State

By U.S. Reps. Dan Newhouse and Cathy McMorris Rodgers Special to the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin Last month, President Biden signaled his support for tearing out four federal hydroelectric dams that are integral to energy reliability, navigation, and irrigation in the Pacific Northwest. Here’s our message to the president: Come visit our communities and see the river system with your own eyes ... Read More »

From NASS There were 5.8 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington, up from 5.4 days last week. Western Washington saw cool weather, and slow pasture growth continued. Central Washington had a wet and cold week that was too wet for seeding and too cold for growing. Yakima County continued to see colder-than-normal April temperatures with overcast skies and rain. Early ... Read More »

From the Capital Press An Eastern Washington senator Wednesday cast a series of “no” votes on popular bipartisan tax breaks to protest cap-and-trade surcharges on fuel used to grow and transport farm goods. Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, said he normally supports tax cuts, but complained that cap-and-trade’s tax on emissions from fossil fuels wasn’t supposed to apply to agriculture and ... Read More »

From the National Agricultural Statistics Service Wheat producers in Washington are estimated to have 2.24 million total acres planted to wheat in 2023, down 4% from last year. Winter wheat planted acres are expected to total 1.80 million acres for this year, down 3% from 2022. Spring wheat area planted are estimated at 440,000 acres, down 7% from last year. ... Read More »

From the Capital Press Democrats are keeping alive proposals to raise property taxes and taxes on most real estate sales as House and Senate budget writers negotiate an operating budget before the session ends Sunday. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

From NASS There were 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington, up from 5.1 days last week. Central Washington had an active weather week. It rained and snowed for a few days, and temperatures were colder than usual. Grass was still not growing and was now about three weeks behind due to the late snow and cool temperatures. Cattlemen turned ... Read More »

By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist April 16 marked the 98th day of the legislative session. Just seven days remain in the 2023 Legislative Session. April 12 was the deadline to pass bills from the opposite chamber, except for budgets and bills necessary to implement the budget. Over the next week, the Legislature will continue to focus on reconciling differences between ... Read More »

By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist We have completed the 13th week of the legislative session. Last Tuesday was the fiscal committee cutoff, the last day for bills to have been approved by their respective fiscal committee in the opposite chamber unless “necessary to implement the budget.” Only 14 days remain in the 2023 Legislative Session. There will be little committee ... Read More »

From NASS There were 5.1 days suitable for fieldwork in Washington, up from 4.1 days last week. In western Washington, producers completed some fieldwork between rain showers. In San Juan County, moisture levels were slightly below previous years, but cold conditions slowed fieldwork and grass growth. Central Washington continued to see cold temperatures and had some rainfall. Temperatures warmed up ... Read More »

From the Capital Press There’s something fishy about the “mediation” taking place at the White House. This mediation, which is held in secret, is an effort by the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to come up with a plan for the four lower Snake River dams. Read the rest of the article ... Read More »