solving the puzzle

72 Pages·2014·17.44 MB·English

W L
HEAT IFE
The official publication of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers
JANUARY 2015
SOLVING
THE PUZZLE
Workshops help producers
piece together farm bill
program decisions
Also in this issue:
Professor defends biotechnology
WGC welcomes new commissioners
What does quality mean?
Lind residents ready
for their close up
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President’s Perspective
WHEAT LIFE
Volume 58 • Number 01 ‘Tis the season for meetings and conferences
www.wheatlife.org
By Larry Cochran
The official publication of I hope everyone enjoyed the Christmas season, and you
WASHINGTON are all ready to get back to work.
ASSOCIATION OF
As the legislative season gets underway, your WAWG
WHEAT GROWERS
officers and committee members will be crisscrossing the
109 East First Avenue
Ritzville, WA 99169-2394 state (and nation), keeping our eye on issues important
[phone] • [phone] to wheat growers. First up is the National Association of
Wheat Growers’ (NAWG) winter meeting in Washington,
WAWG MEMBERSHIP
D.C., where we’ll meet with our federal delegation and give input on NAWG’s
[phone] • [phone]
national advocacy efforts. Then we’ll be heading to Olympia to meet with the new
$125 per year
crop of freshman legislators, followed by our annual Olympia days on Feb. 15-17.
EDITOR
Please plan on traveling to Olympia with us; the more wheat growers that come,
Trista Crossley • [email protected]
the more impact we have. This is one of the most
[phone]
effective ways to communicate how important
AD SALES MANAGER
agriculture is to our state’s economy.
Kevin Gaffney • [email protected]
[phone] Besides the meetings with legislators, we’ve
also got AMMO (Agricultural Marketing and
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Management Organization) workshops starting
Devin Taylor • Trista Crossley
soon, not to mention the direct seed conference,
AD BILLING
the oilseed conference and Ag Expo. And don’t
Michelle Hennings • [email protected]
forget, farmers must have four hours per year
[phone] • [phone]
of training to maintain their private pesticide
CIRCULATION
license. Generally, you can pick up those hours
Address changes, extra copies, subscriptions
at your local fertilizer company or through
Chauna Carlson • [email protected]
[phone] • [phone] Washington State University Extension classes.
Subscriptions are $50 per year There are even seminars at Ag Expo that can
WAWG EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR help you meet the four-hour requirement.
Michelle Hennings Throughout December, Extension, with the
WAWG EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE help and encouragement of WAWG, held several farm bill pro-
PRESIDENT gram workshops (see story on page 24). We got a look at one of the online decision
Larry Cochran • Colfax
aid tools and heard some good information about choosing PLC or ARC. If you
VICE PRESIDENT
missed those workshops, you can pick up DVDs at your local Extension office or
Kevin Klein • Edwall
watch the presentations online at smallgrains.wsu.edu. Sign-up deadlines are not
SECRETARY/TREASURER
that far away, and I know the FSA offices don’t want everybody waiting until the
last minute.
PRESIDENT EMERITUS
Nicole Berg • Paterson Your wheat growers’ association has been involved in an ag and water quality
APPOINTED MEMBERS group, along with the Washington State Department of Ecology, to work together
Chris Herron • Connell
on developing guidelines that protect the “waters of the state.” The committee will
Marci Green • Fairfield
Ben Adams • Coulee City continue to meet during the coming year, but in the meantime, Ecology will be do-
ing watershed assessments starting in March in Eastern Washington. Understand,
Wheat Life (ISSN 0043-4701) is published by the this is not just a “cow in the creek” problem, but all of agriculture’s problem.
Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG):
109 E. First Avenue • Ritzville, WA 99169-2394 Please be good stewards, and we all will benefit. To read more about the sched-
Eleven issues per year with a combined August/ uled assessments, see page 8.
