By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist Feb. 19 marked the 40th day of the 2023 Legislative Session and the first deadline: policy committee cutoff. This means all bills needed to pass out of their respective policy committees in their house of origin by that date, or they are considered “dead” for the legislative session. However, no bill is ever officially “dead” ... Read More »
By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist We have completed the fifth week of the legislative session (Feb. 5-11). Only a week remains until the first legislative deadline on Feb. 17, when all bills must be voted out of their respective policy committees to remain under consideration. Bills that do not meet this deadline will be considered “dead” for the legislative session. ... Read More »
From the Capital Press An Eastern Washington lawmaker has proposed reimbursing farmers who can show they paid cap-and-trade surcharges on fuel used to produce or transport farm goods. Rep. Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, said he’s been hearing from angry farmers seeing higher fuel bills. Legislators were assured cap-and-trade would not apply to agricultural fuels, he said. Read the rest of the ... Read More »
From U.S. Wheat Associates Wheat growers do not need a USDA report in one hand and a slide rule in the other to conclude that escalating production costs are outpacing increases in crop revenue. Nor do they need an economics degree to locate the heart of the matter. “The numbers we are putting in are racing past the numbers we ... Read More »
From the Spokesman-Review Mike Miller, who farms wheat near Ritzville, was sitting around a board table on Thursday as his cohorts on the Washington Grain Commission talked about, among other things, the skyrocketing price of diesel. “It’s changed the way we are farming,” Miller said. “Diesel is twice what it was last year. We are trying to limit hours on ... Read More »
From the National Association of Wheat Growers As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to decide whether to review a case that threatens federal preemption in the regulation of crop protection technologies, the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) reiterates the need for the administration to consult with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on the policy changes and the far-reaching ... Read More »
From The Spokesman-Review Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sent global food prices soaring, but Washington wheat farmers like Marci Green aren’t celebrating. Green, a sixth-generation farmer who grows wheat outside Fairfield, is concerned rising costs of supplies like fuel and fertilizer will whittle away at this year’s profits even after wheat prices hit a record high in March. She’s also ... Read More »
From the Center Square Michelle Hennings, executive director of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers, said farmers are worried about a multitude of factors that will affect harvest levels this year. She said their concerns are centered on the possibility for continuing drought, spiking fuel and fertilizer costs, delays in getting equipment, and an increase in global demand tied to ... Read More »
From the Seattle Times Mike Carstensen has seen prices for the wheat he grows on his Lincoln County farm rise from $8.16 in January to $9.26 per bushel, although the price fluctuates. It’s a nice bump, he said, but it’s not enough to make up for the one-third increase in costs from rising gasoline prices over the same period. Read ... Read More »
From the Capital Press The cost of production is likely to increase for U.S. wheat farmers as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the leader of the National Association of Wheat Growers says. “First of all and most of all, it’s a very unfortunate and sad situation what’s going on with the invasion of Ukraine by Russian military ... Read More »
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