Doug Thomas is president and CEO of Bellingham Cold Storage, so he works with people in both fishing and farming. He says his new group's proposal could be the best way to turn around our region's salmon decline crisis, and he joins Dillon to explain the ins and outs of the fish hatchery project he's modeled after Alaska's hatchery system.

David Lukens, who co-owns Grace Harbor Farms with his parents, teamed up with a friend from church, Jon Maberry of Maberry Packing, to create a delicious new local red raspberry smoothie that's been getting rave reviews and selling out from local stores. David chats with Dillon about how they created the new product, and how Grace Harbor Farms got its start in the specialty dairy business.

"The Farmer's Wifee," Eastern Washington dairy farmer and blogger Krista Stauffer, says telling her farming story on her blog and social media "almost broke" her. She opens up to Dillon about the depression and anxiety that resulted from pervasive online bullying, not just by anti-farming activists, but a much more unexpected source. MORE: https://www.agdaily.com/livestock/farmers-wifee-agricultures-story-broke-me/

Well-known Bellingham environmental advocate Eric Hirst says farmers need to use water more efficiently to protect streams and fish, and he agrees with farmers that Washington State water law is getting in the way of that. Dillon challenges him to do more research on what farmers are already doing to improve the efficiency of their water use.

It's been another busy spring for Washington dairy farmers, cutting & chopping grass, working dirt, planting corn and more... all while keeping the cows happy and healthy! Fourth generation dairy farmer Ashton Beanblossom joins Dillon with the latest from the farm, as well as why she's so outspoken on social media (follow her and her family here: https://www.facebook.com/RTJFARM/)

Sound Pacific Seafoods co-owner and founder Paul Burrill says those in fishing share so many struggles with those in farming, and he sees opportunity for fishers and farmers to work together to sustainably feed the world. He joins Dillon on the heels of a recent public forum where he spoke out about the challenges facing fishing in Washington and Alaska.

Environmental, farming, and conservation experts had collaborated to plan pilot projects to help salmon and protect farmland in Whatcom, Snohomish and Grays Harbor counties. But, WA Gov. Jay Inslee singled the proposal out and deleted it from the larger bill. Grays Harbor farmer Terry Willis joins Dillon to explain why she was so angry about the Governor's actions.

The 2019 Lynden High School FFA Ag Issues team scripted and performed their own simulated radio show tackling major local farming issues including labor, nutrient management and water. Dillon worked with them to record it to be able to share here on the podcast.

Greg Zimmerman with Bellingham's Twin Sisters Brewing Company is pumped for Whatcom Family Farmers' "Meet Your Farmer" event series. He joins Dillon for a beer and chat at the brewery to talk about their support for the series as well as how farmers of any size can apply for their new Farmers Grant Program: https://www.twinsistersbrewing.com/farmers-grant-program/

Olympia wants small wells serving rural homes to have a 500 gal./day limit, and local leaders are worried this would not only be difficult for homeowners, but could spell disaster for many of our areas small organic farms. Loren Vander Yacht and Fred Likkel join Dillon to explain the background.

Dairy farmers are under immense economic and legal pressures right now, leading to heart-wrenching stories of loss -- and even suicide. Former dairy farmer Glen Blankers opens up to Dillon about what it was like when he had to sell his cows this past fall, after nearly 50 years of running his multi-generational family farm near Lynden, Wash.

On Earth Day, millions of people plant trees and other plants to help the environment. Farmers, more than anyone, know the importance of this, and lead the way by example. Dillon talks with Eastern Washington farmer Derek Allred and Whatcom Family Farmers Executive Director Fred Likkel about what farmers are contributing to the health of the planet and to the battle against climate change.

Kyle Van Dyk grew up on a Whatcom County dairy, and eventually ran an 80-head operation with his dad. But when Western Washington pressures made that farm no longer economically sustainable, Van Dyk pulled up stakes and moved to Eastern Washington, where he now works as herd manager for J&K Dairy in Sunnyside.

This winter's late, long cold snap wreaked havoc on Whatcom County's red raspberry plants. Local grower (and Dillon's dad) Randy Honcoop joins us to explain how bad the damage is, what exactly caused it, and what it could mean for farmers already struggling after last year's low prices.

He's unapologetic about speaking the truth on farming, and even though Tillamook, Oregon dairy farmer Derrick Josi knows that's made him a target of critics, he refuses to be silenced. He joins Dillon to explain why he's willing to take the risk of speaking out, and why he's become famous for talking to cows.