September issue. Standard (A) postage paid at
Ritzville, Wash., and additional entry offices. I know it’s only January, but it seems like spring is not far away, so have the
Contents of this publication may not be re- equipment ready to go, and the paperwork caught up. Let’s have another success-
printed without permission. ful year.
Advertising in Wheat Life does not indicate en-
dorsement of an organization, product or political
candidate by WAWG.
All photos are Shutterstock images or taken by Wheat Life staff unless otherwise noted.
2 WHEAT LIFE JANUARY 2015
Inside This Issue
2
WAWG President’s Perspective
4
Membership Form
6
WAWG at Work
16
Policy Matters
22
Building a Foundation
Putting the pieces together 24
Workshops help producers puzzle out PLC/ARC
Counting on crop insurance 28
How some producers manage their risk
Defending biotechnology 32
It’s all about genetic diversity
2015 Legislative pullout 36
A look at our state, national delegations
Health and safety snapshot 38
Tips taken from OSHA convention break-out
43
WGC Chairman’s Column
44
WGC Review
Rolling out the welcome mat 46
New commissioners step up to WGC table
Left-coast bound 50
Export tour follows wheat’s path west
Steering a path to quality 52
It’s meaning depends on who’s talking
Sour soil 55
Acidification becomes a larger PNW problem
58
Wheat Watch
Lights! Camera! Action! 60
Movie features Lind friends, combine derby
64
The Bottom Line
66
Your Wheat Life
68
Happenings
70
Advertiser Index
Contributors
Larry Cochran, president, Washington Association of Wheat Growers Jim Peterson, vice president, Limagrain Cereal Seeds
Steve Claassen, chairman, Washington Grain Commission David R. Huggins, soil scientist, USDA-ARS
Scott A. Yates, communications director, Washington Grain Carol R. McFarland, graduate student, WSU Crop and Soil Sciences
Commission
Mike Krueger, president and founder, The Money Tree
Kevin Gaffney, ad sales manager, Wheat Life
Tim Cobb, Hatley/Cobb Farmland Management
Kim Garland-Campbell, research plant geneticist, USDA-ARS
WHEAT LIFE JANUARY 2015 3
WAWG MEMBERSHIP FORM
Thank you to our
Please check level of membership
Student $75 Partnership $500
current members
(up to 5 partners)
Grower $125
Landlord $125 Convention $600
Family $200 (up to 2 members) Lifetime $2,500 We fight every day to ensure that life on the
If you do not have an email address, or prefer hard family farm continues to prosper and grow.
copies, please include an extra $25 for Greensheet postage.
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT.
Name If you are not a member, please consider joining today.
LEVELS OF MEMBERSHIP
Farm or Business
ACidtdyress GreensheetNewsletter Wheat LifeMagazine National Wheat Grower Newsletter Annual Harvest Prints WAWG Convention Free Registration One Vote per Member
State Zip
Producer/Landowners (Voting Membership)
Grower or Landlord $125 X X X X
Phone Fax
Family $200
X X X X
(2 family members)
Email
Partnership $500
X X X X X
(1-5 family members)
County Affiliation (if none, write state)
Convention $600
X X X X X
Circle all that apply: (2 individuals)
Producer Landlord Individual Industry Rep. Business Owner Student Other Lifetime $2,500
X X X X X
(1 individual)
Return this form with your check to:
WAWG • 109 East First Ave. • Ritzville, WA 99169. Non-Voting Membership
Or call 800-598-6890 and use your credit card to enroll by phone. Student $75 X X X
WAWG’s current top priorities are:
✔ Preserve the ag tax preferences: ✔ Protect funding for both the Washington
State University’s Ag Research Center and
• S ales tax exemption on fertilizer and pesticides
for the proposed Plant Sciences Building
• Ag wholesale B&O exemption
• Off-road fuel tax exemption ✔ Advocate for short-line rail funding
• Repair parts exemption
Washington state continues to look for more revenue,
and farmers’ tax exemptions are on the list. If these are important
to your operation, join today and help us fight.
