As WA Gov. Jay Inslee's plan for mandatory stream buffers moves forward, Tom Davis, Washington Farm Bureau Director of Government Relations, tells Dillon that studies show the ill-conceived proposal would not benefit salmon the way its backers claim. In fact, he explains how the idea could ultimately harm salmon recovery efforts. The plan is up for a hearing this week in a state House of Representatives committee, and Davis is urging people to speak out against the proposal due to the vast harm it would cause to farming across the state.

A plan that would virtually end farming in Western Washington is moving forward in Olympia, and Jay Gordon is back to talk with Dillon about how the proposal continues to worsen as it begins its journey through the legislative process in Olympia.

Dillon lays out the initial details of the Whatcom farming community's call for leaders to pursue any and all worthwhile solutions for the Nooksack Basin's water management crisis, to not only prevent devastating floods like November's, but also to protect fish from drought conditions in dry summer months.

When temperatures plunge, wind howls and snow flies, dairy farms don't get to shut down until conditions are better. So all the hard work that happens every day on the farm gets that much harder. Brianna DeBruin, Herd Manager at Everson-area Van Dellen Farms, shares with Dillon the various challenges they've faced in this winter's cold spell so far.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is proposing new laws to force mandatory, inflexible buffers along all streams in the state, despite a state Fish & Wildlife study showing such requirements can be harmful. Jay Gordon, Washington State Dairy Federation Policy Director, tells Dillon that if Inslee gets his way, he could end up harming the very streams he claims to protect.

Record low stream levels in late summer killed thousands of fish in the Nooksack river, leading to claims of lack of water in the Nooksack Basin. But just a few short months later, historic flooding inundated farmland and towns in north Whatcom County, causing widespread devastation. Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers Executive Director, joins Dillon to explain how this proves that the basin does not have a water supply problem--it has a water management problem.

Long-range weather models have been showing the potential for lowland snow in the Pacific Northwest, but as meteorologist and blogger Rufus La Lone tells Dillon, it's not yet clear just how much winter weather could be on the way.

In a bizarre move in the wake of November's historic flooding, Bellingham-based activist group Community to Community Development began a call to defund an emergency shelter near Sumas for flood victims (see their Facebook post here https://bit.ly/3oThMYE). Why would they push to take away this emergency resource for community members who lost everything in the flood? Because the activist group falsely claims the farm whose worker housing is being used as the emergency shelter killed a farm worker nearly a half-decade ago. Dillon explains how deep Community to Community's deception goes, and just how much harm they're attempting to cause merely to try to prove a ridiculous political point.

As floodwaters raged through Sumas, WA, shutting down the EPL feed mill there, competitor Cargill Animal Nutrition in Ferndale suddenly faced the weight of attempting to support the feed needs of not only their dairy customers, but EPL's as well. Roger Eytzen, sales manager at the Ferndale mill, joins Dillon to share what was happening behind the scenes to make sure cattle didn't go hungry during the historic November 2021 flooding.

Historic flooding on the Nooksack River last week affected farms from Ferndale through Lynden, Everson, Nooksack and Sumas. Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers Executive Director, joins Dillon with a rundown of the various impacts being talked about in the local farming community, including looming feed shortages, damaged farms, cattle moved to high ground, farmers forced to dump milk, and more.

This week's news that India's government will reverse course on controversial new farming laws that sparked over a year of deadly protests has the local Punjabi community celebrating. Lynden-area blueberry farmer Khush Brar and local realtor Raj Grewal join Dillon with details on what happened, and what it means for farmers in India as well as here in Whatcom County.

The pandemic turbocharged an already-growing trend of consumer interest in local food, but bottlenecks in the system and other difficulties face beef producers in Whatcom County and Western Washington. Producer Branden Brink joins Dillon with a closer look at the challenges that remain.

Highlighting the sustainability of beef produced in Washington state was a focus of this year's Washington Cattlemen's Association Annual Convention in Kennewick. Dillon sat down with Ashley House, the group's Executive Director, to discuss the latest issues facing beef producers in the state.

Radical labor activist groups pressured Washington state government into a "fool's errand" in a failed bid to hamper farms' ability to hire foreign guest workers, wafla director Dan Fazio tells Dillon. He explains how the ruse was supposed to work, and says the truth is the opposite of the activists' doomsday narrative, and he shares how foreign guest workers here in WA via the federal H-2A program have been well-protected against COVID, on top of earning life-changing income to bring to their families back in their home countries.

People involved in farming who are experiencing health struggles-- including injuries, disabilities, and even mental health issues--have many resources available to help them. But finding and connecting with them isn't always easy, and WA AgrAbility coordinator Kristen Hinton-Vanvalkenburg tells Dillon that's what the program was designed to help with.

In a recent ruling on key dairy regulations, a state court cited data blaming dairy composting for massive groundwater contamination. As Jay Gordon with the Washington State Dairy Federation tells Dillon, the study that the data purportedly came from never even happened, leaving major questions about the validity of the court's ruling.

