advocacy

Late last month, Washington Association of Wheat Growers President Anthony Smith joined Washington Grain Commission Chairman Ben Barstow in supporting the Port of Tacoma’s petition to eradicate an invasive snail. Cernuella virgata, also called the vineyard snail, was first detected at the Port in 2005. The snails feed on and contaminate…

By Michelle Hennings Executive Director, Washington Association of Wheat Growers Boy, does time fly by.  I can’t believe it’s already time for my executive director column. The past six months have been busy with travel, meetings, and working many issues. We’ve done farm bill fly-ins to Washington, D.C.; participated in…

Two high school seniors have been selected to represent Washington wheat farmers and will serve as the Washington Wheat Ambassadors for the upcoming year. Samantha Holling of Fairfield and Izabella Myers of Latah were selected after an initial written application process that included submitting a short introductory video. Holling and…

Last month in Washington, D.C., leaders and staff of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) met with members of the state’s federal delegation during a National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) farm bill fly-in. “D.C. is currently bustling with farm bill talks. We were able to meet with most…

Last month, Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) leaders and staff joined more than a dozen Washington agricultural stakeholders on a trip to Washington, D.C., to celebrate the state’s incredible ag industry at the 4th annual Taste of Washington event. The group included representatives from the Washington State Department of…

Michelle Hennings, executive director of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) testified June 26, 2023, in front of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries regarding the importance of the Columbia Snake River System, and the Lower Snake River Dams in particular, for wheat farmers in…

The Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) joined with other Pacific Northwest agricultural stakeholders in sending a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, outlining concerns over increasing rhetoric at the federal level on breaching the lower Snake River dams and highlighting the importance of the entire Columbia-Snake River System to…

The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) awarded Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.) with its 2022 Wheat Leader of the Year Award for his work as Chair of the House Agriculture Committee during the 117th Congress. NAWG President Nicole Berg presented the award to Rep. Scott during a recent visit to Washington,…

From the Capital Press Palouse, Wash., farmer Ben Barstow will chair the Washington Grain Commission for the next two years. “It’s a small group, and everybody eventually has to take a turn,” Barstow told the Capital Press. Barstow took over as chairman during the commission board meeting Jan. 12. He…

By Michelle HenningsExecutive Director, Washington Association of Wheat Growers Happy New Year!!  We just wrapped up the 2022 Tri-State Grain Growers Convention last month, and what a SUCCESS! Our attendance was better than it’s been for many years. It was great to be back networking with farmers. The convention featured…