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 the Capital Press Preserving tax exemptions for Washington farmers is the top priority for the new Washington Association of Wheat Growers president. Edwall, Wash., dryland wheat farmer Kevin Klein recently took over the reins of the organization during the Tri-State Grain Growers Conference in Spokane. The presidency is a one-year term. Officers typically move through different leadership positions. Klein ... 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 the Basin Business Journal “We’re trying to sit down and understand the deals going back ten years,” 13th Legislative District Representative Tom Dent says of the Odessa Subarea surface water delivery plan. The plan to bring surface water to farmers who now are operating pumps out of the Odessa Aquifer is on hold because of the convoluted deals and ... Read More »
From the Capital Press Farmers who lose crops to elk or deer would pay up to $600 to file a claim under a policy that the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission will consider Friday. According to written administrative rules, the state will pay for an adjuster to assess damages. In actual practice, wildlife managers have for several years required the ... Read More »
From The Spokesman-Review Mary Dye of Pomeroy will be coming back to Olympia next year, elected Tuesday night to keep the seat she filled through an appointment earlier this year. Dye, 54, easily beat former Franklin County Sheriff Richard Lathim in the general election for the 9th District House seat that became vacant when Susan Fagan resigned this spring after ... Read More »
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 »
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIR There is no greater responsibility for the Washington State University Board of Regents than selecting and retaining the best possible presidential leadership. It is an honor for me to invite and welcome your participation. As we begin the process to engage WSU’s 11th president, we have an opportunity to focus—together—on our major ... Read More »
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 »
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 »
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