Current Issues

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 »

Peter ‘Wheat Pete’ Johnson will discuss ‘The Yield Triangle’ at 2022 Wheat College

By Trista Crossley Editor, Wheat Life Johnson, this year’s featured speaker, will be discussing “The Yield Triangle.” Johnson is the resident agronomist with Real Agriculture, where he posts a weekly podcast, “Wheat Pete’s Word.” He is a regular on “Agronomy Monday” on Real Ag radio, Sirius Satellite Radio 147. He spent 30 years as the Ontario cereal specialist. Johnson operates ... Read More »

PNW winter wheat production up 56 percent from last year

From the National Agricultural Statistics Service  Based on May 1, 2022, conditions, production of winter wheat in Washington is forecast at 121 million bushels, up 70 percent from 2021. Yield is expected to average 67 bushels per acre, up 25 bushels from the previous year. Growers planted an estimated 1.85 million acres in the fall of 2021, up 100,000 acres ... Read More »

Spokane County wheat farmer takes part in dam campaign

Marci Green, a Spokane County wheat farmer and a past president of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers, is helping promote the benefits provided by the lower Snake River dams by narrating a commercial running on broadcast and cable TV, streaming video, and social media channels. Read More »

Keeping the tools sharp

RMA reviewing crop insurances wheat program By Trista Crossley Editor, Wheat Life Farmers know that regular maintenance is the key to keeping their equipment running smoothly, but sometimes even the tools in the toolbox need a little maintenance of their own.  Last October, the Risk Management Agency (RMA) began reviewing the crop insurance program for wheat to determine if improvements ... Read More »