Saying it's not possible to survive financially the high cost of labor to harvest their fruit, another family farm is calling it quits. April Clayton, of Red Apple Orchard in Orondo, WA joins Dillon to explain why she and her husband decided to shut down the farm this year, and what might become of their beautiful orchards.

The latest Census of Agriculture data is out from the USDA, and Tom Vilsack, US Secretary of Agriculture, is calling it a "wakeup call." Pam Lewison, Center for Agriculture Director at the Washington Policy Center, says in many ways, the situation is even worse in Washington state than it is nationally, and joins Dillon with details.

The state of Washington's broken promise to Whatcom County farmers and now a sprawling lawsuit on water in the Nooksack River Basin is pushing already-struggling farms to shut down. Dillon shares audio clips from "Losing The Farm," a new, locally-produced documentary sharing the story of Cascade Farms, whose owners were forced to close less than a year ago.

Deep emotion and harsh realities of farm life are on full display in a brand new documentary giving viewers an inside look at a local potato farm that chose to close in the face of daunting odds for survival. Jeff and Diana Bedlington talk with Dillon about "Losing The Farm," which shares the story of their third-generation Lynden-area seed potato farm, and they open up about the heartbreak of having to let go of a legacy started by Jeff’s grandfather.

Farmworkers are losing money as a result of Washington's new agricultural overtime law, and they're not happy about the change that was originally promoted as a benefit to them. Erik Zavala is a former farmworker who's now director of field staff for a tree fruit growers' cooperative in Eastern Washington, and he joins Dillon with more on what workers are saying and feeling about the situation.

Washington state Senator Rebecca Saldaña walked out of a hearing on a bill that would provide relief for farmworkers earning less money as a result of Washington's new ag overtime restrictions. Maia Espinoza, Director of the Center for Latino Leadership, joins Dillon and says Saldaña's exit happened as farmworkers in favor of a bill to allow overtime flexibility were about to speak. She shares with Dillon more details about the important hearing for farmworkers, as well as the farmworker rally that happened just days before.

Growing pears near Cashmere, WA, orchardist Alex Lanuza is a first-generation Latino farmer and former farmworker. He joins Dillon to explain how the state's new overtime restrictions for farmworkers are forcing the closure of family farms, and ultimately resulting in the urban development of productive farmland.

Redundant reporting rules for farms employing guest workers, as well as a proposal to ease the burden of Washington state's new ag overtime restrictions on farmworkers were both up for public hearings in Olympia (segment aired 1/27/24). Scott Dilley with wafla joins Dillon to discuss the details and what may or may not happen in the hearings, as well as the impact of the hundreds of farmworkers that rallied just two days before this interview.

Farmworkers making less money as a result of Washington state's new agricultural overtime law are unhappy, and gathered by the hundreds at the state Capitol in Olympia Jan. 25. Just two days after the event, Dillon explains what happened, and what farmworkers are saying about the new law (Episode aired 1/27/24).

A new UC Berkeley study is showing how new overtime laws for farm work in California is leading to significantly fewer hours for each worker, and thus less take-home pay. Researcher Ali Hill joins Dillon to break down the data she's been uncovering about the counterinuitive real-world impacts of a law similar to new legislation here in Washington state intended to help farmworkers.

Japanese Beetles can be a threat to crops here in Washington State, but leaders are optimistic it can be eradicated. Cassie Cichorz with the Washington State Department of Agriculture joins Dillon to explain why they're going to battle against the invasive species now that it's become a problem in the lower Yakima Valley.

Small farms and rural businesses in Washington that rely on wells could be forced to get special permit under a state Department of Health proposal. Jay Gordon, southwest WA farmer and Policy Director for the Washington State Dairy Federation, joins Dillon with details on the proposed regulation and the possible ulterior motives behind it.

With the minimum wage for guest workers on farms in WA going up to $19.25/hr. this year, many family farms are fighting to stay afloat. Michael Marsh, CEO of the National Council of Agricultural Employers, joins Dillon to explain how the Federal government's flawed methodology is driving the skyrocketing minimum wage, how that wage is driving unsustainable wage inflation for more than just guest workers, and how that inflation is pushing American farms out of business.

After several members of Congress leaked an agreement on the future of the Lower Snake River Dams that the Biden administration negotiated in secret to exclude farmers and others, many are voicing condemnation of the deal. Karen Budd-Falen, former US Department of the Interior Deputy Solicitor, who has followed activists' longtime campaign to force the dams' removal, joins Dillon with reaction and insight into what could happen next.

Extreme labor activists are falsely claiming that the farming community is going back on its word in a legislative agreement on overtime for farm work. Pam Lewison, Director of the Center for Agriculture at the Washington Policy Center, tells Dillon the activists' narrative doesn't align with what actually happened in 2021 when a deal was forged to begin the ag overtime rollout.

Will Honea, Skagit County Senior Deputy Prosecutor, joins Dillon with the latest on the ongoing controversy over water management, fish recovery and farming in Skagit County.

Despite several science studies casting major doubt on their claims that it would save endangered salmon, activists continue to push for the removal of the dams on the lower Snake River in a move that would devastate agriculture, electricity rate payers and many others. Todd Myers, Director of the Center for the Environment at the Washington Policy Center, joins Dillon with details on the secret negotiations the federal government has been having with only certain groups in the region, and notably omitting some of the communities that would be hit hardest.

Local residents packed a meeting this past week featuring experts outlining how they can protect their water access, as a state lawsuit on water rights in Whatcom County is expected to begin this coming spring. Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers' Executive Director, joins Dillon to talk about some of the biggest questions and concerns people have as the court case looms.

Fixing problems with Washington state's new farming overtime laws, as well as the state's failure to follow state law exempting farming from new fuel surcharges, are among the top issues Republicans in the State Senate want to tackle in the coming legislative session. Their agriculture agenda, dubbed "Cultivate Washington," was the focus of a press conference recently, and state Sen. Ron Muzzall, R-Oak Harbor, joins Dillon with a look at some of those top priorities.

Many farmers and landowners are asking where to start preparing to protect their water access as the State of Washington prepares to file a massive lawsuit requiring them to prove their rights. Water law expert Bill Clarke joins Dillon with details on how and why to attend Whatcom Family Farmers' educational event on Nov. 8 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds' Peoples Bank Farm Pavilion.

Despite underwhelming 2023 yields for berry crops in Whatcom County, farmers are enjoying healthy corn and potato production with advantageous weather for harvest. Clay Pehl, CHS Northwest Agronomist, joins Dillon to share what he's hearing from farmers in the field so far this fall.

Farm workers all over Washington are voicing frustration with the state's new agricultural overtime law, and 500 workers recently gathered in Quincy, WA to hear from leaders including state Rep. Alex Ybarra about how to have their voice heard in Olympia. Ybarra joins host Dillon Honcoop with details on the event, and how agricultural overtime is hurting the farm worker community -- the very people it was supposed to help.

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.

Dry weather and water use restrictions have hurt crops in Skagit County and elsewhere across Washington state. Skagit dairy farmer Jason Vander Kooy joins Dillon with details on the drought's impact, and how the state's tardy declaration of a drought emergency affects crop losses.

Kaitlin Davies, Washington state outreach coordinator for the USDA's Farm Service Agency, joins Dillon with details on the kinds of support the federal agency has for farmers here.

Longtime Whatcom County berry grower and retired agricultural educator Ladd Shumway joins Dillon to talk about the variety of fruit his farm has available to the public, and explains how his "no spray" approach works, in this mid-harvest update from his farm, Shumway's Berries.

A deep dive into the state’s data – or lack thereof – on Washington state's farming labor crisis left host Dillon Honcoop with more questions than answers. He explains why he's concerned that state officials are ignoring what's arguably one of the biggest threats to the future of farming in Washington.

The already-costly federal H-2A guest worker program is getting even more expensive for farmers, thanks to huge new fees the feds are charging for each worker visa to help pay for the crisis at the US southern border. Enrique Gastelum, former farm worker and current CEO of farm labor non-profit wafla, joins Dillon to explain what the federal government is doing, and how it ultimately adds to the enormous pressure on family farms to either get big or get out.

Polluted water coming from BC is fouling Whatcom County's Nooksack River Basin, and local farmers are sounding the alarm. Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers' Executive Director, joins Dillon with details on the pollution, and how changes north of the border likely led to the ongoing problem.

Dairy farms and creameries around Whatcom County hosted visitors from far and wide Saturday, June 10th for the 2nd Annual "Whatcom This Whey & Choose Your Own Adventure" event put on by the Dairy Farmers of Washington. Just ahead of the event's 10am start, Dillon checked in with Marlies Gill, manager of the Appel Farms Cheese Shop, one of the stops on the self-guided tour.

Get an in-person look at Whatcom County dairy farms, creameries and cheesemaking on Saturday, June 10th, 2023 with the "Whatcom This Whey & Choose Your Own Adventure" event! Dillon talks with cheese artisan Daniel Wavrin about the tour and his work at Ferndale Farmstead, where he uses milk from his family's dairy to make award-winning cheeses.

Just in time for Lynden's Farmers' Day Parade, the Lynden Heritage Museum is hosting a free grand opening for a brand-new exhibit showcasing John Deere tractors, the longtime local John Deere dealer, and farming's importance to local history. Amanda May, the museum's director, joins Dillon with details on the new exhibit, the free-to-the-public launch, and changes happening at the museum, including its newly-announced name change.

Even though the first several weeks of spring in the Pacific Northwest were exceptionally cool, Mark Van Mersbergen, Lynden-area red raspberry and blueberry grower and Washington Red Raspberry Commission President, says the recent warm days helped get the growing season back on track. Mark joins Dillon to explain the process he's been going through to replant one of his raspberry fields, as well as comment on how our recent unusual weather patterns are affecting crops.

Competing directly with produce imported from Mexico and other countries, Wapato-area farmer Manuel Imperial of Imperial's Garden survives on incredibly tight margins to be able to sell his fruits and vegetables to grocery buyers. As he shares with Dillon, increasing labor pressures here in Washington are pushing farmers like him to the brink. He shared that message this week with several lawmakers who visited Imperial's Garden, including state Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, who has promoted controversial anti-farm proposals in the past, but is now expressing a desire to see both farm workers and farmers thrive.

It's the biggest of its kind north of Bellingham, and the Lynden Farmers Market continues to grow, year after year since its beginning 12 years ago. Dakota Stranik, Lynden Farmers Market Board President, joins Dillon with details on the market's history as well as plans for the 2023 season ahead.

Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, a few Washington state farm labor activists continue to claim there's no shortage of farm workers here. Enrique Gastelum grew up in a farm worker family, and now runs a non-profit helping the farming community deal with the worsening farm labor crisis in Washington. He joins Dillon to explain the extent of the problem, as well as its history and causes.

"Will the Last Family Farmer Leaving Washington Please Turn Out the Barn Lights?" was the headline on a recent Save Family Farming piece in the Seattle Times, borrowing from a phrase that goes back 50 years in Washington state. Gerald Baron, Save Family Farming founding director, and Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers' director, join Dillon to explain the new public outreach campaign to inform the public of the true extent of problems currently pushing family farms out of the Evergreen State.

