State

From the Capital Press Despite some up-side opportunities, lower wheat prices will persist through the 2025-2026 marketing year, Washington State University’s small grains economist says. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

By Diana Carlen Lobbyist, Washington Association of Wheat Growers While nationally there were significant elections this November, Washington state also had some notable races in an off-year election.  Nine legislative races were on the ballot for members who were appointed to their seats and were running to retain them. Of those nine races, three candidates were running unopposed, two were ... Read More »

From the Capital Press Washington farm groups are concerned the Department of Ecology will punish farmers and ranchers who decline to adopt large riparian buffers and other “best management practices.” Ecology labels the practices, or “BMPs,” as “voluntary guidance.” But Ecology has drafted a pollution-control plan claiming the power to “require the implementation of best management practices.” Read the rest ... Read More »

WAWG staff and leaders are in Austin, Texas, for the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) fall meeting to discuss resolution and wheat grower policies. Past President Andy Juris serves on the NAWG Budget Committee, while Past President Ryan Poe serves on the Domestic Trade Policy Committee. President Jeff Malone serves on the Environment and Research Committee. Read More »

From the Capital Press Washington State University has entered a new era of leadership. Elizabeth “Betsy” Cantwell became president April 1. “This institution has proudly been one of the pre-eminent land-grant, agriculturally-focused universities in the U.S. since its inception in 1890,” Cantwell told Capital Press. “We haven’t lost the bubble on that, and we won’t. That’s why we hired Dean ... Read More »

The Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) has signed onto a letter to the Governor’s Office providing feedback on the state’s Riparian Taskforce’s work and weighing in on the group’s future focus. Besides WAWG, the letter was signed by the Washington Farm Bureau, the Washington State Diary Federation, the Washington Potato Commission, and the Washington State Tree Fruit Association. The ... Read More »

The Washington Association of Wheat Growers joined with other Columbia River System Operations stakeholders in a letter to Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson, urging him to refrain from becoming a plaintiff in river system litigation and meeting with stakeholders instead to discuss the benefits of the system. “Washington and other regional stakeholders are at a critical crossroads; we are hoping to ... Read More »

This letter to the editor appeared in the Spokesman-Review on Oct. 19 I visited Washington, D.C., in July to speak with lawmakers about protecting access to the crop protection tools my farm and so many others rely on to grow food efficiently and affordably. The conversation since those meetings has veered far off course. A wave of misinformation has emerged ... Read More »

The Washington State Department of Ecology has created a new Agricultural Exempt Fuel Retail Sellers Directory, which can be found at Fuel Exemptions – Washington State Department of Ecology. On this webpage, you will also find guidance on: Which fuels are exempt, and How to register for the directory if you are a retail fuel seller. The page also includes an ... Read More »

By Andy Juris Klickitat County grower and Past President, Washington Association of Wheat Growers The hardship of the past Things were bad. So bad, that no one could remember a time when they weren’t. The price of wheat hit an all-time low, just 25 cents, barely half of what it cost to grow. Rain had failed for four straight years, ... Read More »