Issue Collaboration

Washington Farm Bureau seeks to develop and maintain working relationships with other organizations to further our public policy goals.  This effort includes activities within the agriculture community as well as other organizations interested in the issues of interest to our membership.

Here is a brief overview about some of our collaborative work.

Wolf Working Group
This controversial issue of protecting a predatory animal has swirled across the Western United States for decades and finally reached its nexus here in Washington a few years ago. 

Washington Farm Bureau participated in the Wolf Working Group because it was the best option for protecting the rights of our members and to implement Farm Bureau policy. Prior to participating in the WWG, we exhausted all legislative, legal and judicial avenues to repeal the protection of this predatory species in our state. The outcome from our participation in the WWG is the best possible solution under the current legislative, judicial and congressional climate. Farm Bureau will continue to seek the elimination of any protections on this predatory animal that is so detrimental to our livestock industry.

Key Elements of the Wolf Conservation and Management Plan
The attached table compares major provisions of the plan adopted Dec. 3, 2011 by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission with those recommended by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Department (WDFW).

Appendix A
This document lists the WDFW Wolf Working Group members.

Appendix B
The Wolf Working Group letter from June 30, 2008, that accompanied the August 2008 peer review draft of the Wolf Conservation and Management Plan.

Appendix C
A list of the 43 reviewers submitting comments on the draft Wolf Conservation and Management Plan during the scientific peer review period conducted from August 25 to October 27, 2008.

Appendix D
The minority report on proposed numbers of successful breeding pairs for achieving the downlisting and delisting of wolves in Washington, which was submitted by six members of the state’s Wolf Working Group.

Appendix E
Summary of the Wolf Working Group’s discussions related to the conservation/recovery objectives presented in the plan.

Additional Information: 

• News Release Announcing the adoption of the plan
• The Plan as Adopted in 2011
• Discussions by the Working Groups on other aspects of the plan can be found in the meeting summaries.
• Visit this link to learn more about the wolf working group development process
• Public Scoping Meeting Listening Post Comments 
• DEIS Plan 

Ag Summit/Ag Package Requests

Each year the agricultural community gathers to identify areas of agreement and mutual support from the diverse agricultural interests in our state. This gathering, called the Ag Summit, produces a combined Ag Package request which is then sent on to leadership in each of the four caucuses, as well as to the Governor for consideration. There are, of course, other issues that individual groups may pursue outside the structure of the Ag Package during any given year.

2012 Ag Legislative Agenda

2011 Ag Legislative Agenda
2010 Ag Legislative Agenda
2009 Ag Legislative Agenda
2008 Ag Legislative Agenda
2007 Ag Legislative Agenda
2006 Ag Legislative Agenda
2005 Ag Legislative Agenda

Coalition of Washington Business Organizations (COWBO)
The Coalition of Washington Business Organizations works together on issues affecting the business community, focusing on protecting and strengthening our state economy. As such, the group often collaborates to bring forth important issues to the Legislature.

2010 COWBO Letter
2009 COWBO Letter
2008 COWBO Letter
2007 COWBO Letter
2006 COWBO Letter
2005 COWBO Letter