Heri Chapula has worked on farms in Washington for decades in a variety of roles, and he joins Dillon to explain why he's against a proposal in Olympia to add a first-of-its-kind state fee on guest workers here via the H-2A visa program.

Whatcom farmers and the Lummi tribe came together in the historic Portage Bay Partnership and turned around a water quality problem that had closed the tribe's shellfish beds. Whatcom Family Farmers Executive Director Fred Likkel joins Dillon to tell this great story of community collaboration and environmental restoration.

With insulting bills and public statements from legislators in Olympia, farmers are getting fed up, and Auburn-area vegetable farmer Rosella Mosby joins Dillon to explain why.

Aneka Sweeney with the Whatcom Conservation District talks with Dillon about today's Whatcom County Small Farm Expo at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds in Lynden.

Labor activists have been in Olympia claiming that guest workers on farms in WA are "uniquely vulnerable to abuse" and are being victimized. Labor policy expert Scott Dilley talks with Dillon about how these accusations are untrue, and what the activists are actually trying to do by misrepresenting the facts.

A Whatcom County dairy farm's manure is being filtered into clean water -- with some good nutrients left over to feed crops, of course. Eric Powell with Regenis joins Dillon to explain the clean water system they're developing at Coldstream Farms in Acme, and how it could revolutionize manure management and protect the environment.

It was supposed to be a minor snow storm. When it turned into a dangerous blizzard, farmers in the Sunnyside area jumped into action, putting their lives on the line to protect their herds and battle the onslaught of high winds, heavy snow and whiteout conditions. But even after doing everything they could for over 24 hours straight, over 1500 cows were dead on over a dozen farms, leaving the families and their crews devastated. One of the farmers, J&K Dairy owner Jason Sheehan, joins Dillon to share the harrowing details of a weekend they say turned their world upside down.

Save Family Farming head Gerald Baron joins Dillon to explain why farmers are heavily invested in orca and salmon recovery, and why they think WA Gov. Jay Inslee's $1.1B plan to save the orcas and salmon will miss the mark.

First-generation vegetable farmer Rosella Mosby is on top of the big issues facing farming in WA, and she's not afraid to speak out. Mosby talks with Dillon about why she's so passionate about farming advocacy, and why she's been invited to speak at the American Farm Bureau convention.

Dr. Nichole Embertson, manure nutrient management expert at Whatcom Conservation District, gives Dillon a preview of some of the key topics she and other leaders will share at their Manure Nutrient Management Training event coming up on Jan. 17.

Is WA Gov. Jay Inslee's plan to save the southern resident killer whales and protect Chinook salmon going to work? Todd Myers, Director of the Center for the Environment at Washington Policy Center, tells Dillon he's skeptical of parts of the plan, and worries that money will be wasted and the economy damaged - including farming - for changes that won't really help Chinook or orcas in meaningful ways.

Sustainable Connections' Food & Farming Program Director Sara Southerland talks with Dillon about how her organization helped local dahlia grower Triple Wren Farms and others realize their dream of starting a farm and growing local food and flowers.

Western Waves Dairy manager Kevin Dougherty joins Dillon to explain the changes they brought to their farm to help improve water quality in the Drayton Harbor Watershed. Their efforts, as well as the work of the Whatcom Conservation District and numerous other land owners, farmers, and organizations helped get the pollution out of Drayton Harbor that had halted shellfish harvest there for years.

Custer-area dahlia grower Triple Wren Farms is finding success with its holistic management practices. Co-owner Sarah Pabody joins Dillon to talk about the approach she and her husband, Steve, take to build soil health and sustainability.

George Boggs, Whatcom Conservation District Executive Director, joins Dillon to talk about honoring Appel Farms' Rich Appel with the prestigious award. It's given to individuals who work within the arena of conservation to foster understanding and partnerships, through community collaborative efforts.

Agricultural markets expert Bill Bryant of Seattle's Bryant Christie Inc. talks with Dillon about trade concerns in the raspberry and blueberry markets. The former WA governor candidate says while the Trump administration's major trade battles haven't directly implicated berry markets so far, they're definitely having an effect on trade.

Jason Sheehan, Sunnyside-area dairy farmer, talks with Dillon about Eastern Washington family farmers getting together to increase their advocacy efforts and build unity across the farming community.

