Activities of the Legislature affecting farmers and ranchers in Washington state

Legisletter Home

February 9, 2007

In This Issue

• It's Not Too Late to Join Us for DC Days!

• Leg Days 2007 an Overwhelming Success

• Flood and Erosion Bill Receives Wide Support

• Relinquishment Reform on the Horizon?

• Farm Bureau Members Fight for Firefighting Rights

• Biotech, Canola Regulation Considered

• Bills of Interest

• Subscription Information

• Information Resources

It's Not Too Late to Join Us for DC Days!

DC Days 2007 will occur Feb. 26-28. We encourage you to take this opportunity to meet with members of Washington's congressional delegation to discuss federal issues of importance to our state's agricultural industry. To register, please contact Patrick Connor, WFB director of national affairs, at pconnor@wsfb.com or 800-331-3276, ext. 110.

Back to the top

WFB Leg Days 2007 an Overwhelming Success

Thanks to nearly 200 Farm Bureau members taking time away from their farms to travel to Olympia, the 2007 Legislative Days event was an overwhelming success.

The Red Lion Hotel in Olympia served as the base of operations for the first day’s activities, which included presentations from a variety of elected and appointed officials as well as Farm Bureau leaders and staff. Britt Dudek, WFB First Vice President, kicked off the event with a warm welcome and a preview of the agenda.

The first speaker, Jay Manning, Director of the Department of Ecology, received a few hard-hitting questions from the crowd after wrapping up his comments. The group then heard from Reps. Mike Armstrong, Bill Grant, and Steve Hailey, and Sen. Dale Brandland, who spoke about their challenges and goals while serving as elected officials.

The Washington Farm Bureau PAC held its annual dessert auction, resulting in more than a $700 increase over last year’s total funds raised.

That evening attendees reconvened for the Legislative Reception and Banquet where dozens of legislators joined Farm Bureau members from their legislative districts for an evening of good food and conversation. During the reception, everyone was treated to the rock n’ roll sounds of Sine Die, a musical group featuring Lt. Gov. Brad Owen, Sen. Brian Hatfield, and Rep. Maureen Walsh.

The next day the group gathered in the Columbia room of the Legislative Building for a continental breakfast, then dispersed for individual and group meetings with their respective legislators, agency officials, or to testify at hearings. Following these meetings attendees traveled to the Farm Bureau building where they received tours of the new facility.

Thanks to all of the Farm Bureau members who took the effort to come to Olympia , the event was a great success.

Back to the top

Flood and Erosion Bill Receives Wide Support

The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee heard testimony this week on flooding and erosion issues from across the state. HB 1748, sponsored by Rep. Brian Sullivan (D-Mukilteo), would require a declaration of chronic danger for people impacted by floods or erosion for two or more consecutive years. The bill would require the state Department of Fish and Wildlife to issue an expedited permit to prevent future damage. The costs of the projects would be the responsibility of the property owner.

On Monday, Grays Harbor dairy farmer Lisa Dilley spoke of her mother’s 14-year battle to get a permit to save the family homestead and farmland. Dilley described her mother as “an extraordinary person” who is more willing to work through regulatory processes than most people. Despite that experience, the 14-year delay resulted in the loss of at least 17 acres of prime farmland, as well as habitat enhancements that had been installed for the benefit of salmon. While the home is now safe, the farmland remains at risk of major erosion in the event of a single high water mark. The family is still paying the mortgage and taxes on the 17 acres that are no longer farmable.

Walla Walla Farm Bureau President Keith Farrens told the committee of seeing sheds and haystacks floating downstream. He said HB 1748 “is a common-sense bill that should be passed.”

Lewis County Commissioner Lee Grose explained to the committee that flooding problems on the Cowlitz River threaten a major bridge in his county. He emphasized the need for this bill as a means to improve protection of human health and safety.

On Wednesday, nearly 40 Farm Bureau members signed in to support HB 1748 and then watched the hearing.

Roger Finely of Snohomish County spoke about his battle with flooding over the years while living and farming near the Skykomish River in Sultan. Ken Sletten of Okanogan County talked about the effects of a logjam in the Methow Valley and how the perpetual flooding damaged many homes and lives. Steve Hammond detailed the effects of bureaucratic inaction on one family’s home in King County. Photos of the house showed five-foot-high water marks inside the home.

Each Farm Bureau member’s testimony, combined with the supporting signatures of the members in attendance, provided real-life evidence of the positive impact passing this legislation would have on farmers and other people battling flooding and erosion.

Back to the top

Relinquishment Reform on the Horizon?

On Tuesday, the Senate Water Energy and Technology Committee heard two bills related to water right relinquishment -- SB 5489 sponsored by Sen. Bob Morton (R-Orient) and SB 5877 sponsored by Sen. Jim Honeyford (R-Sunnyside).

