The Farming Show

Farmworker rights activist Jesse Rojas is exposing the ugly truth about United Farm Workers in California that’s forcing the dwindling union to look to Washington state.

He joins Dillon to share the famous labor organization's true track record with workers, and explain why UFW isn't the average labor union.

Millions of dollars are still available to refund Washington state farmers who have been overcharged for fuel thanks to the state's new carbon pricing scheme.

The so-called Climate Commitment Act was supposed to exempt agriculture, and when the state Department of Ecology failed to do that, the legislature earmarked $30M to refund farmers and farming truckers.

But, as state Department of Licensing official Jennifer Clawson tells Dillon, much of that money has so far gone unclaimed, and she's encouraging farmers to still register for their refunds.

In just over a year, the federal laws governing estate taxes will change, putting some families at risk of much higher tax bills when family property or businesses change hands (more info here https://insights.larsongross.com/project/important-update-upcoming-changes-to-estate-and-gift-tax/)

Todd Burgers, an accountant and partner in Larson Gross CPAs & Consultants, joins Dillon to explain more about what this could mean particularly for farmers and their families.

Larson Gross is holding two upcoming events to help people start the process of getting prepared for the change: https://insights.larsongross.com/project/important-update-upcoming-changes-to-estate-and-gift-tax/

An upcoming free event will help local farmers and water users prepare for the state's Whatcom water lawsuit, even as legal challenges delay the process.

Bill Clarke, attorney for the Ag Water Board of Whatcom County, joins Dillon with updates on the slow-moving legal process, and why residents need to attend the "Securing Your Water Rights: What's Next" event at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds' Farm Pavilion on Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 6:30pm.

Another Eastern Washington dairy is shutting down after being attacked by the EPA, despite a huge amount of work and money spent on environmental upgrades over the last decade.

Jay Gordon, Washington State Dairy Federation's Policy Director, joins Dillon with details on Liberty Dairy's closure, and the EPA's new lawsuit against the same dairies it attacked over a decade ago.

The state's 'adjudication' lawsuit against all Whatcom water users is already encountering snags, even before the actual legal case is officially underway.

Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers' Executive Director, joins Dillon with the latest on the legal process, as well as sharing several updates relating to water and farming in Whatcom County.

A tractor stolen from the Lynden FFA corn maze still hasn't been found, and the high school and FFA chapter are trying to figure out what comes next.

Julie Milstead, Lynden FFA Adviser, joins Dillon with details on the theft, and how it affects agriculture students at Lynden High School.

Sumas-area water users are going to court, asking to be excluded from the state's Whatcom water rights lawsuit.

Jerry De Bruin, "Sumas Out" group spokesman, local farmer and Fire District 14 Chief, joins Dillon to explain why the group believes the court should take them out of the state Department of Ecology's water rights adjudication case.

After federal authorities blocked not one, but two seemingly straightforward fixes to tide gates protecting Skagit County farmland, troubling questions are surfacing about the true motives behind the decision.

Skagit dairy farmer and dike district commissioner Jason Vander Kooy joins Dillon with details on the predicament that puts hundreds of acres of fertile farmland at risk of destruction.

Local farms are relying more and more on technology and automation, and the latest development is the arrival of robotic irrigation systems in the corn and grass fields of two Whatcom County dairies.

Aric Vander Haak with Farmers Equipment Company joins Dillon with details on the 360 Rain system that boasts big water efficiency gains, dramatically reduced labor requirements, as well as soil health, plant health and nutrient management benefits.