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 »
Current Issues
Crop insurance cuts reversed
From DTN Plans to make some $3 billion in cuts to the federal crop insurance program in the next eight years were reversed after members of the House Agriculture Committee announced Wednesday an agreement had been made with House leadership to leave the program alone as part of a two-year budget deal. In a press statement issued Wednesday afternoon House ... Read More »
Wheat growers invited to governor’s mansion for planting, baking demonstration
The Washington Association of Wheat Growers’ (WAWG) favorite grain will be taking up residence in a new home today, as Washington State University bread lab graduate students will be planting wheat at the Governor’s mansion in Olympia. On hand to welcome the seeds to their new plot will be Larry Cochran, WAWG President, and Nicole Berg, WAWG Past President. “We ... Read More »
Growers gear up to defend state ag tax preferences
Some of the most helpful tax preferences for farmers and ranchers are up for review in the 2016 Washington state legislative session. Many have received preliminary recommendations from the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC) to be further reviewed and clarified. The tax credits for diesel fuel used on farms and for farm machinery replacement parts are among the ... Read More »
Examining the new CRP changes, and what they mean for Washington wheat
By Keva Herron Guszkowski WAWG Policy Director The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is important to many wheat farmers because it helps them address natural resource concerns, such as water and air quality, soil erosion, energy efficiency, sustainable agriculture, wildlife habitat preservation and emergency response for natural disasters. CRP is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency ... Read More »
Panel refuses to consolidate WOTUS lawsuits
From Agri-Pulse In a blow to the Obama administration, a judicial panel has refused to consolidate a series of legal challenges against the new rule re-defining the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act. Advertisement Lawyers for the administration were seeking to move the nine lawsuits, now pending in seven circuit courts, to the District of Columbia. A North Dakota judge ... Read More »
Federal Appeals Court: Waters of the U.S. rule on hold nationally
From agweb.com A federal appeals court on Friday morning said that the U.S. government could not begin implementing the controversial “Waters of the U.S.” rule that governs what waterways are subject to federal Clean Water Act permits and which waterways are not. “This is great news for cattlemen and women and all land users who have been at a loss ... Read More »
USDA fact sheet illustrates benefits of TPP
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released a series of fact sheets illustrating how the newly reached Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement can boost the U.S. agriculture industry, supporting more American jobs and driving the nation’s rural economy. Created by the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), the fact sheets graphically depict how each state and individual commodities stand to benefit from ... Read More »
Registration open, rules announced for national wheat yield contest
Entries are now being accepted for the first National Wheat Yield Contest in more than 20 years. The National Wheat Foundation (NWF) announced the official contest rules and opened registration on their website today for the inaugural year of the contest. The highly anticipated yield competition, first unveiled at the 2015 Commodity Classic, is made possible by the generous support of ... Read More »
Years later, dam removal still an issue in PNW
Their marketing might suggest Patagonia can create a Better Sweater®, but that doesn’t make them experts when it comes to the Snake Columbia River System. Efforts by the California-based clothing company to reinvigorate the dam breaching debate with its Oct. 3 flotilla protest not only goes against the last dozen years of scientific studies by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ... Read More »
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