Tulip Valley Farms is holding an April 29th event dubbed "Farm Bloom: Color and Conversations," and they're calling it an evening of color and conversations with farmers, neighbors, policymakers and friends. Andrew Miller, one of the farm's founders, joins Dillon to explain how they want to tackle the topics central to maintaining a vibrant agricultural economy and rural quality of life in Skagit, Whatcom, Island, and Snohomish counties.

Despite the Washington state legislature's desire to protect farming and food production from the costs of a new carbon tax, the WA Department of Ecology has failed to develop a system to exempt farms from the higher fuel costs, as prices continue to climb. State Rep. Mike Chapman, D-Port Angeles, joins Dillon to voice his frustration with the Inslee Administration's failure to follow the 2021 law, calling it "patently unfair" and suggesting the state risks being "complicit in losing farmland" as it continues to pile additional costs on producing food in WA.

Down in California, Alexandre Family Farm is doing things differently. Blake Alexandre joins Dillon to explain how their dairy's big gamble is paying off, as well as to talk about how the Golden State's recent spate of wet weather is affecting farming there.

In the past, huge flocks of invasive European starlings were known to cause extensive damage to Whatcom County's berry crops, and consume significant amounts of cattle feed from local dairy farms. Matt Stevens, Wildlife Biologist with the USDA, along with Gavin Willis with Whatcom Family Farmers, join Dillon with details on the ongoing program to control the population of the pest birds that are also known to spread dangerous disease.

With no concerns about getting stuck in the mud or tangled in fences, drone spraying is giving farmers a new option to manage hard-to-access fields. Dillon talks with Sam Adams of Everson, WA-based Eagle Eye Aerial Solutions about the emerging technology and how they're providing drone spraying service to farms around the region at surprisingly reasonable prices.

Despite the good intentions of many who supported Washington's rollout of overtime pay for farm work, the implementation of the new law is harming the farm workers it was supposed to help. Pam Lewison, Director of the Washington Policy Center's Center for Agriculture, joins Dillon and explains why farm workers are speaking out, and how the new law is adding to the economic and regulatory pressure that's pushing food production out of the state.

Today's Whatcom Farm Expo features dozens of farms, suppliers, agencies and others hosting exhibits and providing educational talks for anyone interested in small farming. Aneka Sweeney, Whatcom Conservation District Education & Outreach Coordinator,

"Washington had a unique opportunity to return salmon to our streams and rivers and build a model for moving forward on thorny and critical environmental issues. But Gov. Jay Inslee's opposition doomed it.," Bill Bryant writes in a new column for the Inlander. The Nisqually River Foundation founding board member, former Seattle Port commissioner and 2016 WA gubernatorial candidate joins Dillon to talk about the deeper harm Inslee's actions are causing.

An advocate for Washington's Latino community says Hispanic farm workers are less likely to engage in Washington state's political process after state Senators disrespected and discounted the testimony of a dozen workers who testified before the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee. Maia Espinoza, founder of the Center for Latino Leadership, joins Dillon and shares how she was in the room when state Sens. Rebecca Saldaña and Karen Keiser suggested the workers didn't understand the issue on which they were testifying, and allowed a biased and editorialized translation of workers testifying in Spanish.

Despite a bi-partisan effort--embraced by tribes and farmers--to create a program to help protect streams and salmon, WA Gov. Jay Inslee's opposition to the concept appears to have killed the proposal. Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers Executive Director, joins Dillon with details on the political confusion that remains after the broadly-supported bill was torpedoed in Olympia.

Dillon shares audio from the Feb. 9 WA state Senate Labor & Commerce Committee hearing on SB 5476, where Sen. Rebecca Saldaña mistranslated and editorialized farm workers' testimony, effectively suggesting they didn't understand the issue on which they were testifying.

Will Honea, Skagit County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, joins Dillon with an update on the ongoing battle by farmers, tribes and other local interests working together to stave off a greenwashed land grab by Seattle City Light.

Incensed after Hispanic farm workers were disrespected by State Senators Rebecca Saldaña and Karen Keiser during the Feb. 9 Senate Labor & Commerce Committee hearing on agricultural overtime, Enrique Gastelum tells Dillon his farm worker father would be outraged. Gastelum, head of farm labor organization wafla, called Saldaña's and Keiser's handling of the hearing "disgraceful," calling out how the state Senators not only suggested the farm workers testifying were ignorant on the topic of the hearing, but also deliberately mistranslated and editorialized their testimony while denying access to the certified translator in the room.

Small, Latino-owned farms and their workers are reeling after Washington state's new agricultural overtime law hurt workers' earning potential during busy seasons, and made it hard for small farms with labor-intensive crops to stay in business. Maria Rodriguez, CEO of Vizions Economic Development Center in Yakima, which runs the Center for Latino farmers, joins Dillon to explain how a law intended to help workers is actually creating new challenges for both workers and small farmers.

Farm workers are being harmed by Washington state's new agricultural overtime law, and former farm worker Enrique Gastelum, now head of farm labor organization wafla, says state lawmakers need to do something. Gastelum talks with Dillon ahead of a Feb. 9 hearing over a new proposal being heard by the Washington state Senate Labor & Commerce committee that would begin to undo that harm.

While Washington state’s new mandate for overtime pay for farm workers was supposed to benefit workers, it’s had the opposite effect. Dillon talks with Maggie Pérez, an employee at an Eastern Washington apple and cherry farm, to learn what she is hearing from many of her co-workers about how the new law has affected them, and why they’re deeply frustrated with Olympia over the change.

Despite an effort by Yakima Valley dairies to benefit the environment, longtime anti-dairy activist Jean Mendoza is slamming the plan with her typical unscientific dogma. Jay Gordon, Policy Director for the Washington State Dairy Federation, joins Dillon to explain how Mendoza's unfounded criticism exposes her anti-farm agenda, and how the science of dairy's carbon cycle actually works.

As part of their work to preserve the legacy and future of local family farming, Whatcom Family Farmers provides a range of educational programs, both for kids and adults. But it requires community support, and Dillon talks with Ellie Steensma Corbin, Whatcom Family Farmers' Education & Outreach Coordinator, about an upcoming online auction to benefit those educational efforts, and how you can sponsor or donate items to be auctioned.

Throwing out a Trump-era effort to simplify the federal H-2A guest worker program, the Biden administration has now issued its own changes that complicate and add more expense for farmers using the system. Enrique Gastelum, CEO of wafla, joins Dillon to explain how the changes will make it even more challenging to grow food here in Washington state.

Although a wet spring forced many crops in Whatcom County to be planted much later than normal, an unusually dry fall meant harvests weren't as disastrous as they could have been. Joe Vanderpol, agronomist for CHS Northwest, joins Dillon with a recap of the 2022 growing season, and the new challenges farmers faced from less-than-typical weather patterns.

Blueberry production in Whatcom County and across Washington state continues to increase, according to new numbers from this year's harvest. Alan Schreiber, the Washington Blueberry Commission's executive director, joins Dillon with some highlights from his recent presentation to growers on the "State of the Washington Blueberry Industry".

While the troubling lack of progress in restoring endangered WA salmon runs continues to spur calls for more farmland to be converted to fish habitat, more evidence is coming to light that habitat work alone won't save the salmon. Daniel Schindler, professor at the University of Washington's School of Fishery and Aquatic Sciences joins Dillon to talk about a new study effort he chaired through the Washington State Academy of Sciences showing that seals and sea lions are hindering salmon recovery, and may need their populations controlled with lethal removal.

An apparent PR effort to support the Washington Department of Ecology's plan to litigate water rights issues in the Nooksack basin backfired on the state agency. Instead of supporting Ecology's position, experts speaking during the department's so-called "Solutions Showcase" forum exposed the deep flaws in the state's approach. Whatcom berry grower and water rights guru Marty Maberry joins Dillon with reaction to the forum's message, and Ecology's awkward effort to ignore the truth it shared.

One year after she and thousands of others were flooded by an unprecedented disaster in Whatcom County, Sumas-area farmer Leea Rainey Heeringa is still dealing with the impacts, not only on her farm, but also in processing the trauma she survived. Heeringa joins Dillon to share what it was like to live through the historic flood, and why she remains so passionate about reminding people of the disaster and urging solutions to keep it from happening again.

After a setback due to the pandemic, the Whatcom Farm Circle event grew to new heights in 2022. Ellie Steensma Corbin, Whatcom Family Farmers' Agriculture Education Coordinator, joins Dillon to explain how the field trip for third graders from Whatcom County schools works, and what this year's event included.

New state rules forced Alan Schreiber, a fruit and vegetable farmer near Eltopia, WA to leave one of his fields unharvested and let tens of thousands of cantaloupes rot away. Now that a video of Schreiber sharing the story has gone viral on Save Family Farming's Instagram account, he joins Dillon to answer the inevitable criticism the video is receiving on social media, explaining how the critics are missing the big picture.

Salmon are being restored and agriculture continues to thrive in the Yakima River Basin thanks to a collaborative effort between tribes, farmers, environmental interests and others. But as Dillon hears from Scott Revell, Roza Irrigation District Manager, the process didn't start that way, and may never have succeeded if the focus had stayed only on the state's water rights adjudication and the acrimony it created in the courtroom.

More and more people all over the Pacific Northwest and beyond continue to discover Blaine's Drayton Harbor Oyster Company and it's delicious shellfish. But, as Dillon learns from second-generation oyster farmer Mark Seymour and his biologist partner Kat Garrah, it took a lot of work to make it possible. Mark and Kat explain why the whole Whatcom community needs to work together to protect our water resources and ability to grow shellfish.

Advocates for protecting farming in Skagit County are continuing to push back against Seattle City Light's attempts to buy up farmland and take it out of production to mitigate for the lack of fish passage on its Skagit River dams. Will Honea, Skagit County Senior Deputy Prosecutor, updates Dillon on the latest developments, including an upcoming public hearing on Skagit County's efforts to make its ban on such land grabs permanent.

The New York Times recently featured the success of collaborative efforts to solve water management problems in the Yakima River Basin, and Dan Keppen, Executive Director of the Family Farm Alliance, joins Dillon to share more about the opportunities that negotiated settlements provide, as opposed to the litigatory path the Washington State Department of Ecology is pursuing in the Nooksack River Basin.

A process that can achieve real solutions to Whatcom County's water crisis exists, and has been resoundingly successful in other similar situations across the country. Respected water law expert Paul Simmons joins Dillon to explain how a negotiated Indian Water Rights Settlement process could make possible the changes needed here to protect families, fish and farming, as well as how massive federal funding is available if our community collaborates rather than fights in court.

While Joe Nichols’ 2013 hit song “Sunny and 75” points to the weather described in its title as the quintessential perfect day, labor activists are now attempting to spin 75-degree weather as ‘hazardous’ for farm workers. Pam Lewison, Director of Washington Policy Center's Initiative on Agriculture, joins Dillon to discuss how the extremists' plan defied common sense and exposed their ulterior motives.

September is Eat Local Month, and Sustainable Connections is working to help coordinate the celebrations across Whatcom County. Jess Meyer, Sustainable Connections' Food & Farming Outreach Coordinator, joins Dillon with the details on the various events and festivities happening all month long.

A new report from a national expert and former US Department of Interior Assistant Solicitor, Ramsey Kropf, outlines what's likely the only feasible path to solve the water management crisis in the Nooksack River Basin in a way that protects families, fish and farming. Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers Executive Director, joins Dillon to explain how Kropf's analysis of the Nooksack's challenges provides a workable path forward, as well as examples of other basins across the west that have had success following this path.