More member benefits:

Washington Association
Weekly Email correspondence
of Wheat Growers
• Greensheet ALERTS • WAWG updates
109 East First Ave. • Ritzville, WA 99169
• Voice to WAWG through opinion surveys 509-659-0610 • 800-598-6890 • 509-659-4302 (fax)
• National Wheat Grower updates www.wagrains.com
Call 800-598-6890 or visit www.wagrains.com
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WHEAT LIFE JANUARY 2015 5
tax exemptions, followed by protecting the funding of
WWAAWWGG
Washington State University’s (WSU) Ag Research Center.
The board also voted to support funding of the proposed
WSU Plant Sciences Building. Rounding out the list of
t priorities is funding the short-line rail system in Eastern
a
Washington.
The next board meeting is scheduled for Jan. 13.
k
r
o WAWG, state agencies update
w
Benton County wheat farmers
In mid-December, nearly 30 Benton County farmers
Preserving ag tax exemptions took the morning off to meet at the Horse Heaven Hills
Community Center to enjoy a hot meal and hear the latest
updates from WAWG, NRCS and the local conservation
is WAWG’s top 2015 priority
district.
From WAWG, Outreach Coordinator Lori Williams
Routine business took up most of the last board meeting
talked about the December farm bill workshops and the
of 2014. President Larry Cochran appointed Ben Adams of
upcoming AMMO schedule. She also answered PLC/ARC
Coulee City to the executive board to replace Eric Maier
questions from producers. Executive Director Michelle
of Ritzville. Adams joins other appointed members Chris
Hennings touched on the importance of face-to-face meet-
Herron of Connell and Marci Green of Fairfield.
ings between farmers and legislators and asked mem-
There’s also been some shuffling of committee chair- bers to consider joining the executive team during their
men. Past president Nicole Berg of Paterson will take over annual Olympia Days trip on Feb. 15-17. Hennings also
as the national legislation chairman, while vice president talked about the importance of preserving the state’s ag
Kevin Klein of Edwall will take over the state legislation tax incentives, telling farmers that losing them could cost
committee. producers thousands of dollars a year in income.
The board also established their top priorities for the Ray Gekosky, a resource conservationist with the
year. Leading the list is preservation of the state’s ag Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Prosser Service
At their December meeting, members of the Benton County wheat growers group heard updates from WAWG Executive Director Michelle Hennings and
WAWG Outreach Coordinator Lori Williams on farm bill program workshops, upcoming legislative trips and the Agricultural Marketing and Management
Organization program. Officials from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency and the local conservation district also spoke.
6 WHEAT LIFE JANUARY 2015
254 E Main Street • P.O. Box 257, Dayton, WA 99328 • Office 509-382-3155 • Fax [phone]
www.northwestfarmland.com
Dear Land Owners,
We hope that this finds you and
your loved ones doing well. We have
some exciting news and would like to
introduce you to our new company,
Northwest Farmland Management,
LLC. A company that manages farms &
ranches in Washington and Idaho.
Blaine Bickelhaupt and Mark Grant are
pleased to announce the expansion
of our partnership and the formation
of Northwest Farmland Management,
LLC. We provide operational insight
based on a deep understanding of the
farming business. Northwest Farm-
land Management, LLC will apply
operational guidance and resources in
order to maximize value. As principal
partners, we share deep roots in the entire farming arena and have a common goal of delivering high
quality service, results and return on investment.
Our approach remains the same. We treat every asset as though we personally own it, positioning it
for maximum value through aggressive marketing and operational processes that align with our clients’
strategy and goals.
Please feel free to contact us any time or stop by and see us at Spokane Ag Expo on Feb. 3-5, 2015.
