washington legislature

The Washington State Tree Fruit Association has thrown its support behind two pieces of legislation looking to address ag overtime.  Jon DeVaney has the latest.   If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@to...

Proposed legislation in the Washington state Senate would provide a sales and use tax exemption for qualifying farm machinery and equipment purchases.  Under Senate Bill 5092, the equipment must have a minimum price tag of $10,000, while the farmer must have a gross income of less than $2 million.  Jesse Johnso...

Last week, the Washington Tree Fruit sector took to Olympia to focus on legislative issues and the impact they will have on growers, packers and workers.  Jon DeVaney, President of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association said staff joined 41 volunteers for Tree Fruit Day, an effort to educate lawmakers about an industry that employs over 68,000 people and produces approximately $3 billion in a

Republican Assistant Minority Floor Leader Chris Corry of Yakima says his party was shut out of negotiations over.

Jon DeVaney, president of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association, said as growers get geared up for another growing season, he and many others in the industry are optimistic about what 2023 holds in store.   “I think so. If only b...

Unfortunately, it’s a familiar theme at many fairgrounds across the state of Washington; rundown facilities that have seen better days.  But the state Department of Agriculture is trying to help address some of those needs.  The Washington State Department of Agriculture and the State Legislature recognize the importance of Washington’s fairgrounds, especially to the rural, more remote locations a

The Washington Farm Bureau named Republican state Senator Brad Hawkins, from East Wenatchee, a 2022 Champion of Agriculture.   “I'm super honored to receive this recognition from the Farm Bureau I'm proud of my 100% voting record in support of our orchardist and farming families because standing with them on their issues benefits all of us.”   ...

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