Last month, wheat representatives visited state legislators and agencies to talk about the industry’s priorities during the Washington Association of Wheat Growers’ (WAWG) annual Olympia Days trip. Cookies were involved. “Growers spent two impactful days in Olympia, advocating for critical issues like tax exemptions and the Climate Commitment Act fuel…
Best-selling Western author and conservationist Zane Grey (1872-1939) is considered the father of the modern Western novel. He wrote some 300 short stories and 80 books. Grey’s writing was known for idealizing the American frontier spirit with archetypal characters inhabiting moral landscapes who exemplified the Code of the West —…
There’s an old saying around here that “it takes two to tango.” I’m sure most of you have heard it tossed around the coffee shop or used one way or another. In the Washington state wheat industry, it’s more accurate to say that it takes three to tango. Three organizations,…
Glad tidings and happy new year! Yes, we’re into February, but it’s still the new year, yes? I don’t believe “you have just 330 +/- shopping days until Christmas” would be preferred, though I’ve been wrong before. Let’s chat about premium subsidies for multiperil crop insurance and the basic premise…
Not many people are fortunate enough to have their career employment place them in locations where they can indulge their favorite hobbies to the extreme. Keith Griswold would qualify as one of those few. His conservation career has included stops in Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, and Washington state. An avid hunter…
On Nov. 7, the Natural Resources Conservation Services in Washington (NRCS-WA) implemented the Act Now policy. Through this program, NRCS-WA can quickly approve and obligate a ranked application in a designated ranking pool when an eligible application meets or exceeds a state-determined, minimum threshold ranking score. Applications are ranked according…
The value of Washington’s 2023 agricultural production totaled $14 billion, up almost 6% from the previous record high of $13.2 billion in 2022. The value of Washington’s crop production in 2023 was $7.71 billion, down about 10% from the record high value of $8.56 billion in 2022. The value of…
On Jan. 13, 2025, the Washington State Legislature will be back in session. There will be a lot of new faces, including a new governor (Bob Ferguson), commissioner of public lands (Dave Upthegrove), and a couple dozen new legislators. The Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) will need to do…
This year’s slate of Agricultural Marketing and Management Organization’s (AMMO) winter sessions will focus on mental health, weeds, local and global markets, and U.S. Department of Agriculture agency updates. “Our goal each year with the AMMO program is to bring information that is important and relevant to growers,” said KayDee…
As we turn the calendar to 2025, we embrace not just a new year, but the promise of new beginnings. This year, with significant changes in Congress, we have reason to hope for the substantial progress our agricultural community needs. Chief among our priorities is the passage of a comprehensive…
