By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist The 2025 Legislative Session kicked off on Jan. 13, 2025. As this is a “long session” year, the session is expected to last 105 days, ending on Sunday, April 27, 2025. There are a lot of new faces in Olympia. This is the first time in 12 years that Washington state has a new governor ... Read More »
WAWG Past President Andy Juris, a farmer from Klickitat County, and Michele Kiesz, a farmer from Adams County, testified before the Washington State House Environment & Energy Committee this week in support of House Bill 1188, which requires local government and tribal approval of wind and solar siting recommendations by the energy facility site evaluation council. Juris told the committee ... Read More »
In mid-January, the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) elected Pat Clements as president during their 2025 Annual Conference in Washington, DC. Clements is a 6th generation wheat grower and livestock farmer from Springfield, Ken., and has spent 47 years in the farm supply business. Clements has previously served as chairman of the Kentucky Seed Improvement Association board, chairman of ... Read More »
By Michelle Hennings Executive Director, Washington Association of Wheat Growers Happy New Year! There’s been a lot of changes in the last couple months. Not only do we have a large number of new state lawmakers and a new governor, we are also dealing with a change in administration in Washington, D.C. The Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) has ... Read More »
A coalition of regional leaders calls on the federal government to withdraw its decision to initiate new environmental reviews of the Columbia and Snake River dams. The coalition contends that a new National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis would be both premature and unlawful, warning that it would be incomplete and could mislead the public about these dams’ vital role in ... Read More »
It wasn’t all fun and games at last month’s Tri-State Grain Growers Convention. Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) took the opportunity to discuss challenges facing the industry at both the state and national level and take care of association business. “The convention is a great opportunity to engage with members who might otherwise be unable to attend county or ... Read More »
By Diana Carlen Lobbyist, Washington Association of Wheat Growers The recent election showed that while the country veered red, Washington state turned bluer. Democrats will continue to hold all statewide elected positions and have slightly expanded their majorities in the Legislature. Governor. Washington’s current attorney general, Bob Ferguson, will be our new governor after defeating Republican former Congressman Dave Reichert. ... Read More »
Two high school seniors have been selected to represent Washington wheat farmers and serve as the Washington Wheat Ambassadors for the upcoming year. Zach Klein of Ritzville and Karly Wigen of Colfax were selected after an initial written application process that included submitting a short introductory video. Klein and Wigen will each be giving a speech at the upcoming Washington ... Read More »
On Nov. 4, the National Wheat Yield Contest announced the 26 national and 94 state winners for 2024 — the ninth year of the contest. This year’s contest had 516 entries, the most ever. “The new website, along with all our great partners promoting the contest and good growing conditions in most wheat-growing states early last spring, created more interest ... Read More »
From Pacific Northwest Ag Network In late September, the U.S. Department of Energy announced a study looking at meeting electrical needs in the event that the four lower Snake River dams were removed. This news comes of the heals of a variety of studies and proposal looking at removing the dams that are so important to the farming community across the ... Read More »
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