The Farming Show

As the water rights showdown between Vancouver, WA area BiZi Farms and the Washington State Department of Ecology continues to escalate, Whatcom County farmers should pay attention to the legal and practical problems it raises. Washington water law expert and attorney Bill Clarke joins Dillon to explain how state law actually encourages the development of farmland when water rights are in question.

Calling it bizarre, former Whatcom County councilman Rud Browne says he believes the USDA Farm Service Agency's recent decision to cancel a swath of contracts with local landowners to compensate for salmon habitat projects isn't legal. He joins Dillon to explain why he's been involved in the now-embattled Conservation Reserve Enhancement (CREP) Program, and why the feds' decision to pull out of many contracts due to their own administrative error is so harmful.

Area residents had the chance to see local food and farming up close and personal at the annual Whatcom Farm Tour. Dillon talked with organizer Jess Meyer with Bellingham-based Sustainable Connections and Eat Local First about the details for this year's tour, and then checked in with a new farmer on the lineup--Marie Hegarty of Fair Cow's Path Farm near Blaine.

Concern about the upcoming state water rights court case in Whatcom County continues to build among local residents. Dillon talks with Henry Bierlink, administrator of the Ag Water Board of Whatcom County, about the event that packed Ferndale's Pioneer Pavilion Community Center with local residents anxious about the future of their water rights, and what they heard from a lineup of experts.

Farmers in Whatcom County are incensed after the federal Farm Service Agency announced it would be cancelling roughly half of the Conservation Reserve Easement Program contracts it had made with local landowners. Steve Groen, who farmed west of Lynden for decades, joins Dillon to talk about how the decision impacts him, and how he feels the feds have betrayed his trust.

Ferndale-area dairy farmer Rod Erickson faced an emergency situation this summer as the water association he relies on to water his cows had its well run dry. Dillon talks with Rod and Kevin Mayock, Bakerview Water Association Treasurer, to find out how they've worked to survive the situation, and why the state has, so far, not given any support to help with this drought-caused crisis.

Farm Service Agency authorities have abruptly put hundreds of existing local stream restoration projects in jeopardy, pulling federal support last week due to a bureaucratic error two decades ago.

Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers' Executive Director, talks with Dillon about what he's uncovered so far on this developing story and how it will impact salmon recovery locally, not to mention the finances of many Whatcom County family farms that had participated in the fish restoration efforts.

Drought continues in Whatcom County, and some wells--including at least one that supplies a local water association--have gone dry.

Fred Likkel, Executive Director of Whatcom Family Farmers, joins Dillon with details on how that's affected some local farms.

Farmers and state regulators are pushing back against an EPA proposal that would severely restrict pesticide use, which federal regulators say is necessary to protect a list of endangered species. Capital Press reporter Don Jenkins joins Dillon with the details, as well as reaction from the Washington State Department of Agriculture and other state's regulatory agencies that are pushing back.

Despite much attention given to specific struggling salmon runs, many others are producing huge numbers. Washington state-based fisherman Paul Burrill tells Dillon there's more to the story of salmon health and abundance, and it's having a devastating impact on the Pacific Northwest fishing community.