Olympia

Washington Farmers Asked To Participate In Ag Viability Survey
Washington Farmers Asked To Participate In Ag Viability Survey
Washington Farmers Asked To Participate In Ag Viability Survey
The Washington farming community is being asked to participate in a survey in an effort to help lawmakers better understand the challenges of the Ag industry.  The survey, hosted by the Washington state Department of Agriculture, is open tree fruit, dairy, wheat, potatoes, grapes or hops producers.  The goa...
WSFB Celebrates Ag Day In Olympia
WSFB Celebrates Ag Day In Olympia
WSFB Celebrates Ag Day In Olympia
Ag organizations across the Northwest held events in each of the state capitals celebrating National Ag Day Tuesday.  Megan Anderson the Washington Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Chair was celebrating in Olympia.   “All our legislators and offices have been invited out to shop our commodity market," Anderson said.  "Our Members have donate...
How Is Agriculture Faring In The Washington Legislative Session?
How Is Agriculture Faring In The Washington Legislative Session?
How Is Agriculture Faring In The Washington Legislative Session?
Thursday, March 6th, was the halfway point of the Washington legislative session.  How has the farming community fared this go around in Olympia?   “We've not seen a lot of the bad stuff that we had expected," noted Colfax Representative Joe Schmick.  "But so far so goo...
WSFB Head Optimistic Despite Challenging Environment
WSFB Head Optimistic Despite Challenging Environment
WSFB Head Optimistic Despite Challenging Environment
Regardless of your commodity, farming in Washington is very challenging right now.  Rosella Mosby, President of the Washington Farm Bureau said unfortunately, farmers across the Evergreen state are very discouraged.   “You know, markets haven't been great for a lot of folks and we have overtime in Washington state, so we're all dealing with that adjustment. Feeling pretty, you know...
Save Family Farming: Saldaña Fails To Help Farmworkers
Save Family Farming: Saldaña Fails To Help Farmworkers
Save Family Farming: Saldaña Fails To Help Farmworkers
Despite claims of providing economic relief for farmworkers, Save Family Farming says a proposal put forward by Washington state Senator Rebecca Saldaña fails to put money back in the pockets of workers.  Saldaña, Chair of the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee, has put forward Senate Bill 5722, creating a new state grant to pay for ag overtime costs.  However, Dillon Honcoop with Sa...
Washington Farming Community Must Advocate In Olympia
Washington Farming Community Must Advocate In Olympia
Washington Farming Community Must Advocate In Olympia
It’s a common story every legislative session in Washington; Olympia just doesn’t understand what farmers go through these days.  And that’s an easy narrative to believe, especially with fewer and fewer Americans having a connection to rural life, let alone agriculture.  But that means the Washin...
Dent Disappointed OT Flexibility Won’t Get A Hearing
Dent Disappointed OT Flexibility Won’t Get A Hearing
Dent Disappointed OT Flexibility Won’t Get A Hearing
Washington state Representative Tom Dent said he’s disappointed that the chair of the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee will not hold a public hearing on House Bill 1597.  The Moses Lake Republican said his proposal would have allowed Ag employers to select 12 weeks a year to employ workers for up to 50-hours per week before overtime applies.  Dent said des...
Schoesler: Ag Needs A Sales Tax Exemption
Schoesler: Ag Needs A Sales Tax Exemption
Schoesler: Ag Needs A Sales Tax Exemption
Currently, Washington is one of two states charging sales tax on farm equipment.  But several lawmakers in Olympia are trying to change that.  Senate Bill 5092 would provide a sales and use tax exemption for farm machinery and equipment with a price tag of over $10,000.   “It's not ...
Unemployment Proposals Could Have Impact on Ag
Unemployment Proposals Could Have Impact on Ag
Unemployment Proposals Could Have Impact on Ag
Every legislative session, there are bills and proposals in Olympia that don't appear at the onset to impact the farming community.  However, these pieces of legislation can have unintended consequences that have a big impact on ag operations, regardless of the size.  One of ...

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