washington legislature

Just a few months after the state of Washington began its first year of requiring time-and-a-half to farmworkers, Oregon has its own version of Ag overtime on the books. And, according to Pam Lewison with the Washington Policy Center, Oregon’s bill is better than Washington’s bill. “Th ...

Many in the farming community are well aware of the urban-rural divide that exists not just in the Northwest, but across the country. But where does the blame for the divide belong? Some say the media in larger, more metropolitan areas deserve much of that blame ...

Wheat prices are higher year-over-year, but despite that increase these are trying times for growers. “We have a price volatility factor going on right now because of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and on top of that, we have inputs that are going through the roof, such as our fertilizer and fuel which has nearly doubled or tripped," said Michelle Hennings is Executive Director of the Washingto

In today's Focus On Fruit, Jon DeVaney, Executive Director of the Washington state Tree Fruit Association, shares his thoughts on the 2022 Washington legislative session. If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekmedia... Read More ...

The 2022 Washington Legislative session wrapped up Thursday, and according to Representative Tom Dent, lawmakers addressed a lot of bad legislation that could have harmed farmers and ranchers statewide. But, he noted, thankfully much of that legislation did not come to fruition ...

The 2022 session, according to the Washington Farm Bureau, has not been one that has been favorable for family farms across the Evergreen state. Tom Davis, Director of Government Relations with the Farm Bureau said conservation issues were especially challenging this year ...

On Wednesday, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed into law a bill that established overtime for the Ag community. The new law will step the hours per week need to trigger overtime until it hits 40 hours in early 2024. Colfax Republican Joe Schmick said for him, that Ag overtime legislation was the biggest win for the farming community during the virtual session ...

Over the weekend, Washington lawmakers approved a cap and trade bill, which opponents say will cost consumers more money and the state jobs. Colfax Representative Joe Schmick said there are a lot of exemptions, such as Ag fuel, but it may not be that way long after the bill is put into law ...

Over the weekend, Washington lawmakers approved a two-year state capital budget, House Bill 1080. Several farm focused projects across the state will get funding in the upcoming biennium, including: $4.2 million for Sunnyside Valley Irrigation District $300,000 for the Selah-Moxee Irrigation District $235,000 for the Yakima Valley Fair in Grandview $5 Million in Funding for East Low 22 ... Read

The farming community is encouraged to prepare now for the 2021 Washington legislative session which gets underway next month. Bre Elsey, Director of Government Relations for the Washington Farm Bureau, said there are several issues that should be of concern for the farming community; outside of the fact that the session will be conducted remotely ...