Legislature

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.   “...

With the 2018 Legislative Session just around the corner, what can state lawmakers do to help the farming community grow and proper.  Brad Peck, Franklin County Commissioner say he wants to see lawmakers work to make agriculture, already a $10.6 bi...

Officials across the agriculture spectrum gathered with a handful of state lawmakers in the Skagit Valley Tuesday for a new Legislative Tour.  Chris Voigt, executive Director with the Washington state Potato Commission said they wanted to show lawmakers the challenges farmers face in the Evergreen state and how lawmakers decision, or indecision in Olympia impact daily life.  He...

After several eastern Washington farmers had their leases with the DNR terminated early, state lawmakers are looking to address the issue this upcoming session.  It’s common across Washington for farmers to lease DNR land to raise crops or tend livestock.  However,...

In an effort to chip away at an ongoing budget deficit, the Washington State Department of Agriculture is floating the ideas of increasing the fees the cattlemen and auction yards pay for livestock inspections.  WSDA’s Hector Castro told the Washington Ag Network the Livestock Inspection program, one of the Department’s oldest programs, is a critical service offered, not only for owners, but for t

Moses Lake Representative Tom Dent said little was done to address water shortage issues during the 2016 legislative session.  He told the Washington Ag Network lawmakers passed a Water banking bill which has to yet to be signed by Governor Jay Inslee.  Bu...