The USDA announced plans to partner with labor activists on a new project to develop further regulations on the already heavily-regulated federal H-2A guest worker program. Farm labor advocate Jesse Rojas is crying foul, pointing out the extremist nature of the activist group USDA is partnering with, and sharing the anti-farmworker actions that he has witnessed that group take during his work with advocacy group Pick Justice.

Protecting farming and some of the best farmland in the world is important to Skagitonians, as well as working to restore struggling salmon runs. Will Honea, Skagit County Senior Deputy Prosecutor, joins Dillon to explain how Seattle City Light wants to buy up Skagit delta farmland to use instead for salmon habitat projects to mitigate for its lack of fish passage on its Skagit River dams. He says it amounts to 'greenwashing' that will ultimately harm farming and fish.

With a heat wave pushing temperatures into the triple digits in many parts of Washington, farmers and workers bringing in the harvest need to use caution to avoid heat-related illness. Pam Lewison, director of the Washington Policy Center's Initiative on Agriculture, joins Dillon to break down what farmers across the state are doing and what state law mandates to protect workers.

The recent Northwest Raspberry Festival took over downtown Lynden with delicious treats, vendors, entertainment and basketball games. Dillon talked to Megan Lacy with Washington Red Raspberries to not only get details on the event, but also hear what local raspberry farmers are doing to promote their tasty, nutritious fruit.

Even as the farming community and others in the Nooksack River Basin continue to point out the troubling problems with their plan, the Washington State Department of Ecology continues to focus on litigation rather than collaboration to solve the local water crisis. Ag Water Board of Whatcom County administrator Henry Bierlink tells Dillon he's frustrated that Ecology isn't really hearing what the farming community is saying.

In a recent letter to Laura Watson, Washington Department of Ecology's director, the mayors of Sumas, Nooksack, Everson, Lynden and Blaine say they're concerned Ecology's misinformation about a water rights lawsuit in the Nooksack River Basin may be leading key parties to resist collaboration toward the larger solutions for the basin's water management crisis. Everson Mayor John Perry joins Dillon to talk about the letter, and underscore the need for cooperative efforts to accomplish bigger solutions than a state water rights adjudication lawsuit can produce.

Farmers are applauding a recent Supreme Court decision limiting EPA's ability to make regulations above and beyond the authority Congress has given it. Dan Wood, Washington State Dairy Federation Executive Director, talks with Dillon about how that could impact not only the future of EPA's efforts to restrict farming, but also the work of various other arms of the executive branch of government making onerous rules beyond their purview.

Despite its storied 155-year history of leadership on farming and rural public policy issues, many people are unaware of what the Grange is, and what it stands for. Dillon visits the Washington State Grange Convention in Puyallup and chats with National Grange Vice President Chris Hamp about the organization's origins, values, and enduring relevance, especially in our increasingly polarized society.

With raspberry and blueberry harvest looming, farms in Whatcom County are offering more flexibility than ever for people interested in helping with a diverse list of jobs and making some summertime cash. Christine Bolton, who leads the human resources department at Enfield Farms near Lynden, tells Dillon that many positions remain open, and they're able to tailor the work to each person's specific needs and interests.

One of the coolest, wettest springs in recent memory has farmers in the Pacific Northwest struggling to get crops planted. Clay Pehl, agronomist with CHS Northwest, joins Dillon to share what's happening on farms across Whatcom County, and how local farmers are trying to adjust to the challenging conditions they face.

Dairy farms, creameries and cheesemakers around Whatcom County are all on the list of places you can visit Saturday, June 11, as they open their doors to the public for the "Whatcom This Whey" self-guided farm tours event. Brianna DeBruin, Everson-area dairy herdswoman, is hosting a tour stop on her farm, and joins Dillon with details on what you can expect when you "choose your own adventure" during the 10am - 4pm event Saturday organized by the Dairy Farmers of Washington. The tour map and info about all the stops are available at https://www.wadairy.org/whatcomthiswhey/

The WA Board of Health’s move to regulate manure is on its face very redundant, as numerous federal, state, county and local governments and agencies already regulate every possible aspect of manure and how it’s managed. But as Dan Wood, Washington State Dairy Federation director tells Dillon, also troubling is the vague nature of many of their albeit redundant rulemaking, creating a potential regulatory and litigatory nightmare for animal agriculture.

Despite the daunting water management challenges facing the Nooksack River Basin, solutions are within reach, says Dan Keppen, Family Farm Alliance Executive Director. He joins Dillon to discuss his recent visit to Whatcom County, explain why he's optimistic that our local water crisis can be solved, and share what he's learned through his decades of involvement in the water challenges in the Klamath River Basin in southern Oregon and northern California.

As local leaders and residents continue to grapple with the Nooksack River Basin’s water management crisis and how to solve it, top national experts are coming to Whatcom County to hear from water users and offer their wisdom at a major community event. One of the experts, nationally-recognized attorney Ramsey Kropf, joins Dillon to share what people can expect to learn at the May 25th event at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds’ Farm Pavilion in Lynden.

Titled "Solving Whatcom's Water Crisis," a major event on May 25 will bring national experts to Lynden for a discussion of the work needed to protect families, fish and farming. Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers' Executive Director, joins Dillon with the details.

Most milk produced by cows in the Nooksack River Basin is processed at Darigold's Lynden facility, where most of its water is removed to make powdered milk. Dillon talks with Lynden Mayor Scott Korthuis, whose idea to credit so-called "COW water" to the city's water needs, explains how the project to return water to the river is finally moving forward.

Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau, visited farms in Whatcom and Skagit counties recently. Dillon talks with Rosella Mosby, the new Washington Farm Bureau President, about Duvall's reaction to the unique political pressures the farming community faces here, as well as her vision for the future of the Washington Farm Bureau.

Already officially over a month into spring—at least according to the calendar—the weather here in the PNW has been decidedly cold and wet so far. Meteorologist Rufus La Lone joins Dillon to explain what’s causing our weather to seem as much like winter as it does spring. He shares a long-range outlook that has some hope to local farmers who are weeks behind spring planting schedules thanks to cold, wet fields—but there’s a catch.

Slapping Skagit Valley Farms with a fine over a quarter-million dollars, the WA Department of Ecology accuses the local vegetable grower of irrigating illegally and suggests it was harming salmon. But as Capital Press reporter Don Jenkins tells Dillon, there's more to the story, including details shared by the farm that raise major questions about Ecology's accusations and tactics in targeting the farm for enforcement.

With the price of fertilizer doubled--or more--over last year's already elevated prices, in addition to shortages leading to skyrocketing prices or complete unavailability of some key crop protection products, local farmers are under extra pressure during the already-stressful time of spring crop planting. Blake Carson, agronomist with Skagit Farmers Supply in Whatcom and Skagit counties, tells Dillon farmers are facing tough choices on whether to forge ahead or change their plans.

Water used for irrigation on farms will need to meet quality standards under a new agricultural water rule emerging from the FDA's years-long update of the Food Safety Modernization Act. Washington State Tree Fruit Association President Jon DeVaney joins Dillon to explain how the new rule works, and what it will mean for farmers here.

Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers Executive Director, tells Dillon he's encouraged to see people on all sides agree that we have to do something to solve water management issues in the Nooksack River Basin. “I would really encourage our community to work on helping us continue to send that message out, because it’s going to be very easy for this to fade from the headlines and just go back to, just not doing anything, because it’s easier that way.” Join the effort for Whatcom water management solutions now: https://p2a.co/gvg7BWc

WA Gov. Jay Inslee's renewed efforts to push farm-killing legislation and recent comments suggesting farmers are opposed because they don't care about salmon recovery are causing farmers and ranchers to speak out. Benge, WA, rancher Bridget Coon joins Dillon to explain the return of Inslee's harmful plans to the state legislature under a new name, just weeks after a previous attempt was resoundingly rejected. ***UPDATE: In the days following this 2/19 interview, the idea was again rejected by a state Senate committee and will not move forward in this year's legislative session.

After local mayors and the Whatcom farming community began speaking out about the need for immediate work to prevent another flooding disaster in the Nooksack basin, a Seattle reporter asked a Washington State Department of Ecology official whether they're considering sediment removal from the river--one of the multiple prevention efforts local leaders are calling for. "Nope," was the official's response, and Dillon not only shares the audio of the official's offensive comments, but also shares the larger context that underscores just how troubling the perspective of the Ecology official, David Radabaugh, truly is for the effort to prevent another catastrophe.

Amanda Lenssen, Whatcom County Dairy Ambassador, talks with Dillon about her dairy farming background on a Lynden-area family farm, as well as the advocacy she's been doing for the local dairy community in her dairy ambassador role and her vision for her future in agriculture.

Political moves in Olympia last year to require long-term care coverage for WA residents have resulted in a debacle, to put it mildly. Lynden-based Manna Insurance Group owner and founder Dan Vander Kooi joins Dillon to explain what the latest 18-month delay recently approved by state lawmakers means for farms and other employers deciding whether to withhold money from workers' checks.

After the twin problems of drought last summer, followed by a deadly flooding disaster in November, the mayors of north Whatcom County's small cities are calling on state leaders to stop ignoring the water management crisis in the Nooksack River Basin. Scott Korthuis, Lynden's mayor, joins Dillon to explain why he and his mayor colleagues wrote a letter to Olympia.

Even though milk prices are up, there's always the other side of the equation for dairy farms: feed and other production costs. Skagit dairy farmer Dwayne Faber joins Dillon to discuss trends in the dairy markets, and how costs are blunting some of the positive impact of higher prices.

WA state Sen. Ron Muzzall joins Dillon to discuss his proposal to block the Department of Ecology’s new restrictions on watering livestock, as well as the latest on Gov. Inslee’s fizzling mandatory buffer plan and efforts to bring water management fixes to the Nooksack River Basin.

As WA Gov. Jay Inslee's plan for mandatory stream buffers moves forward, Tom Davis, Washington Farm Bureau Director of Government Relations, tells Dillon that studies show the ill-conceived proposal would not benefit salmon the way its backers claim. In fact, he explains how the idea could ultimately harm salmon recovery efforts. The plan is up for a hearing this week in a state House of Representatives committee, and Davis is urging people to speak out against the proposal due to the vast harm it would cause to farming across the state.

A plan that would virtually end farming in Western Washington is moving forward in Olympia, and Jay Gordon is back to talk with Dillon about how the proposal continues to worsen as it begins its journey through the legislative process in Olympia.

Dillon lays out the initial details of the Whatcom farming community's call for leaders to pursue any and all worthwhile solutions for the Nooksack Basin's water management crisis, to not only prevent devastating floods like November's, but also to protect fish from drought conditions in dry summer months.

When temperatures plunge, wind howls and snow flies, dairy farms don't get to shut down until conditions are better. So all the hard work that happens every day on the farm gets that much harder. Brianna DeBruin, Herd Manager at Everson-area Van Dellen Farms, shares with Dillon the various challenges they've faced in this winter's cold spell so far.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is proposing new laws to force mandatory, inflexible buffers along all streams in the state, despite a state Fish & Wildlife study showing such requirements can be harmful. Jay Gordon, Washington State Dairy Federation Policy Director, tells Dillon that if Inslee gets his way, he could end up harming the very streams he claims to protect.

