Mary Dye

As farmers face tough times, some lawmakers are stepping up with a proposal to lighten their financial load. This could reshape our agricultural landscape.

Last week, when Governor Bob Ferguson signed Washington’s $77.9 billion two-year operating budget, eastern Washington irrigators celebrated.  That massive budget includes $44 million for the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Project .  Supporters of this proj...

How concerned should the American people be about problems with the food supply chain brought on by the coronavirus pandemic? One Washington state lawmaker says we should be very concerned. Mary Dye, a farmer from the Pomeroy area, said the disruptions to the food supply chain, whether it’s meat, dairy or produce has forced consumers and lawmakers to admit what an essential part of everyday lif

Farmers across the Inland Northwest, have been very busy over the past couple of weeks, not preparing their commodities for processing, but rather helping fellow Washingtonians impacted by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Over the past couple of weeks, potato grower, for example, have held donation events where thousands of pounds of spuds were handed out to those in need; no questions asked ...

In an effort to help eastern Washingtonians impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to move potatoes that don’t have a destination, a host of growers will donate nearly 20 tons of spuds in Ritzville Wednesday morning. Pomeroy representative Mary Dye, who serves on the Washington state Food Policy Forum, says demand for potatoes from area processors has slowed because of the worldwide pandemic, so

Earlier this month, Governor Jay Inslee vetoed a variety of bills in an effort to save funds because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. One of the pieces of legislation lost in that move was House Bill 2579. The bill, authored by Representative May Dye would have provided funding for a feasibility study to allow inmates at Coyote Ridge Correction Center in Connell to train wild horses ... Read

Many in the farming community feel the Ag industry was, at the very least, left out of many legislative conversation this year in Olympia. And some feel legislation targeted Washington Farmers. For example, as logger, farmers and others rallied last week in Olympia protesting House Bill 1110, the Low Carbon Fuel Standards, lawmakers introduction House Bill 2957 ...

By a 12-2 vote Wednesday, the Washington House Ag Committee voted to approve HB 2696 to the floor for a full vote.  According to legislation author Tom Dent, the bill addresses meat and poultry misbranding.  Dent said he’s not opposed to alternative proteins in the marketplace, but he wants consumers to know what they are purchasing.   “If it...

During a White House ceremony Wednesday, President Trump signed USMCA, his long-sought replacement of NAFTA.  The event had a very similar feel to the Phase One signing event that occurred just a month earlier.   “This is a colossal victory for our farmers, ranchers, energy workers, factory workers, and American workers, in all 50-states,” the President said.   Trump added ...

Less than nine weeks remain in 2019, which means it’s time to start thinking about the 2020 legislative sessions for both Washington and Oregon.  Washington state representative Mary Dye said when looking back at this year’s session, there were several “interesting” pieces of legislation that unfairly targeted the farming industry.  The Pomeroy Republican sai...