Wheat Growers Speak to Senate Ag Committee

The Washington Association of Wheat Growers sent a group to speak to the State Senate Ag Committee regarding a bill that would require the Department of Natural Resources give 180 days notice before terminating a lease deal.

Lobbyist Diana Carlen said their message was simple.

“We wanted to make sure that when DNR is entering into leases with farmers that they are negotiating in good faith and being transparent about the leasing process.”

That means if there are other plans for the land that would impact the farmer, that the lease contains that information.

Carlen said she spoke with some of the Senators after the testimony and came away feeling positive.

“They were really grateful to the farmers who came to Olympia and taken the time and traveled so far to tell their story and I think that the legislators were really sympathetic for what these farmers had gone through.”

Carlen said they also had an opportunity to speak with Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz and had what Carlen described as an encouraging conversation about the DNR process.

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