Record low stream levels in late summer killed thousands of fish in the Nooksack river, leading to claims of lack of water in the Nooksack Basin. But just a few short months later, historic flooding inundated farmland and towns in north Whatcom County, causing widespread devastation. Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers Executive Director, joins Dillon to explain how this proves that the basin does not have a water supply problem--it has a water management problem.

Long-range weather models have been showing the potential for lowland snow in the Pacific Northwest, but as meteorologist and blogger Rufus La Lone tells Dillon, it's not yet clear just how much winter weather could be on the way.

In a bizarre move in the wake of November's historic flooding, Bellingham-based activist group Community to Community Development began a call to defund an emergency shelter near Sumas for flood victims (see their Facebook post here https://bit.ly/3oThMYE). Why would they push to take away this emergency resource for community members who lost everything in the flood? Because the activist group falsely claims the farm whose worker housing is being used as the emergency shelter killed a farm worker nearly a half-decade ago. Dillon explains how deep Community to Community's deception goes, and just how much harm they're attempting to cause merely to try to prove a ridiculous political point.

As floodwaters raged through Sumas, WA, shutting down the EPL feed mill there, competitor Cargill Animal Nutrition in Ferndale suddenly faced the weight of attempting to support the feed needs of not only their dairy customers, but EPL's as well. Roger Eytzen, sales manager at the Ferndale mill, joins Dillon to share what was happening behind the scenes to make sure cattle didn't go hungry during the historic November 2021 flooding.

Historic flooding on the Nooksack River last week affected farms from Ferndale through Lynden, Everson, Nooksack and Sumas. Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers Executive Director, joins Dillon with a rundown of the various impacts being talked about in the local farming community, including looming feed shortages, damaged farms, cattle moved to high ground, farmers forced to dump milk, and more.

This week's news that India's government will reverse course on controversial new farming laws that sparked over a year of deadly protests has the local Punjabi community celebrating. Lynden-area blueberry farmer Khush Brar and local realtor Raj Grewal join Dillon with details on what happened, and what it means for farmers in India as well as here in Whatcom County.

The pandemic turbocharged an already-growing trend of consumer interest in local food, but bottlenecks in the system and other difficulties face beef producers in Whatcom County and Western Washington. Producer Branden Brink joins Dillon with a closer look at the challenges that remain.

Highlighting the sustainability of beef produced in Washington state was a focus of this year's Washington Cattlemen's Association Annual Convention in Kennewick. Dillon sat down with Ashley House, the group's Executive Director, to discuss the latest issues facing beef producers in the state.

Radical labor activist groups pressured Washington state government into a "fool's errand" in a failed bid to hamper farms' ability to hire foreign guest workers, wafla director Dan Fazio tells Dillon. He explains how the ruse was supposed to work, and says the truth is the opposite of the activists' doomsday narrative, and he shares how foreign guest workers here in WA via the federal H-2A program have been well-protected against COVID, on top of earning life-changing income to bring to their families back in their home countries.

People involved in farming who are experiencing health struggles-- including injuries, disabilities, and even mental health issues--have many resources available to help them. But finding and connecting with them isn't always easy, and WA AgrAbility coordinator Kristen Hinton-Vanvalkenburg tells Dillon that's what the program was designed to help with.

In a recent ruling on key dairy regulations, a state court cited data blaming dairy composting for massive groundwater contamination. As Jay Gordon with the Washington State Dairy Federation tells Dillon, the study that the data purportedly came from never even happened, leaving major questions about the validity of the court's ruling.

Raspberry and blueberry farmer Todd Van Mersbergen faced some challenging days during the 2021 harvest season, as did most other Whatcom County berry growers. He talks with Dillon about how this summer's damaging 'heat dome' weather phenomenon caused widespread damage and crop loss.

Despite activists continuing to claim that no farm worker shortage exists in Washington, a recent effort by the state's Employment Security Department turned up no new qualified workers for farming. Dillon explains how this new information further dismantles the dishonest narrative of labor activists, and exposes again their harmful agenda.

Local farmers are unveiling a just-completed fish habitat restoration project that has re-opened miles of salmon stream on a tributary of the Nooksack River. Dillon talks with engineer Dale Buys about how the project installed a state-of-the-art fish-friendly floodgate that will allow salmon to again live and spawn in what is known as Duffner Ditch, which winds through productive farmland southwest of Lynden and connects with Bertrand Creek just before reaching the Nooksack River.

Bi-Zi Farms near Vancouver, WA may be forced to shut down after the WA Department of Ecology decided to punish the farm over technicalities on their ability to use water from the farm's well that's been in use for over a century. Owner Bill Zimmerman tells Dillon how despite their best efforts to satisfy Ecology's desires, state bureaucrats have provided no possible pathway for the small family farm to solve the legal issues. Dillon points out how Bi-Zi's situation is a likely harbinger of what could happen to many farms in Whatcom County as a result of the state's proposed water rights adjudication lawsuit.

Farmers in Whatcom County and across the west are increasingly looking to California-based Altrac for high-tech options for remotely controlling and automating operations on their farms. Neil Schultz, Altrac Product Manager, joins Dillon to explain how their systems work, and how farmers are using them to do a better job of growing crops while also reducing labor costs.

Energy efficiency improvements can save lots of money on a farm, and a local program helping businesses find changes to make, as well as grants and programs to pay for the changes, is reaching out to the Whatcom farming community. Emily Larson Kubiak, Sustainable Connections' Energy Program Manager, joins Dillon to explain how it works, and just how affordable the service is right now.

A farm-to-table bike ride around northern Whatcom County will bring bicyclists to several local farms. Organizer Connor Herron tells Dillon that participants will get to chat with farmers directly and learn more about how food is grown here.

Years in the making, the Farming For Life Experience in the Northwest Washington Fair's new Farm Pavilion is finally taking shape, just in time for the 2021 Fair. Designer David Lackey shares with Dillon details from the exhibit's journey from concept to reality.

A brand new novel, Sugar Birds, is set in a fictionalized version of Whatcom County's small farming community, circa 1985. Author Cheryl Bostrom talks with Dillon about her inspiration for the book, including the experiences of her local veterinarian husband.

A delay in Gov. Inslee providing help to farmers suffering from drought conditions has the WA farming community asking some big questions about his real motives, Pam Lewison with the Washington Policy Center tells Dillon.

As drought conditions worsen and stream flows plummet in the wake of an historic heatwave, Whatcom Family Farmers' Fred Likkel tells Dillon farmers are calling for all parties involved in local water issues to come together to collaborate on urgently-needed solutions to the Nooksack River basin’s water management problems to help fish and local food production.

Major questions about the state's proposed water rights adjudications remain unanswered, says 42nd district state Sen. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, and he's putting pressure on the state Department of Ecology to provide answers. He joins Dillon to explain why the state legislature can't OK spending millions of dollars on the proposed court cases if Ecology hasn't been transparent about the process and its troubled history.

A local environmental activist, well known for his involvement in Whatcom water issues and court cases, criticized farmers in a recent letter published in the Lynden Tribune. Now, Whatcom County Ag Water Board administrator Henry Bierlink is pushing back with his own letter, saying activist Eric Hirst is missing the truth and supporting a hypocritical position.

Unprecedented high temperatures at the end of June scorched berry crops in Whatcom County, and grower Paul Sangha joins Dillon to describe the impact the damage has been having on the ongoing harvest.

Dairies should not be forced to put double synthetic liners in their manure storage lagoons, and the current rules for clay lagoon liners are protective of groundwater, according to a new ruling on Washington state's rules for concentrated animal feeding operations. But Dan Wood, Washington State Dairy Federation director, joins Dillon to explain how the ruling misses the mark in other ways, including rules for manure application timing in Eastern Washington that aren't supported by science.

Forty-four years of legal wrangling continue in the Yakima River Basin, as the Washington State Department of Ecology pushes to start a similar legal process in Whatcom County's Nooksack River Basin. Capital Press reporter Don Jenkins joins Dillon with details on the latest legal appeals filed in the Yakima water rights adjudication, and how the situation is a cautionary tale for those asking for the same process to be used on an even more complicated situation on the Nooksack.

A dangerous heat wave is bearing down on the Pacific Northwest, and meteorologist Rufus La Lone joins Dillon to talk about how bad it could get, and the potential for major damage to crops and farms.

With drier-than-normal conditions for much of the spring, Whatcom County farmers were able to get crops planted early. Clay Pehl, agronomist for CHS Northwest, joins Dillon with an update on what's happening out in the local fields.

Even as Washington state began phasing out many COVID restrictions in early 2021, they continued some strict requirements for farms and worker housing. Wafla director Dan Fazio tells Dillon this was despite a 100% vaccination rate among guest worker crews. He shares the results of a lawsuit his organization and others filed against the unfair restrictions.

Despite the WA Department of Ecology's march toward a massive court case to hammer out Whatcom water rights issues, a much better option of community collaboration is still possible and desperately needed. Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers Executive Director, joins Dillon with an update on the issue now that the state budget has been finalized, including funding for "pre-adjudication work."

In arguing for a new capital gains tax in WA, some lawmakers circulated a political talking point that suggested that farmers work "less than half time." Pam Lewison, Washington Policy Center's Initiative on Agriculture Director, joins Dillon to explain why the farming community is outraged at the offensive statement, and how hypocritical its perspective is considering the recent farming overtime legislation passed in Olympia.

Labor activists are claiming victory after WA Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill phasing in overtime pay requirements for farming. But the truth is a much different story, as Gerald Baron, Save Family Farming Executive Director, explains, showing that the new law sadly doesn't benefit farm workers the way activists claim.

Can't find processing for your meat animals? While waitlists for processing grow longer by the day with the COVID pandemic turbocharging consumers' already growing shift toward local meat, an Everson startup has a solution that could turn the world of meat processing on its head. Bob Lodder, president and founder of Friesla, joins Dillon to explain how his company's modular meat processing system can give farmers and ranchers a way to take back control and process their own USDA-approved meat right on the farm.

In spite of the pressures facing farming, and the COVID pandemic causing major challenges for education, Gerrit Van Weerdhuizen, ag teacher and FFA advisor at Lynden Christian High School, says he's had his "best year ever" in over four decades of teaching. He talks with Dillon to explain why.

While the phase-in of overtime pay in all of farming in Washington will be difficult for both farms and farm workers, the alternative could have been much more damaging, says Scott Dilley with the Washington State Dairy Federation. Dilley joined Dillon to discuss the details of the state legislature's recent compromise measure after several political twists and turns.

Pointing to complaints about smell, noise, and light pollution, the Whatcom County Council recently put a temporary ban on new outdoor cannabis farming operations, saying new restrictions need to be considered. The lone council member opposed to the ban, Custer-area farmer Ben Elenbaas, joins Dillon to explain why he's concerned about a dangerous slippery slope that could also hinder many other kinds of local farmers' ability to produce food and fiber.

As local farmers look for new crops to grow and include in crop rotations, a plant traditionally grown much more extensively in Eastern Washington is making its way west. Nick Schultheis of Quincy, WA-based Farmer Bean & Seed chats with Dillon about black beans and the unique challenges and opportunities of growing them in Western Washington.

