YF&R Discussion Meet 
The Young Farmers and Ranchers Discussion Meet was held at the Washington Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Kennewick, Washington on November 18, 2009.  The competitors discussed the randomly selected topic "How can agricultural producers reach out to the public to gain their support on important issues impacting agriculture?”  Discussion of the topic included communication strategies such as collaborating with other industries, putting a face to agriculture, and getting the farmer story out to the public. The competitors also discussed the issues that should be spotlighted such as environmental issues, animal welfare, and food.   Learn More »

Here is the County Website Presentation from the 2009 Annual Meeting.

If you have any questions concerning the content or need help getting started on your county website please contact Luke Hansen.

Pfizer Corporation announced today it is pulling out of New London, Connecticut.

Surprised?  So are the former residents of the Fort Trumbull neighborhood who had their homes taken from them for absolutely no good reason.

Arguing that the possibility of more tax revenue was a public interest or necessity, the City of New London, State of Connecticut, and New London Development Corporation conspired to take the property from Susette Kelo, Michael Cristofaro and their neighbors. The reason? Pfizer executives didn’t want their homes within view of their new research and development campus that was subsidized by state tax dollars.

The lots remain vacant.  They were never developed.

After fighting all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, Kelo, Cristofaro and the others were forced by government to abandon their homes. Learn More »

By Scott Dilley

Washington Farm Bureau members Rob Valicoff and Tom Roach do a great job highlighting the need for immigration reform in this CNN clip. In addition to airing many times on news networks throughout Washington, this segment was picked up by affiliates throughout the country.

Washington’s most sought-after crops, such as apples and cherries, area also the most labor intensive to pick. As such, farmers regularly have a difficult time finding enough seasonal workers available locally to assist with harvest,  and turn to the H-2A program for help. Valicoff is one of 30 farmers in Washington state using the cumbersome H-2A program to meet the demands of the American consumer. Learn More »

Ballot Measures

Washington Farm Bureau recommends ballot measures for endorsement based on how they align with policy, which is established each year at the organization's Annual Meeting in November.

Washington Farm Bureau encourages voters to vote YES on Initiative 1033, limiting the growth rate of government and providing property tax relief. 

Candidate General Election Endorsements

Candidates are recommended for endorsement by the Washington State Farm Bureau PAC, based on their voting records (if already in office) and their understanding and support of Farm Bureau policy. Learn More »

Entries are now being accepted for the 2009 WFB Ag Photo contest. If you haven't started taking pictures yet, start clicking away! The deadline to submit entries is now Nov. 6, 2009.

The WFB Ag Photo contest is open to ALL Farm Bureau members.

We’re looking for pictures to help us tell the story of agriculture and especially the Farm Bureau story. One immediate goal of the contest is to compile a diverse collection of photos to display each year at our Annual Meetings. Another goal is to have a large selection of outstanding photos, showcasing Washington agriculture, on display when Washington hosts the AFBF Annual Meeting in 2010 in Seattle.
And of course, the overall goal is to have photos that help tell the Farm Bureau story in all of our communications endeavors.

2009 WFB Photo Contest Categories include:
•    Crops
•    Livestock
•    Faces of Agriculture Learn More »

Required Safety Workshops for Retro/Safety Members

As a WA Farm Bureau Retro/Safety member you are required to attend at least one workshop per year. Please check the locations to see which one is closest to you. You can attend more than one workshop, and multiple attendees from one company can to attend a workshop.

2009-2010 Retro/Safety Program Year Workshops

Agenda

8:30 am:  Start Morning Session - Required Attendance 
    -Retro/Safety Program Updates
    -How to Perform Workplace Inspections
    -On-Line Claims Management and Analysis Tools

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm: Lunch Break 

1:00 pm - 3:15 pm: Afternoon Session - Optional Attendance 
    -Worker Protection Standard Training - 2 Pesticide Credits   Learn More »

Attention All Young Farmers & Ranchers!
This year at Annual Meeting we have a block of time specifically designed for young farmers and ranchers! Please plan on attending and meeting young people from across the state. 

Registration is available online. If you have difficulty, please call the office at 1-800-331-3276 and ask for Sandy. Or if you have questions about the program, please contact Kristen, YF&R coordinator at 360-561-0387 or khinton@wsfb.com. Learn More »

Healthcare reform took another step forward today as the Senate’s most prominent, and most centrist, bill passed the Senate Finance Committee. The bill, not yet in technical form, was sponsored by Senator Max Baucus (D-Montana) and is referred to as the “America’s Healthy Future Act”. The legislation was initially introduced in September, and after sifting through hundreds of amendments, the Finance Committee passed the bill by a 14-9 vote. The vote was generally partisan, with the only Republican vote coming from Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), who stated that "My vote today is my vote today. It doesn't forecast what my vote will be tomorrow," highlighting her continued concerns with the legislation. Learn More »