Posts by Guest Author
Farmers may find benefits in retirement plans for employees
Employer-sponsored retirement plans aren’t just for big corporations. Even farmers with only a few employees might find there are benefits and advantages to offering a retirement plan. What are the advantages to having an employer-sponsored retirement plan? There are many options, but the most popular tend to be a Simplified Employer Pension (SEP) or SEP…
Read MoreThe Farmer
The road, up the hill, came to a “T”And I stopped at the red sign.After judging it was all clear for meI drove to my side of the line. Straight ahead, the focus of my stareUntil the view on the horizonCentered my thoughts on a fair pairOf plots highlighted by the sun. The left field…
Read MoreSuccessful asset allocation means different things at different times
What is asset allocation, and why is it important for farmers to get it right? Jordan Thayer, a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley, breaks it down. Define assets in this context. Essentially, asset allocation is the decision surrounding what percentage of your investments should be in stocks vs. bonds vs. farmland vs. heavy equipment vs.…
Read MoreIt’s all about the water
I have seen it work. As a graduate student, I researched cover crops in a California dryland wheat system, comparing a wheat-fallow system to one with a cover crop replacing fallow (McGuire et al., 1998). A wet winter allowed for successful wheat yields in both systems. However, research results suggest that this is often the…
Read MoreSigned
Nestled among rolling hills in Lincoln County, Harrington, Wash., is a town with a small population but surprising momentum. Turn-of-the-century buildings are in the process of being renovated, including the Electric Hotel and the former U.S. Bank building. Local businesses line the main street — you can buy a pair of jeans, get coffee, play…
Read MoreA deep dive into advocacy
Earlier this year, I was given the opportunity to join the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) in lobbying for our farmers at both the state and federal level. During both trips, I was able to meet with legislators, create meaningful connections with many new people, and experience how our government works in person. Working…
Read MoreLearning the ropes
Sometimes, when you sign up for something, you’re not sure what you are getting into. I thought I might be a good fit for the role of a wheat ambassador for the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) due to my FFA experiences in public speaking, but I had no idea the opportunities that the…
Read MoreFinancial assistance available to growers
Wheat growers across Washington interested in enhancing their natural resources have a second opportunity this year to apply for financial assistance. A new application window opened Feb. 24 for producers to apply for Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) assistance through the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (IRA-EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (IRA-CSP).…
Read MoreIn stitches
Oct. 1, 2022, dawned cool and crisp over the grounds of the Menno Mennonite Church. Located 20 miles west of Ritzville, Wash., the church property is a shady, green oasis surrounded by wheat fields and is home to the Mennonite Country Auction. This year marked the 45th year of the Mennonite Country Auction, and it…
Read MoreHarvest season brings harvest stress
As the dog days of summer roll on, rural towns all around Washington are buzzing with tractors, trucks and other farm machinery. To those in the throes of harvest, it’s the accumulation of all their hard-earned efforts, and with that comes an intense and stressful season. Nearly all of the stressors that affect agricultural production…
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