Spring 2009
Established 1944
Board of Directors
Curtis Johnson, President
Mark Christianson, Vice President
Jerry Nelson, Secretary
Keith Morrison, Treasurer
Bob Hughes, Director
Lyle Wesen, Director
Ken Kadlec, Director
Steve Sakuma, Director
Brad Smith, Director
Jeff Boon, Director
Staff
Mike Shelby, Executive Director
Mike Rundlett, Environmental Mgr.
Debbie Danielson, Office Manager
360-424-7327 Office
360-424-9343 Fax
WWAA@Fidalgo.net
"Making A Difference For Western Washington Agriculture"
New Members
Please join us in welcoming our newest members to the WWAA. Our work could not get done without the support and involvement of our membership.
Washington Bulb Company
Port of Skagit County
Country Cousins
Urban Forest Nursery, Inc.
Smith & Morrison Farms
We also wish to express our appreciation and thanks to M. Lucille Christianson who presented us with a special gift donation.
Mark Your Calendars
This is a busy time of year for tours of our agricultural areas by interested groups, agency staff and others . The visitors we know of include a Journalists' class, EPA Ag Liaisons, Pesticides Commission, Puget Sound Leadership Council, and the SPF Tour.
"It is the mission of the WWAA...to represent agriculture by providing services for the entire agricultural community."
Marketing Agreements In A Tough Economy
It was a tough year for getting to fair and desired vegetable crop marketing agreements.
In 2008 we saw raw product prices increase dramatically fueled by record wheat and corn prices along with land availability issues. The result was very steep increases in raw product pricing that helped buffer the increasing costs that producers faced.
In 2009, cost increases have moderated (or declined) and competition for acres has lessened. Thus, our negotiation position was eroded and we were faced with strong pressure to lower prices and reduce acres.
Eastern Washington green peas and sweet corn settled down 10% from last year. Southwest Washington green peas, corn and beans are also all down 10% from last year. Hermiston Frozen Foods in Oregon is down 8% and Twin City Foods in Stanwood is down 6.3%. All grower contracts also had an approximate 40% seed cost increase. Although, every effort was made to hold prices, in the end it was necessary to make some concessions. Now we need a successful growing and harvest season to keep some profit in the green pea business.
Samish River Fecal Coliform
Looking for a shared solution!
The Department of Ecology recently released their draft Plan for reducing fecal Coliform loading in the Samish River Watershed. Unfortunately, dairies and livestock seem to be getting the biggest share of the attention. Yet, as the report identifies, responsibility for the pollution is shared by rural homeowners, commercial farmers and ranchers, residential hobby farmers, recreational users, and even wildlife in concentrated areas. We submitted our comments to WDOE asking them to do more in terms of identifying exactly who is contributing to the problem and how much.
Whatever the source, this pollution is harming the health of Puget Sound. The fecal Coliform levels in the river are extremely high during heavy rain events. Commercial shellfish harvest in Samish Bay now has to be suspended routinely for extended periods, and these businesses are in danger of being closed down permanently.
What this means is that all of us who live, work and play in the Samish need to contribute to helping improve water quality in the river. We will continue to work with the WDOE and the other agencies to insure that agriculture is doing its part, but that farmers and ranchers do not get shouldered with more than their share of the burden.
April provided little rain and a great opportunity to get a good start on the 2009 planting season. May followed with high rainfall and unseasonably cool temperatures. Overall, seed crops have been planted around the weather delays. Over wintering seed crops generally look good and are pollinating with the recent good weather. Green pea planting is on schedule.
Potato planting got off to a very good start in the Skagit delta and a somewhat delayed start in the Samish. Current weather is allowing continued planting and some improved heat is what the crops need.
Overall, a much better season shaping up than we saw in 2008. Now we just need some continued warm growing conditions.
We must never lose sight of the need to produce the United States food and fiber on our own lands. Producing our food in other countries in exchange for converting our agricultural land to other uses (urban growth, habitat, recreation etc.) is not in our nation's best interest.
Drainage Maintenance Plans - The spring meetings with the agencies for the Skagit drainage districts’ plans have all been completed, and several maintenance projects are moving ahead. We also continue to make steady progress in moving the 12 participating dike and drainage districts’ DMPs through the federal permitting process. Only one district application package remains to be submitted to the USACE. The county has approved all the Shoreline Exemptions, and WDOE has issued the 401 Water Quality Certification Order and Coastal Zone Certification for ten of the districts. The last item needed for several of the districts applications is the USFWS Letter of Concurrence. We are working with them to get their remaining questions answered.
Tidegate and Fish Agreement - The USFWS is preparing their Letter of Concurrence for the Skagit TFI Agreement. We have been coordinating with them to resolve some maintenance work timing window questions for Bull Trout protection. We also understand that they are
coordinating their consultation with NMFS. The latest word from NMFS is that they have finished the Biological Opinion (BiOp) and it is in internal departmental and general counsel review. The Final BiOp could be issued any day. Once their BiOp is available, we will schedule a meeting of TFI parties to discuss the submittal of the agreement to the Corps of Engineers and other next steps. The WWAA and seven drainage districts have signed on thus far.
Water Rights - We have been providing assistance to DID #15 to secure a preliminary water right permit for general irrigation use within the district. The district intends to withdraw up to 350 acre feet annually from the lower Skagit River to irrigate about 1500 acres from June through August.
Other Activities - Technical assistance to DID #19 on their NPDES stormwater management program. Submitted formal comments to WDOE on the Samish fecal Coliform draft TMDL Implementation Plan. Continue participation in the agricultural Riparian Buffer negotiations through the Ruckelshaus Center (SB 5248).