Thank you, Thank you,
Blaine Bickelhaupt Mark Grant
509-520-5280 509-520-1906
[email protected] [email protected]
www.northwestfarmland.com
WHEAT LIFE JANUARY 2015 7
WL WAWG AT WORK
Center, updated farmers on EQIP and CSP sign-ups. He also congratulated the
Letters confuse
group for their participation in the state’s recent air quality initiative, which
offered assistance for installing conservation systems designed to help produc-
SWW settlement
ers meet air quality compliance requirements. He said that out of $1.4 million
available to Washington counties, Benton County had 7 applications approved
for about $1.2 million. Back in November, Monsanto
announced they had agreed
“This brought people in who have never direct seeded before,” Gekosky said.
to pay slightly more than $2
With a round of applause, the group of producers thanked Farm Service
million to Northwest soft
Agency County Executive Director Dennis Simmelink who is retiring after 20
white wheat farmers who can
years with the agency. The meeting wrapped up with the election of new of-
document that they sold grain
ficers. Anthony J. Smith will take over as president from Devin Moon, who will
between May 30 and Nov. 30
stay on as vice president. Dave Moore was elected treasurer.
of 2013. Eligible farmers must
submit a claim form, along
Ecology schedules watershed assessments
with documentation, in order
to receive any payments. Those
At the latest meeting of the Ag and Water Quality Advisory Committee, pro- claim forms must be received
ducers were notified of the Washington State Department of Ecology’s (Ecology) online or be postmarked by
2015 and 2016 planned wa- March 31, 2015. The claim form
tershed assessments, five of is at swwsettlement.com, along
which will be taking place in with information about the
Eastern Washington. settlement, contact informa-
tion and answers to frequently
Meeting at the Washington
asked questions.
Wheat Foundation building
in Ritzville in mid-December, Recently, some area farm-
the group heard from Dave ers have received letters from
Knight, the manager of attorneys offering to help them
Ecology’s Nonpoint Source fill out the claim form. As far
Watershed Unit out of as WAWG can determine, these
Spokane, that while the as- attorneys are not officially
sessments would be focused affiliated with the settlement.
on livestock, any possible WAWG would caution farm-
source of pollutants will be ers to only deal with attorneys
considered. The areas sched- contacted through the official
uled to be assessed in 2015 website.
are:
(From left) Vic Stokes, president of the Washington
• B lue Mountain streams Cattlemen’s Association, Washington State Department of
(Asotin, Alpowa, Ecology Directory Maia Bellon and Kelly Susewind, Ecology ees that some of these watersheds
Deadman, Meadow); special assistant, listen to comments from the Ag and Water have had TMDLs (total maximum
Quality Advisory Committee.
daily load) done on them, and some
• W hitman County Snake
haven’t.
River tributaries including Alkali Flat Creek;
“Most of them were picked
• North Fork and South Fork Palouse River;
because we know we have impair-
• Hangman Creek; and
ments on them,” he explained.
• Walla Walla River.
In the coming months, Ecology
In 2016, three more watersheds will be added: plans to partner with other state
• South Stevens County (Chamokane/Upper Colville) agencies and producer groups to
hold workshops to discuss water
• Rock Creek/Middle Palouse River
quality in these watersheds. Bellon
• Tucannon River said she wanted these workshops to
Kelly Susewind, special assistant to Ecology Director Maia Bellon, told attend- be a cooperative effort.
8 WHEAT LIFE JANUARY 2015
Transition Planning - Asset Protection
Getting the next generation ready in today’s environment
2015 Spokane Ag Expo Other Brock Law Firm Seminars Coming Up:
Pasco, Wash.
Farm Forum Schedule
Wednesday, January 7, 2015, 9 am, The Red Lion Hotel
Moscow, Idaho
Seminars held in the Doubletree Hotel Ballroom,
Monday, January 12, 2015, 9 am, Best Western Plus
connected to the Spokane Convention Center
 Kennewick, Wash.
Wednesday, January 14, 2015, 9 am, 3 Rivers Conv. Center
Tuesday, February 3
 Quincy, Wash.
1:30 pm and 3 pm
Thursday, January 15, 2015, 9 am,
Grant County Fire District #3
Wednesday, February 4
 Dayton, Wash.
