean Water Act. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) announced yesterday that she has gathered enough support for a joint resolution of disapproval to overcome a Democratic filibuster. She didn’t say how many senators supported ... Read More »
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