Raspberry and blueberry farmer Todd Van Mersbergen faced some challenging days during the 2021 harvest season, as did most other Whatcom County berry growers. He talks with Dillon about how this summer's damaging 'heat dome' weather phenomenon caused widespread damage and crop loss.

Despite activists continuing to claim that no farm worker shortage exists in Washington, a recent effort by the state's Employment Security Department turned up no new qualified workers for farming. Dillon explains how this new information further dismantles the dishonest narrative of labor activists, and exposes again their harmful agenda.

Local farmers are unveiling a just-completed fish habitat restoration project that has re-opened miles of salmon stream on a tributary of the Nooksack River. Dillon talks with engineer Dale Buys about how the project installed a state-of-the-art fish-friendly floodgate that will allow salmon to again live and spawn in what is known as Duffner Ditch, which winds through productive farmland southwest of Lynden and connects with Bertrand Creek just before reaching the Nooksack River.

Bi-Zi Farms near Vancouver, WA may be forced to shut down after the WA Department of Ecology decided to punish the farm over technicalities on their ability to use water from the farm's well that's been in use for over a century. Owner Bill Zimmerman tells Dillon how despite their best efforts to satisfy Ecology's desires, state bureaucrats have provided no possible pathway for the small family farm to solve the legal issues. Dillon points out how Bi-Zi's situation is a likely harbinger of what could happen to many farms in Whatcom County as a result of the state's proposed water rights adjudication lawsuit.

Farmers in Whatcom County and across the west are increasingly looking to California-based Altrac for high-tech options for remotely controlling and automating operations on their farms. Neil Schultz, Altrac Product Manager, joins Dillon to explain how their systems work, and how farmers are using them to do a better job of growing crops while also reducing labor costs.

Energy efficiency improvements can save lots of money on a farm, and a local program helping businesses find changes to make, as well as grants and programs to pay for the changes, is reaching out to the Whatcom farming community. Emily Larson Kubiak, Sustainable Connections' Energy Program Manager, joins Dillon to explain how it works, and just how affordable the service is right now.

A farm-to-table bike ride around northern Whatcom County will bring bicyclists to several local farms. Organizer Connor Herron tells Dillon that participants will get to chat with farmers directly and learn more about how food is grown here.

Years in the making, the Farming For Life Experience in the Northwest Washington Fair's new Farm Pavilion is finally taking shape, just in time for the 2021 Fair. Designer David Lackey shares with Dillon details from the exhibit's journey from concept to reality.

A brand new novel, Sugar Birds, is set in a fictionalized version of Whatcom County's small farming community, circa 1985. Author Cheryl Bostrom talks with Dillon about her inspiration for the book, including the experiences of her local veterinarian husband.

A delay in Gov. Inslee providing help to farmers suffering from drought conditions has the WA farming community asking some big questions about his real motives, Pam Lewison with the Washington Policy Center tells Dillon.

As drought conditions worsen and stream flows plummet in the wake of an historic heatwave, Whatcom Family Farmers' Fred Likkel tells Dillon farmers are calling for all parties involved in local water issues to come together to collaborate on urgently-needed solutions to the Nooksack River basin’s water management problems to help fish and local food production.

Major questions about the state's proposed water rights adjudications remain unanswered, says 42nd district state Sen. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, and he's putting pressure on the state Department of Ecology to provide answers. He joins Dillon to explain why the state legislature can't OK spending millions of dollars on the proposed court cases if Ecology hasn't been transparent about the process and its troubled history.

A local environmental activist, well known for his involvement in Whatcom water issues and court cases, criticized farmers in a recent letter published in the Lynden Tribune. Now, Whatcom County Ag Water Board administrator Henry Bierlink is pushing back with his own letter, saying activist Eric Hirst is missing the truth and supporting a hypocritical position.

Unprecedented high temperatures at the end of June scorched berry crops in Whatcom County, and grower Paul Sangha joins Dillon to describe the impact the damage has been having on the ongoing harvest.

Dairies should not be forced to put double synthetic liners in their manure storage lagoons, and the current rules for clay lagoon liners are protective of groundwater, according to a new ruling on Washington state's rules for concentrated animal feeding operations. But Dan Wood, Washington State Dairy Federation director, joins Dillon to explain how the ruling misses the mark in other ways, including rules for manure application timing in Eastern Washington that aren't supported by science.

Forty-four years of legal wrangling continue in the Yakima River Basin, as the Washington State Department of Ecology pushes to start a similar legal process in Whatcom County's Nooksack River Basin. Capital Press reporter Don Jenkins joins Dillon with details on the latest legal appeals filed in the Yakima water rights adjudication, and how the situation is a cautionary tale for those asking for the same process to be used on an even more complicated situation on the Nooksack.

A dangerous heat wave is bearing down on the Pacific Northwest, and meteorologist Rufus La Lone joins Dillon to talk about how bad it could get, and the potential for major damage to crops and farms.