When vegetable processing facilities left Whatcom County decades ago, so did the crops that had for many years provided diverse opportunities for local farmers and their farmland. Now, as major local crops face uncertainty, Whatcom farmers are looking for other options to keep farmland in production. Canadian food processor Yasir Shah of BC Frozen Foods just north of Sumas in Mission, BC, joins Dillon to explain that different land pressures north of the border are spurring them to look at growing and processing vegetables here in the US, including possibly in Whatcom County.

Protection for farmers being sued despite following state wage laws moved a big step closer to reality, but the battle isn't over yet, Pam Lewison, Washington Policy Center's Initiative on Agriculture Director tells Dillon. She joins him with details on the legislation's roller coaster ride of good and bad changes, and what still needs to be fixed as the measure makes its way toward the next big hurdle. Her blog post on the effort's current status is here: https://www.washingtonpolicy.org/publications/detail/relationship-status-with-essb-5172-its-complicated

Now is the time to tell state lawmakers not to fund a deeply damaging state lawsuit, called an "adjudication," against all Whatcom water rights holders, says Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers Executive Director. Instead, he says the state should put it's support behind a constructive, collaborative process that the local farming community is supporting. He joins Dillon with an update on where the state's bad adjudication plan stands right now, and how the harmful effort could easily be redirected toward a positive process that brings the community together around salmon recovery and local food, rather than dividing neighbor against neighbor in a decades-long court process.

The twists and turns continue in the state Senate negotiations over a bill to protect farmers from being forced to pay crippling penalties despite having followed state wage laws. Dan Wood, Washington State Dairy Federation Executive Director, joins Dillon with an update on the effort to block farm-killing lawsuits demanding unfair retroactive backpay.

"I am certain without [lawmakers’ action], family-owned orchards, specifically those that are owned by minorities or disadvantaged farmers, will become a thing of the past,” Flor de Maria Maldonado recently told a Washington state Senate committee. She grew up as a farm worker, and now with her family runs a small orchard in Tonasket, Wash. She joins Dillon to explain why the plan to penalize farmers despite the fact that they followed state law on overtime would put her family's farm out of business.

The push to force retroactive overtime pay is 'illogical,' writes Pam Lewison in a recent column. Lewison, the Director of Washington Policy Center's Initiative on Agriculture joined Dillon to discuss her recent article and the backward thinking that's threatening the future of farming in Washington state.

Eastern Washington dairy farmer Fransisca Vander Meulen choked back tears as she explains how unfair lawsuits that money-hungry lawyers have filed against dozens of WA farms could put her family's farm out of business. She joined Dillon to talk about what's really at stake for so many family farms who worked to follow state law regarding overtime pay, but now could be heavily penalized in spite of that.

Even though they could potentially collect money via back-pay lawsuits in the wake of the Washington State Supreme Court's ruling on overtime pay for farm work, HR manager Felipe Garcia tells Dillon that they're concerned about a much larger risk. He says workers are saying it's not worth the much more significant damage that lawsuits against farms would cause. He explains that workers know their jobs are in jeopardy, because the potential financial burden of retroactive overtime pay could put the farms they work for out of business - MORE: https://bit.ly/3iCS6dS

Make sure you vote in the Whatcom Conservation District election--request a ballot ASAP! The district's Aneka Sweeney joins Dillon to explain why in-person voting is not happening this year, so everyone who wants to vote must request a ballot by Monday, Feb. 8.

Over her 30-plus years of working on water quality issues in northwest Washington, Christine Woodward has seen real progress when diverse groups come together and collaborate on solutions. Woodward, the chair of the Portage Bay Shellfish Protection District, joined Dillon to talk about the positive changes brought by farmers and others working together to protect streams, and said there's still more work to be done.

An effort to protect Washington farms from unfair farm-ending lawsuits has begun in Olympia, but it faces an uphill battle. Gerald Baron, Save Family Farming Executive Director, joins Dillon to explain how the voice of people who support farming is urgently needed right now to stop unconstitutional back-pay lawsuits from bankrupting law-abiding farmers.

Farmland continues to be gobbled up by urbanization in Washington state -- but what can be done to stop it? Melissa Campbell, Washington Farmland Trust Executive Director, joins Dillon to explain what the organization does not only to preserve farmland, but also make sure it's still being farmed.

Many farms are at risk of bankruptcy if unconstitutional lawsuits inspired by a recent Washington State Supreme Court ruling are allowed to continue. Dan Wood, Washington State Dairy Federation Executive Director, joins Dillon with an update on the dozens of class action lawsuits that money-hungry lawyers have filed against law-abiding farmers since the November SCOW decision, as well as what the state legislature could do about the crisis.

Local Indian-Sikh farmers are thanking the Seattle City Council for supporting protesting farmers in India, and they’re asking for help against threats faced by family farmers here in Washington. Whatcom blueberry grower Paul Sangha joins Dillon to talk about how farmers in Whatcom County, like farmers in India, face devastating government actions proposed without their input - MORE: https://bit.ly/3syRxGs

COVID-19 safety violations were the reason the Washington Department of Labor and Industries gave when they fined a central Washington fruit farm a record-setting $2 million this week. But is the state's motivation really about keeping workers safe? Dillon becomes deeply suspicious of the state's targeting of Gebbers Farms as their spokeswoman Amy Philpott joins him to share the real story of the farm's efforts to protect workers in the pandemic.

Lynne Rainey Wheeler's family farm near Acme could be forced out of business if state leaders go ahead with a harmful plan to 'adjudicate' water rights. She joins Dillon to explain what this dire situation means for her farm and her family, and how hard they have worked to help improve water issues in the Nooksack River's south fork near their farm.

The harmful 'adjudication' process state leaders are calling for in Whatcom County has been used before--in Yakima, where it caused far more harm than good. John Stuhlmiller, Washington Farm Bureau CEO, joins Dillon to explain the history, and why the story of what happened in the Yakima basin clearly shows why adjudication is not the right solution for the Nooksack basin's water woes.

Farming in Washington state relies heavily on irrigation, flood control, transportation and other benefits from dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers. But activists have claimed that those dams are the main problem harming endangered salmon in those streams, and they want the dams to be taken down. A major new study from a leading salmon researcher, Dr. David Welch, shows that dams are not the obvious culprit in the ongoing decline of Chinook salmon. Dr. Welch joins Dillon to explain the findings and share evidence pointing to where the real problems harming salmon are occurring.

If a farm no longer has reliable access to water, everyone knows that's a threat to their crops that need to be irrigated to grow. But the problems start long before that ever happens. Jay Gordon with the Washington State Dairy Federation joins Dillon to explain how the uncertainty of a water rights adjudication like state officials have proposed in the Nooksack Basin would start killing farms long before any water were to be shut off.

Although the Washington State Supreme Court's recent ruling on overtime for farm workers was focused on dairy farm employees, fruit farms and many others are bracing for major changes as well. Dan Fazio, Wafla Executive Director, joins Dillon to explain the impact the ruling will have far beyond dairy, and how ultimately it will hurt farm workers and force more and more of our food to be produced in foreign countries.

Whatcom Family Farmers has launched the Virtual Farm Circle, transforming the traditionally in-person event to an online activity in response to pandemic restrictions. WFF Outreach Director Gavin Willis talks with Dillon about the project and how it was produced.

Politically-driven activists are applauding a WA Supreme Court ruling forcing dairy farms to pay all workers overtime. But the reality is that this will ultimately take opportunities away from farm workers, Scott Dilley with the Washington State Dairy Federation tells Dillon.

Despite state officials pushing a new plan to "adjudicate" water rights in the Nooksack basin, some people still naively believe salmon restoration work and community collaboration will be able to continue as the state's legal process plays out over coming decades. But natural resources attorney Bill Clarke says that's not reality. He joins Dillon to explain how the plan would leave much environmental work in the basin deadlocked.

Ongoing sampling shows years of efforts by farmers, cities, environmentalists and regular citizens have succeeded in reducing bacterial contamination and other pollution in Whatcom County's waterways. Meg Harris, Whatcom Conservation District Water Quality Data Coordinator, joins Dillon as well as Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers' Director, to talk about the latest sampling results, the stories of success, and the work that still needs to be done.

The special minimum wage the federal government requires farmers pay foreign guest workers has far outpaced wage growth in virtually any other category. Now, Wafla director Dan Fazio joins Dillon to explain how an effort to bring the so-called Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) more in line with other workers' wages has been challenged in court.

New data is exposing more lies from labor activist groups Familias Unidas por la Justicia and Community Community Development led by Rosalinda Guillen. The groups had blamed an Eastern Washington fruit farm for a COVID outbreak, claiming the farm hadn't done enough to protect workers. Save Family Farming Executive Director Gerald Baron joins Dillon to explain how a public health official is now calling out the activists' false narrative and asking them to stop spreading fear.

After an Eastern Washington dairy farm decided to fight the false accusations of activist Oregon lawyer Charlie Tebbutt--rather than settle out of court as other farms have done--the lawyer and the activist groups he represents asked for the case to be dismissed. Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers' Executive Director, joins Dillon to explain what we know so far about the situation, and how this could spell the beginning of the end for Tebbutt's sue-and-settle scheme to take down Washington dairy farms.

A water rights adjudication in the Nooksack Basin would cause more harm than good, Bellingham Mayor Seth Fleetwood tells Dillon, who reiterated the harm the proposed process would cause local farming. Fleetwood explains his concerns about the expensive legal bills, community discord, and lengthy time the Washington State Department of Ecology's plan for an adjudication in Whatcom County would bring.

Washington state leaders want to pit neighbors across Whatcom County against each other in court, in a damaging effort to rank who has the oldest water rights. Henry Bierlink, director of the Ag Water Board of Whatcom County, joins Dillon to explain why the local farming community is not only concerned about their future, but also about how the plan would harm salmon recovery and divide the entire community.

Dangerous wildfires have swept through parts of Eastern Washington in recent weeks, destroying massive amounts of animal feed, fences and barns. Whidbey Island farmer Ron Muzzall, along with his family and friends, were among dozens of Western Washington farmers who loaded up hay and hauled it across the Cascades to donate to fire-stricken farmers and ranchers.

It's been a bad year for hay fires in Whatcom County, and one of the biggest was at Albert de Boer's farm near Ferndale. de Boer joins Dillon to share what happen, and explain why this year has been so difficult for local hay farmers.

Urbanization is a major threat to salmon, and if state officials get their way, urban expansion into local farmland would accelerate rapidly in the coming years. Gerald Baron, Save Family Farming Executive Director, joins Dillon to explain how the Washington State Department of Ecology's troubling plan would divide the local community and encourage urbanization, hurting salmon recovery efforts and crippling local farms.

A recent Lynden Tribune letter to the editor raised fears that a specific pesticide was being used in local potato farming. But Washington State University scientist Chris Benedict tells Dillon that pesticide isn't ever used on potato plants, and he explains how local potato farming actually works.

A plan to divide our community and take water access issues to court could spell the end for much of Whatcom County's farming community, says local seed potato farmer Greg Ebe. Ebe, who is also an accomplished civil engineer, explains to Dillon how the troubling plan by the Washington State Department of Ecology could put farms out of business, stall cooperation on salmon restoration projects, and ultimately harm fish as well as local farming.

