Save Family Farming

Why These Farmers Are Headed To WA Supreme Court

Without following its own rules, the state of Washington nearly a decade ago fined a Moses Lake-area family crop farm more than a half-million dollars over a water technicality and arbitrary missed deadline. Although it’s cost them most of their farm and almost put them out of business, the the farmers wrongly targeted by the Washington State Department of Ecology have fought back, and now their case will officially go to the highest court in the state. Ron and Robin Fode, along with attorney Luke Wake of the Pacific Legal Foundation, join Dillon to explain how they were able to get their appeal accepted to be heard by the Supreme Court of Washington, and just what’s at stake for not only their family, but everyone in the state.

Is This WA Agency Breaking State Law By Penalizing Farmers?

Slapping farmers with huge fines for how they’re using water has become common practice for the Washington State Department of Ecology in recent years, putting some farms out of business and even going so far as to threatening to take one Spokane-area farmer’s land. But, John Stuhlmiller, Executive Director of the Washington State Water Resources Association, tells Dillon that Ecology’s punishing actions appear to break a state law–a law that Stuhlmiller helped write.

How WA Farms Should Prepare For Immigration Enforcement Activity: Experts

It’s not just the farmworker community that’s worried about the ongoing federal immigration crackdown. Farmers face the possibility of immigration enforcement activity and the fear of raids and arrests interfering with critical harvest seasons. Eamonn Roach, a Pasco, WA-based immigration attorney, and Enrique Gastelum, CEO of the WA-based Worker And Farmer Labor Association (WAFLA) joined Save Family Farming Executive Director Ben Tindall on a recent online live stream sharing important background on why immigration enforcement poses a threat to farms, and how they can prepare. Dillon shares a portion of that conversation on The Farming Show, and the full recording of the live stream is available here [https://youtu.be/25MKyz6lOV8?si=xHosChl8ErMomUZu].

Why We Have To Protect Farmers To Protect Farmland

Farmland is a precious, dwindling resource that contributes many positive things to the environment, to the economy and even the culture of our communities and our nation. But unfortunately, many people’s understanding of how to protect it is mistaken. Addie Candib, American Farmland Trust PNW Regional Director & Western Managing Director, joins Dillon to explain the real challenges of protecting farmland and farmers, especially with the growing viability crisis for farming here in Washington state.

Drought? Top Expert Challenges WA Declaration

Washington state’s farmers are among the first to worry when the “D” word is used–will drought limit the amount of water they have available to grow their crops? Cliff Mass, prominent meteorologist, blogger and University of Washington professor joins Dillon to explain why he’s skeptical of the Washington State Department of Ecology’s recent drought declarations, and says there’s reason for optimism for farmers and others worried about the state’s water supply.