olympia

With less than a month remaining in this year's Legislative Session in Olympia, and mounting disaccord among lawmakers and the governor regarding the state's latest operating budget, the likelihood of the need for a special session is becoming greater by the day...

The Washington farming community is being asked to participate in a survey in an effort to help lawmakers better understand the challenges of the Ag industry.  The survey, hosted by the Washington state Department of Agriculture, is open tree fruit, dairy, wheat, potatoes, grapes or hops producers.  The goa...

Ag organizations across the Northwest held events in each of the state capitals celebrating National Ag Day Tuesday.  Megan Anderson the Washington Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Chair was celebrating in Olympia.   “All our legislators and offices have been invited out to shop our commodity market," Anderson said.  "Our Members have donate...

State Sen. John Braun says he has the answers to Washington's juvenile justice crisis.

It’s a common story every legislative session in Washington; Olympia just doesn’t understand what farmers go through these days.  And that’s an easy narrative to believe, especially with fewer and fewer Americans having a connection to rural life, let alone agriculture.  But that means the Washin...

Washington state Representative Tom Dent said he’s disappointed that the chair of the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee will not hold a public hearing on House Bill 1597.  The Moses Lake Republican said his proposal would have allowed Ag employers to select 12 weeks a year to employ workers for up to 50-hours per week before overtime applies.  Dent said des...

Currently, Washington is one of two states charging sales tax on farm equipment.  But several lawmakers in Olympia are trying to change that.  Senate Bill 5092 would provide a sales and use tax exemption for farm machinery and equipment with a price tag of over $10,000.   “It's not ...

Farmworkers from across Washington gathered in Olympia on Tuesday February 4th, to speak about the harm the state’s new overtime law has caused.  Linda Vargas was one of those who participated in last week’s rally.  She said, while ag overt...

Since Ag Overtime was implemented in Washington a few years ago, it has been a challenge for producers to adjust.  Many farmers have struggled from a budget standpoint, finding enough workers or both.  In an effort to help Washington’s farm community, state Representative Tom Dent introduced HB 1597 last week, which would allow ag employers to select 12 weeks a year to employ workers for up to 50

Discover some hidden gems to explore in this dazzling small town.