Tom Dent

Legislation supporters say will provide the Washington State Beef Commission clear direction on their priorities and improve transparency of its financial operation was signed into law by Governor Jay Inlsee last week.  Representative Tom Dent sponsored House Bill 2073, and he said it was a multi-year effort between farmers, ranchers and others in the beef industry.  The lon...

The Washington regular legislative session came to a close Sunday.  Moses Lake Republican Tom Dent, a cattle farmer himself, says the 2017 session was good for the agriculture industry.   “This is the most productive session I’ve had, and even for agriculture and serving on the ag committee, I feel like this is a top session for me.”   Dent said i...

Representative Tom Dent says his Small Forest landowners Legislation, now headed to Governor Jay Inslee for his signature, will help property owners stave off catastrophic wildfire.   The Moses Lake Republican says livestock owners across the state looking to clear property of ladder fuels, those that can make a small wildfire large, ran into red tape.  Fi...

Legislation giving irrigation districts across Washington the authority to enter into private-public partnerships unanimously passed the state House last week.  Prime Sponsor Tom Dent says this allows more control at the local level.   “Basically, what they’d like to do is build some more power generating stations in our canals.  We have all of that...

A bill that cleared the Washington state House this session, would change the priority of how Beef Check-off dollars are used.  Representative Tom Dent, one of the chief sponsors of HB 2073, told the Washington Ag Network the discussions started last year in the Senate, where lawmakers discussed altering the check-off’s priorities.  Dent sai...

Earlier this week, the state House took action commissioning a pilot project looking to reduce highway collisions with elk.  The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife says a manageable population for the Colockum elk herd in Kittitas County is about 4,500.  Bu...

State Representative Tom Dent says he believes the relationship between the agriculture community and DNR will improve, thanks to the Department’s new head, Hilary Franz.  Dent said DNR already has a deep relationship with the ag community, so it’s vital the two are on the same page.   “She al...

Legislation by Representative Tom Dent creating an Elk Management Pilot Project in Kittitas County has cleared the House Ag Committee.  Dent says because of the dramatic increase in elk populations nearly I-90, many farmers have suffered damage to their property by elk moving through the area.  ...

What are the key issues lawmakers in Olympia will discuss in January?  Ask state Representative Tom Dent and he’ll tell you water issues, specifically, the Hirst decision will be front and center.  The Moses Lake Republican told the Washington Ag Network many across the ag community are very concerned about the Supreme Court’s decision, and the impacts it could have.   “We’re putti...

Late last month, Washington State Representative Tom Dent presented Miss Rodeo America Katherine Merck with a House resolution honoring her achievements.  Dent said there were several reasons he proposed the resolution for the Spokane native.  Fi...