The Washington dairy community—and now dairy farmers and groups across the nation—have been calling for the EPA to pull a study that falsely blamed dairy farms for groundwater pollution in the Yakima Valley. Washington State Dairy Federation Executive Director Dan Wood updates Dillon on the 9th Circuit Federal Court’s recent ruling against the EPA’s effort to have the dairy farmers’ legal case thrown out.

Triple Wren Farms in Ferndale, WA, had big plans for 2020, but COVID-19 forced the flower farm to adjust. Steve Pabody owns and operates the farm with his wife and kids, and talked with Dillon on the new podcast Real Food Real People about the challenges they've faced.

The long-running local tradition of the Whatcom Farm Tour, organized by Sustainable Connections as part of their annual Local Food Month events, continues on in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Maressa Valliant, Sustainable Connections' Marketing Coordinator, tells Dillon how they were able to modify the event to happen entirely online, and how the virtual presentation actually meant some positive changes for the event.

Case VanderMeulen came to the US from Europe in the '80s, and has grown his Eastern Washington dairy from a one-man show to one of the biggest milking operations in the state. Dillon shares a preview of his conversation with Case on his new podcast, Real Food Real People, where Case helps demystify how large dairies really work.

Fish need farms to stand in the gap between them and the urban pollution that is decimating their populations, says Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers' Executive Director. But, he tells Dillon, local farms are also threatened by encroaching urbanization, and looming legal action by powerful state agencies is threatening to rapidly increase that troubling trend, putting both fish and farms in Whatcom County at extreme risk.

Cool, rainy days in June and early July have caused major struggles for red raspberry growers working to harvest their crop. Randy Kraght with Barbie’s Berries talks with Dillon about what’s been happening in the fields.

Lots of rainy days have put a damper on the start of the red raspberry harvest in Western Washington, but farming-focused weather blogger Rufus La Lone tells Dillon there are better days ahead for the fruit crop. Find his weather blog, The WxCafe®, at https://ovs.com.

Meet Jewel Plagerman, the brand-new Whatcom County Dairy Ambassador who's been immersed in her family's Laurel-area farm her whole life. She talks with Dillon about the unusual circumstances of her coronation, as well as what the ongoing coronavirus pandemic could mean for her year of educational and advocacy work for local dairy farming.

Far too often, American farmers are being undercut by foreign imports, forcing prices down and putting thousands of family farms out of business. Florida blueberry grower and Demand American Grown founder Bud Chiles joins Dillon to explain how they plan to turn this trend around by making it easier for consumers to know if they're buying food from American farms. https://www.demandamericangrown.org/

Boxx Berry Farm co-owner Mike Boxx fills Dillon in on the expectations for this year's strawberry crop, as well as the numerous other fruits and vegetables the Ferndale-area farm grows and sells locally.

With Gov. Jay Inslee releasing new COVID rules for farms, Scotty Dilley with the Washington State Dairy Federation talks with Dillon about the challenges farmers are facing to implement the changes, and as well as the confusion over the inconsistencies they present.

Skagit county dairy farmer Dwayne Faber explains what's happened with milk prices since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Proposed state emergency housing rules for temporary farmworkers that would have left thousands without a place to stay during this year's fruit harvest were rejected for a more reasonable plan to protect workers from COVID-19. Pam Lewison, Washington Policy Center Initiative on Agriculture Director, fills Dillon in on the changes made to the new rules before they were finalized.

U.S. trade officials are announcing an investigation into concerns about unfair trade practices with imported red raspberries. Henry Bierlink, Washington Red Raspberry Commission Executive Director, talks with Dillon about what this could mean for raspberry farmers here in Washington state.

Potato farmers across Washington state are facing a major crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lynden-area seed potato grower Melissa Bedlington tells Dillon why some farmers are disking new potato plants back into the ground, and why millions of pounds of potatoes are going to waste in Washington state alone.

There's a bizarre new twist in an already-fraught tale of opportunistic labor activist groups trying to leverage the coronavirus pandemic to achieve their longstanding political goals. Pam Lewison, director of Washington Policy Center's Initiative on Agriculture, joins Dillon to explain why the extremist groups that had only weeks ago pushed changes that would leave thousands of temporary farmworkers without housing are now--and we're not joking--demanding ping pong, pool tables, and “the fullest range of television programming available” for those workers.

While labor activist groups claim they're only suing Washington state to protect temporary farmworkers from COVID-19, the fact that the protections they're demanding would actually harm those farmworkers is prompting questions about the real motives behind their lawsuit. Now that they've dropped from their lawsuit the key--and most harmful--demands for temporary farmworker housing, Save Family Farming Executive Director Gerald Baron joins Dillon to expose these extremist groups' troubling track record and real motives for suing the state.

In a court hearing held by phone, a lawyer for labor activists suing Washington state over COVID protections for temporary farm workers did not even mention the housing changes the activist groups had been demanding. Wafla executive director Dan Fazio joins Dillon to explain what this means, and what's next for farms trying to protect workers and bring in the 2020 harvest.

Host Dillon Honcoop exposes the real reasons labor activists are suing the state of Washington over COVID protections for temporary farmworkers, and explains how the activists' efforts will ultimately harm--not help--those workers.

Activists are suing the State of Washington, claiming state government is not doing enough to protect farmworkers from COVID-19. But their action may ultimately harm those same workers they say they're trying to protect, says Dan Fazio, director of Washington-based farm labor organization Wafla. Fazio joins host Dillon Honcoop to explain how the state and farmers are working together to protect workers, and how the groups behind this new lawsuit have some troubling ulterior motives.

A small Whatcom dairy famous for their glass milk bottles had to scramble to adjust as some retailers' caution around COVID-19 called for what may sound like a simple change. Hear the full story from Twin Brook Creamery co-owner Larry Stap as Dillon shares an excerpt from this week's episode of his new Real Food Real People Podcast (https://realfoodrealpeople.org)

Seemingly overnight, Americans are thinking about their food supply again. Gerald Baron, Save Family Farming director, and Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers director join Dillon to talk about what changes could be happening to the food system here locally, across Washington state, and beyond.

Whatcom Family Farmers Executive Director Fred Likkel joins Dillon to discuss what they've both been hearing from contacts around Whatcom and Skagit counties as well as all over Washingtons state about the turmoil farmers are experiencing due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Both new opportunities and new challenges are ahead for Washington farmers as the COVID-19 crisis continues to unfold and reshape our economic, political and social landscape. Washington Ag Network's Glenn Vaagen joins Dillon from the Tri-Cities to talk about what he's hearing from farmers all over the state.

Washington dairy farmers are being told to prepare their workforce for the possibility of a statewide lockdown. Washington State Dairy Federation Executive Director Dan Wood tells Dillon his organization is advising farmers to prepare letters that employees can carry to verify their travel is legally allowed should a "shelter in place" order go into effect in the state. Recent federal memos designate farm employees among "essential critical infrastructure workers," but some farmers have expressed concern that workers may not feel confident traveling to and from farms if the state puts a full lockdown in place. Dillon also talks with Sustainable Connections' Food and Farming Program Director Sara Southerland about her group's efforts to connect small farmers with consumers in the face of COVID-19 restrictions. And Aneka Sweeney with the Whatcom Conservation District checks in with an update about changing plans for the district's upcoming events.

With difficult market conditions, many family farms in Washington have already been on the brink, and the economic fallout of the COVID-19 outbreak may be what pushes some over the edge. Colville, Wash.-area dairy farmer Krista Stauffer, who has grown a massive social media following blogging as "The Farmer's Wifee," tells Dillon sinking milk prices could spell the end of their family farm.

Dairy markets columnist Lee Mielke joins Dillon with a look at the latest info on production and prices, as well as analysis on whether the net impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing buying panic will be a net positive or negative for dairy producers.

Removing the Snake River dams would do more harm than good for salmon recovery, not to mention farming and the region's economy, says Todd Myers, Environment Director at the Washington Policy Center. He talks with Dillon about the reasons why, and why some environmental groups apparently don't want to accept the science on this issue.

Skagit County dairy farmer, humorist and prolific tweeter Dwayne Faber explains how the COVID-19 coronavirus is affecting global dairy markets, and ultimately the prices that local dairy farmers are getting for their milk. He and Dillon also ponder the psychology of toilet paper hoarding and the confusion over bovine coronavirus treatments.

After decades of dairying, Whatcom dairy farmer Mike Douma sold the cows and planted hemp. He tells Dillon how he and his family hope to make a business out of it despite the quickly-changing market conditions for hemp after its recent legalization in Washington.

With high-tech machines built into shipping containers, Cubic Farm Systems says it can change the way fresh produce is grown, for the better. CEO Dave Dinesen joins Dillon to explain how the technology works, and what it could mean for the future of farming.

Farmers can connect with new customers like restaurants, grocery stores and other food outlets at a meeting this week in Bellingham. Sara Southerland, Food and Farming Director at Sustainable Connections joins Dillon with the details on how the event works, and how farmers can take advantage of it to sell more of their products.

A Bellingham-raised tech guru moves to Acme and becomes a farmer, producing some of the most unique food products in the state of Washington. Devin Day of Valley Farmstead Rabbits and Neil's Big Leaf Maple Syrup talks with Dillon about how he's found his niche.

Washington Policy Center's Pam Lewison talks with Dillon about new bills in the Washington state legislature that could affect the farming community.

Jay Gordon and Scott Dilley with the Washington State Dairy Federation give a rundown of bills proposed in Olympia in the 2020 session that could affect farming in this state.

Could it be a "new normal"? Lynden-area dairy farmer and Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District Advisory Committee member Jeff DeJong says the recent flooding of the Nooksack River may have been worse than expected, possibly thanks to sediment buildup in parts of the river. While his dairy and other farms suffered only minor damage from what he says experts are calling a "5-year event," the flow of floodwaters into the City of Sumas was a bigger problem than in past floods of this size.

Seventy-two years after her great-grandpa bought the farm, Ashton Beanblossom opens up about why Custer-area dairy RTJ Farm has decided to sell the cows. Dillon talks with her about the difficult decision and how other local dairies are facing similar pressures with major changes happening in the regional dairy community right now.

The Bellingham Food Bank provides fresh food from local farms to people in need, thanks to a growing collaboration with farmers. Max Morange, Emerging Programs Coordinator at the food bank, talks with Dillon about the importance of fresh food in fighting hunger in our community, and how helpful their partnerships with local farms have been.

Farmers gathered on the WA state capitol steps on the first day of the 2020 legislative session, calling on lawmakers to listen to farmers as they make major decisions that affect their livelihoods. Organizer Rosella Mosby fills Dillon in on how the demonstration came about, how the event went, and some of the proposed legislation farmers are concerned about right now.

Frigid temperatures, snow and icy winds slammed Whatcom County this week, but unlike most people, dairy farmers had to be out in the nasty weather keeping their farms running. Sisters Leea Rainey Heeringa and Lynne Rainey Wheeler join Dillon to describe all of the challenges dairy farmers face in a winter storm.

Wind gusts in northern Whatcom County could hit 80mph as a vicious winter storm slams the entire Pacific Northwest starting this weekend, says meteorologist Rufus La Lone. He fills us in on what the latest weather predictions show, and just how much we still don't know about what the week ahead could bring.