For years, many who have heard about fecal coliform pollution in Whatcom County's waters have pointed the finger at dairy farming. But experts say the pollution isn't necessarily coming from dairy manure. Dr. Nichole Embertson, Science and Planning Coordinator for the Whatcom Conservation District's Sustainable Livestock Production Program, talks with Dillon about the DNA research she's helping to coordinate to build a database that can help scientists find the real sources of fecal coliform pollution.

Tom Nelson, fisheries biologist, fisherman and co-host of The Outdoor Line on Seattle's 710 ESPN is outraged that politics is getting in the way of doing the right thing for salmon and for the southern resident killer whales that eat them. He talks with Dillon about the elephant in the room that WA Gov. Jay Inslee's Orca Recovery Task Force is all but ignoring, and he says he understands farmers' frustration with this.

WSU's Dr. Jen McIntyre has researched how pollution in stormwater from urban areas is killing coho salmon, and she talks with Dillon about the importance of protecting open spaces to filter water and improve water quality in streams. McIntyre says she's excited to see partnerships developing between farming and environmental groups to protect fish and tackle pollution that comes from our cities.

Dan Wood, Washington State Dairy Federation Executive Director, talks with Dillon about the decision from the Gov. Inslee-appointed WA Polllution Control Hearings Board on the state's new rules for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). The PCHB rejected virtually all claims made by anti-farming activists that had argued that "Washington burns with manure pollution," and that dairy farming in the state is largely unregulated, saying instead that the current dairy regulations are working to protect water quality.

WSU Whatcom County Extension Specialist Chris Benedict gives Dillon the lowdown on plans for this year's Washington Small Fruit Conference planned for Nov. 28-30 at the Northwest Washington Fairground's Washington Tractor Arena in Lynden https://www.wasmallfruit.com/

Environmental consultant David Haggith tells Dillon about nutrient management, soil sampling, and protecting water quality around farms. He's a partner in environmental consulting firm N3, and he explains the history of Washington's dairy nutrient management regulations and how that led to the formation of N3.

US dairy farmers' frustrations with Canada's trade practices ended up being a key part of a tentative deal recently struck between the two countries. Locally-based but nationally syndicated dairy markets columnist Lee Mielke joins Dillon to explain what we know so far about what the Trump administration put in the deal to help US dairy producers, and why those farmers were frustrated with Canada in the first place.

Former "eco-radical activist" and author Dan Dagget joins Dillon to explain how cattle are not environmental villains, but nature's way of preserving and restoring the health of soil and land.

Farmers are supporting new fish-fish friendly floodgates being installed on their property, and Whatcom Conservation District Resource Coordinator Frank Corey talks with Dillon about how they are a win-win for farming and fish.

Randy Kortus is being recognized with the Distinguished Dairy Cattle Breeder Award, and he talks with Dillon about the key to his success, as well as explaining why the honor is bittersweet for him and his family.

It's corn chopping season, and independent dairy nutritionist and dairy farmer John Vander Veen joins Dillon to explain why that field corn crop that's being harvested is so crucial to cow's health and the the milk that they produce.

Small family farms in the upper Skagit Valley are being threatened by non-native elk that continue to multiply, consume farmers crops and destroy property. Bill Schmidt, Skagit County Farm Bureau President and Randy Goode, Skagit County Cattlemen's Association Vice President join Dillon to explain what created the problem, and what they want the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife to do about it.

Gavin Willis, new Whatcom Family Farmers Outreach Coordinator, joins Dillon to talk about this weekend's farm tour as well as his vision for getting the community more connected to farming.

Save Family Farming filed a complaint with the Evergreen State College in April after reviewing photos and videos clearly documenting Evergreen vehicles present at the 2017 political protests in Sumas, where labor activists falsely accused a blueberry farm of causing the death of a farmworker. State Reps. Luanne Van Werven and Vincent Buys join Dillon to react to the college president's admission and apology that state resources were used inappropriately.

Farming needs water. But so do fish, and the tribes whose culture is built around both fish and water. Can all coexist in Whatcom County? Ag Water Board Executive Director Henry Bierlink says they can, but it's going to take some work.

After thousands of coho salmon, steelhead, trout, crayfish, and other aquatic life became stranded by a blockage in Double Ditch stream, Twin Brook Creamery co-owners Larry Stap and Mark Tolsma jumped into action, shutting off crop irrigation to instead pump water into the stream to keep the threatened fish alive until the blockage could be removed.