Ryan: Several Successes During Challenging Legislative Session

The 2018 Washington Legislative Session is scheduled to wrap up Thursday.  Sarah Ryan, Executive Vice President of the Washington Cattlemen’s Association says while this session was incredibly challenging, there were several good pieces of legislation that will help the Ag Community, such as the Wildlife Transfer Notice.

“Where the Department of Fish and Wildlife before they are able to translocate, relocate or introduce a large, big game species they have to have public hearings and provide notice to those impacted communities.”

She also praised legislation that keeps information confidential when ranchers report a problem with wildlife, such as wolves.  Ryan said legislation changing the planting and harvesting dates for ag exemption, moves Washington in line with other western states.  The legislation moves those dates to January 1^st and December 31^st.

“So, there were some good things that happened this session, as much as we spent the time just fighting to preserve our way of life,” Ryan said.

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