SB 5489 would eliminate the concept of partial relinquishment, or the loss of a portion of a water right that is not fully exercised during any five-year period. SB 5877 would preclude the state Department of Ecology from examining water use for a water right beyond the most recent 15-year period. Also, during a water right change, transfer, or amendment process, Ecology would only examine the most recent 15 years of use by a water right holder to determine the extent and validity of a right. In short, water right holders would only be required to keep records for the current 15-year period, similar to what taxpayers have to keep regarding IRS filings. It would also mean that water right holders would be able to know for certain what their water rights are and how much they could transfer. Certainty along with simplified permit processing could dramatically speed up the elimination of the present backlog of both new permit applications and applications for changes and transfers.

Testimony was vigorous and diverse on the measures with testimony provided by water right holders, Ecology, and the environmental community. Farm Bureau members Keith Farrens and Gene Jenkins testified in support of both measures by sharing their own experiences and the concerns of many other water right holders. These are priority bills for Farm Bureau, and we will work with legislators and other stakeholders to try to get the bills passed by the legislature.

The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee will hold a public hearing on HB 1938 (the companion to SB 5489), sponsored by Rep. Steve Hailey (R-Mesa), at 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 12 in House Hearing Room B.

Back to the top

Farm Bureau Members Fight for Firefighting Rights

On Thursday, the Senate Natural Resources, Ocean, and Recreation Committee held a hearing on SB 5315, sponsored by Sen. Mark Schoesler (R-Ritzville). The measure would allow residents and landowners to protect their property from wildfires and access their residences or land to protect their property and livestock to the maximum extent practicable during such events.

The bill directs the Department of Natural Resources and other state and local agencies to allow such access. In doing so, these agencies are excused from liability for anything that happens as a result of such access.

Farm Bureau members Gene Warren, Don Jackson, and Dick Rubenser each provided insight into recent wildfire problems and the benefit this measure would provide. Farm Bureau supports the measure because it is a basic property right of landowners to access their property to protect it from fire danger.

Back to the top

Biotech, Canola Regulation Considered

House and Senate committees heard bills this week to expand the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s authority to regulate certain types of crops.

On Wednesday, the House Technology, Energy, and Communications Committee heard HB 1732, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Morris (D-Mount Vernon). While the bill delves into human stem-cell and cloning research, Farm Bureau’s testimony focused on the section that would require WSDA to create new regulations establishing “appropriate management practices for coexistence of plant-based life sciences.”

Basically, WSDA would be required to regulate genetically modified crops whether they are still in the research and development phase or have already been approved by the federal government for commercial use. Three federal agencies already oversee the development and use of these crops through the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology. Farm Bureau believes a new layer of state-specific regulations would threaten Washington’s status as a world leader in plant and animal research. Farm Bureau urged Morris, who chairs the committee, to remove that section from the bill.

Earlier in the week, the Senate Agriculture and Rural Economic Development Committee passed SB 5749, sponsored by Sen. Mark Schoesler (R-Ritzville). That bill would allow brassica seed growers to petition WSDA to adopt rules creating "brassica seed production districts." WSDA would then regulate all brassica crops grown within a district.

The bill was drafted at the request of seed growers who are concerned that legislation passed last year to encourage biofuels production will lead to increased canola and rapeseed production.

Two brassica production districts are currently envisioned. One would be centered on Skagit County that would include parts of Island, Snohomish, and Whatcom counties. The other would cover parts of Grant and Adams counties. Seed growers also indicated they would seek rules mandating two-mile isolation zones between brassica seed crops and canola or rapeseed crops.

Farm Bureau asked that isolation distances be fully contained within any production district to protect farmers outside district boundaries. Farm Bureau also requested a sunset clause be added to require legislative review of the program in three years. The bill was approved by the committee without amendment, although Farm Bureau did receive assurances from WSDA and the growers that isolation districts would be fully contained within any district’s boundary.

As a result, Farm Bureau is neutral on the bill.

Back to the top

Bills of Interest

The following is a list the bills we are currently tracking.

• In the Bill column, E = Engrossed (i.e., amendments have been adopted), S (preceding HB or SB) = Substitute bill, HB = House Bill, SB = Senate Bill, JM = Joint Memorial, JR = Joint Resolution.

• In the Position column, S = Support, M = Monitor, N = Neutral, C = Concerns, O = Oppose.

• In the Priority column, H = High.  

• In the Lobbyist column, C = Patrick Connor, F = Dan Fazio, S = John Stuhlmiller, W = Dan Wood.

• Bold indicates a priority bill. 

Health Care  

Labor and Employment  

Land Use  

Other  

Taxes and Budget