Dairies should not be forced to put double synthetic liners in their manure storage lagoons, and the current rules for clay lagoon liners are protective of groundwater, according to a new ruling on Washington state's rules for concentrated animal feeding operations. But Dan Wood, Washington State Dairy Federation director, joins Dillon to explain how the ruling misses the mark in other ways, including rules for manure application timing in Eastern Washington that aren't supported by science.

Forty-four years of legal wrangling continue in the Yakima River Basin, as the Washington State Department of Ecology pushes to start a similar legal process in Whatcom County's Nooksack River Basin. Capital Press reporter Don Jenkins joins Dillon with details on the latest legal appeals filed in the Yakima water rights adjudication, and how the situation is a cautionary tale for those asking for the same process to be used on an even more complicated situation on the Nooksack.

A dangerous heat wave is bearing down on the Pacific Northwest, and meteorologist Rufus La Lone joins Dillon to talk about how bad it could get, and the potential for major damage to crops and farms.

With drier-than-normal conditions for much of the spring, Whatcom County farmers were able to get crops planted early. Clay Pehl, agronomist for CHS Northwest, joins Dillon with an update on what's happening out in the local fields.

Even as Washington state began phasing out many COVID restrictions in early 2021, they continued some strict requirements for farms and worker housing. Wafla director Dan Fazio tells Dillon this was despite a 100% vaccination rate among guest worker crews. He shares the results of a lawsuit his organization and others filed against the unfair restrictions.

Despite the WA Department of Ecology's march toward a massive court case to hammer out Whatcom water rights issues, a much better option of community collaboration is still possible and desperately needed. Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers Executive Director, joins Dillon with an update on the issue now that the state budget has been finalized, including funding for "pre-adjudication work."

In arguing for a new capital gains tax in WA, some lawmakers circulated a political talking point that suggested that farmers work "less than half time." Pam Lewison, Washington Policy Center's Initiative on Agriculture Director, joins Dillon to explain why the farming community is outraged at the offensive statement, and how hypocritical its perspective is considering the recent farming overtime legislation passed in Olympia.

Labor activists are claiming victory after WA Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill phasing in overtime pay requirements for farming. But the truth is a much different story, as Gerald Baron, Save Family Farming Executive Director, explains, showing that the new law sadly doesn't benefit farm workers the way activists claim.

Can't find processing for your meat animals? While waitlists for processing grow longer by the day with the COVID pandemic turbocharging consumers' already growing shift toward local meat, an Everson startup has a solution that could turn the world of meat processing on its head. Bob Lodder, president and founder of Friesla, joins Dillon to explain how his company's modular meat processing system can give farmers and ranchers a way to take back control and process their own USDA-approved meat right on the farm.

In spite of the pressures facing farming, and the COVID pandemic causing major challenges for education, Gerrit Van Weerdhuizen, ag teacher and FFA advisor at Lynden Christian High School, says he's had his "best year ever" in over four decades of teaching. He talks with Dillon to explain why.