Save Family Farming

Farmers are demanding transparency from the EPA and the U.S. Department of Justice and a perceived campaign against Washington’s Ag industry.  Dillon Honcoop with Save Family Farming said public records indicate EPA has been pressuring Washington state agencies behind the scenes to assist their attacks on farms, specifically Lower Yakima Valley dairies.  Honcoop added...

On Tuesday, we told you the state of Washington achieved Stage Four status in the USDA’s National Milk Testing Strategy program.  The designation means the state’s dairy herd is free of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.   Markus Rolli...

As lawmakers in Olympia continue to debate ag labor, ag overtime and potential fixes for both issues, Save Family Farming says it’s vital ag country continues to speak up.  Dillon Honcoop with SFF said it’s an old adage but it’s true, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.  And he said, especially w...

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...

Farmworkers from across Washington gathered in Olympia on Tuesday February 4th, to speak about the harm the state’s new overtime law has caused.  Linda Vargas was one of those who participated in last week’s rally.  She said, while ag overt...

A recent decision by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold an EPA’s preliminary injunction against a group of Yakima Valley dairies means those dairies must continue to test for nitrate contamination.  That recent ruling follows an appeal by the dairy farms against a previous court order mandating the expanded tests.   Larry ...

Save Family Farming is calling on the Trump EPA Administrator nominee, former New York representative Lee Zeldin, if confirmed, to stop EPA Region 10 assault on family farming.  Save Family Farming’s Dillon Honcoop said the problem with Region 10 is not the political appointees, but rather the long-time staff and their ongoing treatment of Washington agriculture.  Honcoop point...

It’s been nearly a year since Ben Tindall took over as the Executive Director of Save Family Farming.  He said while the past eight months have been a steep learning curve, one of the issues that’s stuck out with him is communication.  He said the farming...

The Ag community is worried proposed changes to how water wells are governed in Washington could lead to a shortage of farmworker housing.  The proposal from the Washington Department of Health would add small shared water wells including those used for farmworker housing.  Dillion...

Farm workers and their advocates say they won't’ be silenced, after two Washington state Senators allegedly manipulated testimony during a hearing in Olympia.  According to Save Family Farming, state Senator Rebecca Saldaña, began translating the testimony of Spanish-speaking workers into English, and reportedly manipulated those words and adding her own editorializing comments during a Senate Lab