Noon and 1:30 pm
Tuesday, January 20, 2015, 9 am, Best Western Plus
Prosser, Wash.
For specific subjects and times, refer to the listings at Ag Expo Show
Wednesday, January 21, 2015, 9 am, Clore Center
Over 40 Years Serving Inland Northwest Farming Clients
Corey F. Brock Norman D. Brock
Spokane-Kennewick-Moses Lake Davenport-Ritzville (by appointment)
509-622-4707 509-725-3101
WHEAT LIFE JANUARY 2015 9
WL WAWG AT WORK
Berg chosen as young ag person of year
“We are trying to take guidance
from this group and advice from
this group and run a better program WAWG Past President Nicole Berg has been honored as the Young Agri
and be engaged in a better way,” she Business Person of the Year for the Mid-Columbia Agriculture Hall of Fame
said.
2015 by the Port of Pasco and the Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce.
The committee also heard
“You have demonstrated a selfless dedication and
from Patrick Capper and Keva
generous contribution of time, financial resources
Guszkowski of the Washington
and expertise towards the support of both the
Department of Agriculture (WSDA)
agricultural industry and the local community,”
on the Manure Land Application
the congratulations letter read. The honor will be
Program. The program was modeled
awarded to Berg at the Pasco Chamber’s REAL Ag
after the pesticide licensing program
Show Luncheon in early January.
and applies to manure that is land
applied to cropland, but doesn’t ad- “Nicole is a tireless supporter of WAWG and the
dress pasture or grazing operations state’s wheat industry,” said Michelle Hennings,
or commercial fertilizer. The bill WAWG’s executive director. “She’s been a huge
would require, among other things, asset for the Association this past year. Along with
that an applicator follow a field- her passion for natural resource issues, she has a
specific manure application plan and great sense of humor that often masks a determina-
keep tion to help our farmers navigate the stressful and
records. difficult issues they face.”
There
Berg has been involved in WAWG for more than 10 years. Besides being past
will also
president (2013/14), she is the national legislation and the natural resources
likely be
committee chairs. She also represents the wheat industry on the state’s Ag and
enforce-
Water Quality Advisory Committee. Berg raises both irrigated and dryland
ment,
crops on her family’s fourth-generation farm near Paterson, Wash.
inspec-
tion and The Mid-Columbia Agriculture Hall of Fame was formed by the Pasco
report- Chamber of Commerce in 2000 to recognize and honor distinguished individu-
ing als who have made significant contributions to the agricultural community in
requirements. Capper said the bill the greater Franklin County region and its immediate surrounding areas.
is still being finalized, but WSDA
is getting ready to reach out to
stakeholders to hear their concerns. Falling numbers data available online
Currently, the bill will only apply
to Skagit, Whatcom and Yakima
Camille M. Steber, a USDA-ARS plant research geneticist at Washington
counties, although the department
State University, has released single repetition data for soft white winter
may designate a special protection
and soft white spring wheat on her falling number website at
district in watersheds that have
steberlab.org/project7599data.php.
documented water quality issues
and apply the bill there. According to Steber, both the 2013 and 2014 data now include a tool that
allows visitors to look at the average falling number relative to the yield at
The next meeting of Ecology and
different locations by clicking on the falling number vs. yield link under
the Ag and Water Quality Advisory
each section.
Committee is scheduled for Feb. 19
at Ecology’s headquarters in Lacey, Grain with a Hagberg-Perten falling number below 300 seconds is dis-
Wash. Agendas and presentations counted due to the fact that it can degrade the quality of wheat products.
from each of the meetings are posted Low falling numbers led to considerable financial losses for Washington
on Ecology’s website at farmers in 2011 and 2013 due to weather patterns leading to either prehar-
ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/nonpoint/ vest sprouting in response to rain or late-maturity alpha-amylase due to
Agriculture/AgWQACmtg.html cold shock during grain maturation.
10 WHEAT LIFE JANUARY 2015