The New York Times recently featured the success of collaborative efforts to solve water management problems in the Yakima River Basin, and Dan Keppen, Executive Director of the Family Farm Alliance, joins Dillon to share more about the opportunities that negotiated settlements provide, as opposed to the litigatory path the Washington State Department of Ecology is pursuing in the Nooksack River Basin.

A process that can achieve real solutions to Whatcom County's water crisis exists, and has been resoundingly successful in other similar situations across the country. Respected water law expert Paul Simmons joins Dillon to explain how a negotiated Indian Water Rights Settlement process could make possible the changes needed here to protect families, fish and farming, as well as how massive federal funding is available if our community collaborates rather than fights in court.

While Joe Nichols’ 2013 hit song “Sunny and 75” points to the weather described in its title as the quintessential perfect day, labor activists are now attempting to spin 75-degree weather as ‘hazardous’ for farm workers. Pam Lewison, Director of Washington Policy Center's Initiative on Agriculture, joins Dillon to discuss how the extremists' plan defied common sense and exposed their ulterior motives.

September is Eat Local Month, and Sustainable Connections is working to help coordinate the celebrations across Whatcom County. Jess Meyer, Sustainable Connections' Food & Farming Outreach Coordinator, joins Dillon with the details on the various events and festivities happening all month long.

A new report from a national expert and former US Department of Interior Assistant Solicitor, Ramsey Kropf, outlines what's likely the only feasible path to solve the water management crisis in the Nooksack River Basin in a way that protects families, fish and farming. Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers Executive Director, joins Dillon to explain how Kropf's analysis of the Nooksack's challenges provides a workable path forward, as well as examples of other basins across the west that have had success following this path.

The USDA announced plans to partner with labor activists on a new project to develop further regulations on the already heavily-regulated federal H-2A guest worker program. Farm labor advocate Jesse Rojas is crying foul, pointing out the extremist nature of the activist group USDA is partnering with, and sharing the anti-farmworker actions that he has witnessed that group take during his work with advocacy group Pick Justice.

Protecting farming and some of the best farmland in the world is important to Skagitonians, as well as working to restore struggling salmon runs. Will Honea, Skagit County Senior Deputy Prosecutor, joins Dillon to explain how Seattle City Light wants to buy up Skagit delta farmland to use instead for salmon habitat projects to mitigate for its lack of fish passage on its Skagit River dams. He says it amounts to 'greenwashing' that will ultimately harm farming and fish.

With a heat wave pushing temperatures into the triple digits in many parts of Washington, farmers and workers bringing in the harvest need to use caution to avoid heat-related illness. Pam Lewison, director of the Washington Policy Center's Initiative on Agriculture, joins Dillon to break down what farmers across the state are doing and what state law mandates to protect workers.

The recent Northwest Raspberry Festival took over downtown Lynden with delicious treats, vendors, entertainment and basketball games. Dillon talked to Megan Lacy with Washington Red Raspberries to not only get details on the event, but also hear what local raspberry farmers are doing to promote their tasty, nutritious fruit.

Even as the farming community and others in the Nooksack River Basin continue to point out the troubling problems with their plan, the Washington State Department of Ecology continues to focus on litigation rather than collaboration to solve the local water crisis. Ag Water Board of Whatcom County administrator Henry Bierlink tells Dillon he's frustrated that Ecology isn't really hearing what the farming community is saying.