Posts by Gil Crosby
A 6-month perspective
I first want to wish all wheat farmers a safe and bountiful harvest. As I reflect on my first six months as president of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG), I want to thank all of the previous presidents for the time and dedication they invested while moving through the chairs. I am sure…
Read MoreSafety shouldn’t be an afterthought
Growing up on a farm, all of us heard our parents yell from a distance, “Be careful!” Being around farm equipment, I’m sure we’ve all had close calls — and sometimes not-so-close calls. When we are younger, farm safety is mostly just a warning to keep us from getting hurt. As we get older, though,…
Read MoreDon’t overlook mental health wellness
This month’s column, focusing on mental health in agriculture, is a bit of a challenge to tackle. It’s a crucial issue that we should all be mindful of, especially given the current state of the industry. It’s important for us to look after our own mental well-being and support our fellow farmers and community members.…
Read MoreRemembering why we farm
Lately, we’ve been hearing a lot of negative, doom-and-gloom talk, and to be fair, some of it is deserved. Costs are high, markets are unpredictable, and it can feel like farmers are constantly being squeezed from every direction. Still, agriculture has always had its ups and downs, and sometimes it’s worth stepping back and remembering…
Read MoreSearching for financial viability in today’s ag
Washington agriculture has long been a cornerstone of the state’s economy. Today, however, the question facing farmers is not how much we can produce, but whether we can remain financially viable while doing so. One of the biggest challenges is rising input costs, while wheat prices remain roughly the same as they were 40 years…
Read MoreSocial media helping spread misinformation
I’m sure almost everyone has scrolled through social media and come across a post, video, or article that made them stop and think, “can this really be true?” I experience this reaction with nearly every topic I see online. While some of the general information may be accurate, most of the details are skewed, misinterpreted,…
Read MoreShowing up matters the most
If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a farmer tries to navigate the maze of state and federal politics, you are in the right place. Working in Olympia and Washington, D.C., has taught me that the distance between a farm and lawmakers is far greater than the miles on a map. I have watched how…
Read MoreWhy do I farm?
Over the years, I’ve lost count of how many times someone has asked me, “Why do you farm?” Is it the long hours, the hard work, the low pay, or maybe the camaraderie of having a beer cooler in the back of every pickup? For me, the answer is simple. I farm because it makes…
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