After over 40 years of dairying and growing dozens of crops in southwest WA, Jay Gordon is giving hemp a shot. At a time when thousands of acres are going into hemp production with the crop being legalized in many places across the country, Gordon tells host Dillon Honcoop what it's like to grow industrial hemp, and what major uncertainties lie ahead.

Could we be in for a major blizzard like the ones our grandparents talk about? It's quite possible, meteorologist Rufus La Lone tells Dillon, and the long-range weather forecasts continue to show it's more and more likely. La Lone breaks down when the storm will hit, and just how bad it could get if some of the most dire predictions come true. You can check out Rufus' blog, the WxCafe™️ at http://ovs.com

Whatcom family farm Boxx Berry Farm provided nearly 70,000 pounds of food for those in need in the local community. Co-owner Mike Boxx joins Dillon to tell the story of their involvement with the Bellingham Food Bank's Small Potatoes Gleaning Program highlighted in a new video from Whatcom Family Farmers.

A community effort to improve water quality in Drayton Harbor has helped get hundreds of acres of shellfish beds back into production, and RTJ Farm is one of many that experts are recognizing as leaders in reaching this achievement. RTJ co-owner Sharon Tjoelker talks with Dillon about the things they've done on the farm to protect the watershed.

A city in California is showing support for the theft of animals by activists who say they're "rescuing" them. Protect the Harvest's Dave Duquette joins Dillon to explain why they're doing this, and the threat that this activism poses to farms across the country.

Even though landowners are harvesting more of the imported elk than they have in the past, they'll never keep up with the non-native herd's growth, says Randy Good with the Skagit Cattlemen's association. He joins Dillon, explaining how the real costs of the invasive elk's damage is much higher than what's been reported.

Washington Red Raspberry Commission Executive Director Henry Bierlink joins Dillon with a recap of the latest updates from the Washington Small Fruit Conference in Lynden.

Detailed laws and regulations are in place to make sure people, animals and the environment stays safe when farmers use pesticides. Washington State Department of Agriculture pesticide investigator Kevin Jensen joins Dillon from the Washington Small Fruit Conference in Lynden to explain how they work.

The annual Washington Small Fruit Conference & Lynden Ag Show is Dec. 4-6 at the Northwest Washington Fair & Events Center. Dillon chats with event organizer Stacey Beier about what's happening at this year's event, and how people can still register to attend--as well as earn credits toward various certifications--by going to http://wasmallfruit.com.

As farmers become increasingly focused on soil health to improve their operations, one of the tools people are talking about is biochar. But what is biochar, and what can it really do? Local author and policy researcher Jack Petree has reported extensively on biochar for farming and forestry publications nationwide, and he joins Dillon to explain what it's all about.

Leroy Plagerman, Whatcom dairy farmer and Northwest Dairy Association board chair, tells Dillon the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement is a good solution to ongoing trade issues that have affected dairy farmers.

Gavin Willis, Whatcom Family Farmers' Outreach Coordinator, talks with Dillon about this week's Whatcom Farm Circle event that teaches local 3rd graders about farming.

After an early start, this year's Whatcom seed potato harvest took a turn for the worse when, as Cascade Farms' Blake TeVelde put it, "the heavens opened." TeVelde joins Dillon to talk potato harvest and explain what local growers have had to do to bring their crop in.

The growing "My Job Depends On Ag" movement in California has inspired a new TV docu-series tackling the challenges farmers are facing in that state. MJDOA co-founder Erik Wilson joins Dillon to explain how "American Grown: My Job Depends On Ag" came to be, and how the farming advocacy group rose to prominence on social media - MORE: https://www.pbs.org/show/american-grown-my-job-depends-ag/

Dairies in Washington are using new technology to filter manure water. Russ Davis with Organix, Inc. in Walla Walla joins Dillon to explain how the BioFiltro system works, and the benefits it has for dairies, other crops, and the environment.

The United Farm Workers union has strayed from the noble intentions of its founding, and is now harming the very workers it's supposed to protect. As the union increases its activism in WA, Pick Justice spokesman Jesse Rojas joins Dillon to detail UFW's exploitation and abuse of workers, including their own employees.

After suffering through low prices for years, dairy farmers are finally getting a reprieve. Dairy markets expert and columnist Lee Mielke joins Dillon with an update on why prices are near a 5-year high, and shares the outlook for prices in the months ahead.

Aneka Sweeney with the Whatcom Conservation District joins Dillon to share details of some upcoming events for local farmers and landowners.

Labor activists are challenging Washington's exemption on overtime pay for farm workers, claiming it's racist and saying that farming is dangerous. Scott Dilley with the Washington State Dairy Federation joins Dillon to explain why his organization along with the Washington Farm Bureau are defending the exemption as the case goes before the state Supreme Court.

Coldstream Farms in Acme was the perfect spot to test new water filtration technology, and farmer Galen Smith says the system will soon be able to return clean water to the Nooksack River thanks to the success of a pilot project there. He fills Dillon in on why he sees the system as a win for farmers and the environment. MORE: https://bit.ly/2mMxXsO

Fourth generation family farmer Ashton Beanblossom, herd manager at RTJ Farm near Lynden, tells us the recent wet weather hasn't hindered their corn harvest so far. Whatcom County dairy farms grow over 10,000 acres of corn that they chop and ensile to feed their cows throughout the coming year.

Farmers have been financially devastated by the EPA's bad science on dairies and groundwater nitrates, and Laurie Fischer, American Dairy Coalition CEO, says EPA Director Andrew Wheeler needs to take action before many more are harmed. She joins Dillon to explain why they're warning dairy farmers across the country to take this issue seriously and get involved.

The United Farm Workers union has been taking advantage of the people they are supposed to represent. Farmworker Silvia Lopez is speaking out against the union's dishonest practices, and shares her story with Dillon, as well as explaining why she's visiting farmworkers targeted by UFW here in Washington.

Several farms all over Whatcom County are opening up their operations for the public to come and visit. Abbie Lindeberg with Sustainable Connections fills Dillon in on all the details for this year's Eat Local First 13th Annual Whatcom County Farm Tour - MORE: https://eatlocalfirst.org/all-events/whatcom-farm-tour-weekend/

A new variety of red raspberries developed by Pat Moore at WSU Puyallup could provide answers to some problems that have nagged our region's commercial growers. Moore joins Dillon to talk about how his new variety Cascade Premier was developed, and how it fits into the long history of red raspberry development in the Pacific Northwest.

Juan Gavette has been raising, showing and judging animals ever since he was a kid on his parents' Everson, WA farm. He's won national awards and done animal judging all over the country, but he was back home in Whatcom County to help judge sheep and goats at the Northwest Washington Fair. Dillon caught up with him at the fair to learn more about what he does.

A fraudulent federal science study has caused major unnecessary problems for Larry Stap and dairy farmers across Washington state. He joins Dillon to explain the backstory, saying he and his fellow dairy community members won't stop calling for justice until the bad science is fixed. Find out how to help Larry and WA dairy farmers get justice here: https://savefamilyfarming.org/help-family-farmers-send-a-message-to-the-epa-we-want-the-truth/

Third-generation Whatcom County seed potato grower Melissa Bedlington-Kleindel gives us the lowdown on this year's season, and throws a little Bedlington family history in just for fun.

Overwhelming evidence shows the damage that breaching the Snake River dams would cause farming, consumers and communities without actually helping fish. Despite this, an activist group made headlines this week saying their new study supports dam removal. But is that really what the study revealed? Todd Myers, head of the Center for the Environment at the Washington Policy Center, takes a closer look at what the ECONorthwest report really shows.

The Whatcom County red raspberry crop suffered from wet weather during harvest, as well as damage from a late winter storm in February, local grower Todd Van Mersbergen tells Dillon. But he had a different outlook on the local blueberry harvest that's just getting underway.

Farmworker advocates from California recently met with workers and farmers in the Yakima area, explains Eastern Washington Family Farmers' new staffer Stacey Cobb.

Not only did the EPA deliberately botch an influential science report so it could be used against family farmers, but they also may have broken federal law when they tried to cover up the unethical study. Save Family Farming director Gerald Baron joins Dillon to explain why they're calling for a criminal investigation into the fraudulent actions by EPA regional staff and leadership - MORE: https://savefamilyfarming.org/blog/dairy-farmers-ask-where-is-the-trump-administrations-commitment-to-transparency-in-science/

Doug Thomas is president and CEO of Bellingham Cold Storage, so he works with people in both fishing and farming. He says his new group's proposal could be the best way to turn around our region's salmon decline crisis, and he joins Dillon to explain the ins and outs of the fish hatchery project he's modeled after Alaska's hatchery system.

David Lukens, who co-owns Grace Harbor Farms with his parents, teamed up with a friend from church, Jon Maberry of Maberry Packing, to create a delicious new local red raspberry smoothie that's been getting rave reviews and selling out from local stores. David chats with Dillon about how they created the new product, and how Grace Harbor Farms got its start in the specialty dairy business.

"The Farmer's Wifee," Eastern Washington dairy farmer and blogger Krista Stauffer, says telling her farming story on her blog and social media "almost broke" her. She opens up to Dillon about the depression and anxiety that resulted from pervasive online bullying, not just by anti-farming activists, but a much more unexpected source. MORE: https://www.agdaily.com/livestock/farmers-wifee-agricultures-story-broke-me/

Well-known Bellingham environmental advocate Eric Hirst says farmers need to use water more efficiently to protect streams and fish, and he agrees with farmers that Washington State water law is getting in the way of that. Dillon challenges him to do more research on what farmers are already doing to improve the efficiency of their water use.

It's been another busy spring for Washington dairy farmers, cutting & chopping grass, working dirt, planting corn and more... all while keeping the cows happy and healthy! Fourth generation dairy farmer Ashton Beanblossom joins Dillon with the latest from the farm, as well as why she's so outspoken on social media (follow her and her family here: https://www.facebook.com/RTJFARM/)

Sound Pacific Seafoods co-owner and founder Paul Burrill says those in fishing share so many struggles with those in farming, and he sees opportunity for fishers and farmers to work together to sustainably feed the world. He joins Dillon on the heels of a recent public forum where he spoke out about the challenges facing fishing in Washington and Alaska.

Environmental, farming, and conservation experts had collaborated to plan pilot projects to help salmon and protect farmland in Whatcom, Snohomish and Grays Harbor counties. But, WA Gov. Jay Inslee singled the proposal out and deleted it from the larger bill. Grays Harbor farmer Terry Willis joins Dillon to explain why she was so angry about the Governor's actions.

The 2019 Lynden High School FFA Ag Issues team scripted and performed their own simulated radio show tackling major local farming issues including labor, nutrient management and water. Dillon worked with them to record it to be able to share here on the podcast.

Greg Zimmerman with Bellingham's Twin Sisters Brewing Company is pumped for Whatcom Family Farmers' "Meet Your Farmer" event series. He joins Dillon for a beer and chat at the brewery to talk about their support for the series as well as how farmers of any size can apply for their new Farmers Grant Program: https://www.twinsistersbrewing.com/farmers-grant-program/

Olympia wants small wells serving rural homes to have a 500 gal./day limit, and local leaders are worried this would not only be difficult for homeowners, but could spell disaster for many of our areas small organic farms. Loren Vander Yacht and Fred Likkel join Dillon to explain the background.