With drier-than-normal conditions for much of the spring, Whatcom County farmers were able to get crops planted early. Clay Pehl, agronomist for CHS Northwest, joins Dillon with an update on what's happening out in the local fields.

Even as Washington state began phasing out many COVID restrictions in early 2021, they continued some strict requirements for farms and worker housing. Wafla director Dan Fazio tells Dillon this was despite a 100% vaccination rate among guest worker crews. He shares the results of a lawsuit his organization and others filed against the unfair restrictions.

Despite the WA Department of Ecology's march toward a massive court case to hammer out Whatcom water rights issues, a much better option of community collaboration is still possible and desperately needed. Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers Executive Director, joins Dillon with an update on the issue now that the state budget has been finalized, including funding for "pre-adjudication work."

In arguing for a new capital gains tax in WA, some lawmakers circulated a political talking point that suggested that farmers work "less than half time." Pam Lewison, Washington Policy Center's Initiative on Agriculture Director, joins Dillon to explain why the farming community is outraged at the offensive statement, and how hypocritical its perspective is considering the recent farming overtime legislation passed in Olympia.

Labor activists are claiming victory after WA Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill phasing in overtime pay requirements for farming. But the truth is a much different story, as Gerald Baron, Save Family Farming Executive Director, explains, showing that the new law sadly doesn't benefit farm workers the way activists claim.

Can't find processing for your meat animals? While waitlists for processing grow longer by the day with the COVID pandemic turbocharging consumers' already growing shift toward local meat, an Everson startup has a solution that could turn the world of meat processing on its head. Bob Lodder, president and founder of Friesla, joins Dillon to explain how his company's modular meat processing system can give farmers and ranchers a way to take back control and process their own USDA-approved meat right on the farm.

In spite of the pressures facing farming, and the COVID pandemic causing major challenges for education, Gerrit Van Weerdhuizen, ag teacher and FFA advisor at Lynden Christian High School, says he's had his "best year ever" in over four decades of teaching. He talks with Dillon to explain why.

While the phase-in of overtime pay in all of farming in Washington will be difficult for both farms and farm workers, the alternative could have been much more damaging, says Scott Dilley with the Washington State Dairy Federation. Dilley joined Dillon to discuss the details of the state legislature's recent compromise measure after several political twists and turns.

Pointing to complaints about smell, noise, and light pollution, the Whatcom County Council recently put a temporary ban on new outdoor cannabis farming operations, saying new restrictions need to be considered. The lone council member opposed to the ban, Custer-area farmer Ben Elenbaas, joins Dillon to explain why he's concerned about a dangerous slippery slope that could also hinder many other kinds of local farmers' ability to produce food and fiber.

As local farmers look for new crops to grow and include in crop rotations, a plant traditionally grown much more extensively in Eastern Washington is making its way west. Nick Schultheis of Quincy, WA-based Farmer Bean & Seed chats with Dillon about black beans and the unique challenges and opportunities of growing them in Western Washington.

When vegetable processing facilities left Whatcom County decades ago, so did the crops that had for many years provided diverse opportunities for local farmers and their farmland. Now, as major local crops face uncertainty, Whatcom farmers are looking for other options to keep farmland in production. Canadian food processor Yasir Shah of BC Frozen Foods just north of Sumas in Mission, BC, joins Dillon to explain that different land pressures north of the border are spurring them to look at growing and processing vegetables here in the US, including possibly in Whatcom County.

Protection for farmers being sued despite following state wage laws moved a big step closer to reality, but the battle isn't over yet, Pam Lewison, Washington Policy Center's Initiative on Agriculture Director tells Dillon. She joins him with details on the legislation's roller coaster ride of good and bad changes, and what still needs to be fixed as the measure makes its way toward the next big hurdle. Her blog post on the effort's current status is here: https://www.washingtonpolicy.org/publications/detail/relationship-status-with-essb-5172-its-complicated

Now is the time to tell state lawmakers not to fund a deeply damaging state lawsuit, called an "adjudication," against all Whatcom water rights holders, says Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers Executive Director. Instead, he says the state should put it's support behind a constructive, collaborative process that the local farming community is supporting. He joins Dillon with an update on where the state's bad adjudication plan stands right now, and how the harmful effort could easily be redirected toward a positive process that brings the community together around salmon recovery and local food, rather than dividing neighbor against neighbor in a decades-long court process.

The twists and turns continue in the state Senate negotiations over a bill to protect farmers from being forced to pay crippling penalties despite having followed state wage laws. Dan Wood, Washington State Dairy Federation Executive Director, joins Dillon with an update on the effort to block farm-killing lawsuits demanding unfair retroactive backpay.

"I am certain without [lawmakers’ action], family-owned orchards, specifically those that are owned by minorities or disadvantaged farmers, will become a thing of the past,” Flor de Maria Maldonado recently told a Washington state Senate committee. She grew up as a farm worker, and now with her family runs a small orchard in Tonasket, Wash. She joins Dillon to explain why the plan to penalize farmers despite the fact that they followed state law on overtime would put her family's farm out of business.