Dairy farmers are under immense economic and legal pressures right now, leading to heart-wrenching stories of loss -- and even suicide. Former dairy farmer Glen Blankers opens up to Dillon about what it was like when he had to sell his cows this past fall, after nearly 50 years of running his multi-generational family farm near Lynden, Wash.

On Earth Day, millions of people plant trees and other plants to help the environment. Farmers, more than anyone, know the importance of this, and lead the way by example. Dillon talks with Eastern Washington farmer Derek Allred and Whatcom Family Farmers Executive Director Fred Likkel about what farmers are contributing to the health of the planet and to the battle against climate change.

Kyle Van Dyk grew up on a Whatcom County dairy, and eventually ran an 80-head operation with his dad. But when Western Washington pressures made that farm no longer economically sustainable, Van Dyk pulled up stakes and moved to Eastern Washington, where he now works as herd manager for J&K Dairy in Sunnyside.

He's unapologetic about speaking the truth on farming, and even though Tillamook, Oregon dairy farmer Derrick Josi knows that's made him a target of critics, he refuses to be silenced. He joins Dillon to explain why he's willing to take the risk of speaking out, and why he's become famous for talking to cows.

This winter's late, long cold snap wreaked havoc on Whatcom County's red raspberry plants. Local grower (and Dillon's dad) Randy Honcoop joins us to explain how bad the damage is, what exactly caused it, and what it could mean for farmers already struggling after last year's low prices.

Heri Chapula has worked on farms in Washington for decades in a variety of roles, and he joins Dillon to explain why he's against a proposal in Olympia to add a first-of-its-kind state fee on guest workers here via the H-2A visa program.

Whatcom farmers and the Lummi tribe came together in the historic Portage Bay Partnership and turned around a water quality problem that had closed the tribe's shellfish beds. Whatcom Family Farmers Executive Director Fred Likkel joins Dillon to tell this great story of community collaboration and environmental restoration.

With insulting bills and public statements from legislators in Olympia, farmers are getting fed up, and Auburn-area vegetable farmer Rosella Mosby joins Dillon to explain why.

Aneka Sweeney with the Whatcom Conservation District talks with Dillon about today's Whatcom County Small Farm Expo at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds in Lynden.

Labor activists have been in Olympia claiming that guest workers on farms in WA are "uniquely vulnerable to abuse" and are being victimized. Labor policy expert Scott Dilley talks with Dillon about how these accusations are untrue, and what the activists are actually trying to do by misrepresenting the facts.

A Whatcom County dairy farm's manure is being filtered into clean water -- with some good nutrients left over to feed crops, of course. Eric Powell with Regenis joins Dillon to explain the clean water system they're developing at Coldstream Farms in Acme, and how it could revolutionize manure management and protect the environment.

It was supposed to be a minor snow storm. When it turned into a dangerous blizzard, farmers in the Sunnyside area jumped into action, putting their lives on the line to protect their herds and battle the onslaught of high winds, heavy snow and whiteout conditions. But even after doing everything they could for over 24 hours straight, over 1500 cows were dead on over a dozen farms, leaving the families and their crews devastated. One of the farmers, J&K Dairy owner Jason Sheehan, joins Dillon to share the harrowing details of a weekend they say turned their world upside down.

Save Family Farming head Gerald Baron joins Dillon to explain why farmers are heavily invested in orca and salmon recovery, and why they think WA Gov. Jay Inslee's $1.1B plan to save the orcas and salmon will miss the mark.

First-generation vegetable farmer Rosella Mosby is on top of the big issues facing farming in WA, and she's not afraid to speak out. Mosby talks with Dillon about why she's so passionate about farming advocacy, and why she's been invited to speak at the American Farm Bureau convention.

Dr. Nichole Embertson, manure nutrient management expert at Whatcom Conservation District, gives Dillon a preview of some of the key topics she and other leaders will share at their Manure Nutrient Management Training event coming up on Jan. 17.

Is WA Gov. Jay Inslee's plan to save the southern resident killer whales and protect Chinook salmon going to work? Todd Myers, Director of the Center for the Environment at Washington Policy Center, tells Dillon he's skeptical of parts of the plan, and worries that money will be wasted and the economy damaged - including farming - for changes that won't really help Chinook or orcas in meaningful ways.

Sustainable Connections' Food & Farming Program Director Sara Southerland talks with Dillon about how her organization helped local dahlia grower Triple Wren Farms and others realize their dream of starting a farm and growing local food and flowers.

Western Waves Dairy manager Kevin Dougherty joins Dillon to explain the changes they brought to their farm to help improve water quality in the Drayton Harbor Watershed. Their efforts, as well as the work of the Whatcom Conservation District and numerous other land owners, farmers, and organizations helped get the pollution out of Drayton Harbor that had halted shellfish harvest there for years.

Custer-area dahlia grower Triple Wren Farms is finding success with its holistic management practices. Co-owner Sarah Pabody joins Dillon to talk about the approach she and her husband, Steve, take to build soil health and sustainability.

Agricultural markets expert Bill Bryant of Seattle's Bryant Christie Inc. talks with Dillon about trade concerns in the raspberry and blueberry markets. The former WA governor candidate says while the Trump administration's major trade battles haven't directly implicated berry markets so far, they're definitely having an effect on trade.

George Boggs, Whatcom Conservation District Executive Director, joins Dillon to talk about honoring Appel Farms' Rich Appel with the prestigious award. It's given to individuals who work within the arena of conservation to foster understanding and partnerships, through community collaborative efforts.

Jason Sheehan, Sunnyside-area dairy farmer, talks with Dillon about Eastern Washington family farmers getting together to increase their advocacy efforts and build unity across the farming community.

For years, many who have heard about fecal coliform pollution in Whatcom County's waters have pointed the finger at dairy farming. But experts say the pollution isn't necessarily coming from dairy manure. Dr. Nichole Embertson, Science and Planning Coordinator for the Whatcom Conservation District's Sustainable Livestock Production Program, talks with Dillon about the DNA research she's helping to coordinate to build a database that can help scientists find the real sources of fecal coliform pollution.

Tom Nelson, fisheries biologist, fisherman and co-host of The Outdoor Line on Seattle's 710 ESPN is outraged that politics is getting in the way of doing the right thing for salmon and for the southern resident killer whales that eat them. He talks with Dillon about the elephant in the room that WA Gov. Jay Inslee's Orca Recovery Task Force is all but ignoring, and he says he understands farmers' frustration with this.

WSU's Dr. Jen McIntyre has researched how pollution in stormwater from urban areas is killing coho salmon, and she talks with Dillon about the importance of protecting open spaces to filter water and improve water quality in streams. McIntyre says she's excited to see partnerships developing between farming and environmental groups to protect fish and tackle pollution that comes from our cities.

Dan Wood, Washington State Dairy Federation Executive Director, talks with Dillon about the decision from the Gov. Inslee-appointed WA Polllution Control Hearings Board on the state's new rules for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). The PCHB rejected virtually all claims made by anti-farming activists that had argued that "Washington burns with manure pollution," and that dairy farming in the state is largely unregulated, saying instead that the current dairy regulations are working to protect water quality.

WSU Whatcom County Extension Specialist Chris Benedict gives Dillon the lowdown on plans for this year's Washington Small Fruit Conference planned for Nov. 28-30 at the Northwest Washington Fairground's Washington Tractor Arena in Lynden https://www.wasmallfruit.com/

Environmental consultant David Haggith tells Dillon about nutrient management, soil sampling, and protecting water quality around farms. He's a partner in environmental consulting firm N3, and he explains the history of Washington's dairy nutrient management regulations and how that led to the formation of N3.

US dairy farmers' frustrations with Canada's trade practices ended up being a key part of a tentative deal recently struck between the two countries. Locally-based but nationally syndicated dairy markets columnist Lee Mielke joins Dillon to explain what we know so far about what the Trump administration put in the deal to help US dairy producers, and why those farmers were frustrated with Canada in the first place.

Former "eco-radical activist" and author Dan Dagget joins Dillon to explain how cattle are not environmental villains, but nature's way of preserving and restoring the health of soil and land.

Farmers are supporting new fish-fish friendly floodgates being installed on their property, and Whatcom Conservation District Resource Coordinator Frank Corey talks with Dillon about how they are a win-win for farming and fish.

Randy Kortus is being recognized with the Distinguished Dairy Cattle Breeder Award, and he talks with Dillon about the key to his success, as well as explaining why the honor is bittersweet for him and his family.

Small family farms in the upper Skagit Valley are being threatened by non-native elk that continue to multiply, consume farmers crops and destroy property. Bill Schmidt, Skagit County Farm Bureau President and Randy Goode, Skagit County Cattlemen's Association Vice President join Dillon to explain what created the problem, and what they want the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife to do about it.

It's corn chopping season, and independent dairy nutritionist and dairy farmer John Vander Veen joins Dillon to explain why that field corn crop that's being harvested is so crucial to cow's health and the the milk that they produce.

Gavin Willis, new Whatcom Family Farmers Outreach Coordinator, joins Dillon to talk about this weekend's farm tour as well as his vision for getting the community more connected to farming.

Save Family Farming filed a complaint with the Evergreen State College in April after reviewing photos and videos clearly documenting Evergreen vehicles present at the 2017 political protests in Sumas, where labor activists falsely accused a blueberry farm of causing the death of a farmworker. State Reps. Luanne Van Werven and Vincent Buys join Dillon to react to the college president's admission and apology that state resources were used inappropriately.

Farming needs water. But so do fish, and the tribes whose culture is built around both fish and water. Can all coexist in Whatcom County? Ag Water Board Executive Director Henry Bierlink says they can, but it's going to take some work.

Northwest Washington Fair Board of Directors member Ron Polinder talks with Dillon about the annual event's focus on agriculture and the local farming community, and why that's more important now than ever.

After thousands of coho salmon, steelhead, trout, crayfish, and other aquatic life became stranded by a blockage in Double Ditch stream, Twin Brook Creamery co-owners Larry Stap and Mark Tolsma jumped into action, shutting off crop irrigation to instead pump water into the stream to keep the threatened fish alive until the blockage could be removed.

Former farmworker Juan Baldovinos says actual farmworkers have been refusing to participate in Bellingham activists' public demonstrations that he says are based on lies.

Dairy farmers continue to struggle to survive, and Acme-area farmer Laura Smith reflects on the pressures making it difficult to keep running the family farm that her dad Jeff Rainey started back in 1978.

The pastures that Edelweiss Dairy needs so badly to feed its organic cows are drying up in the summer heat because of an order to stop irrigating. Farmer Hans Wolfisberg explains why they were cut off, and how devastating it's been to the Lynden-area family dairy.

Why does Save Family Farming do what it does? Board member and Skagit dairyman Jason Vander Kooy goes back to the basics with Dillon, explaining why farming advocacy and public outreach are so desperately needed right now, and why Save Family Farming needs to move quickly to have a voice in an increasingly busy media landscape.

2017-2018 Washington Dairy Ambassador Anna Teachman, who had just finished her year representing the state's dairy community, was killed along with her father in a tragic car crash on her way to college orientation in Oklahoma. Lifelong family friend Suzi Davis joins Dillon to talk about what happened, and to remember a remarkable young woman.

Famous for parody song videos "I'm Farming And I Grow It," "Farmer Style" and others, the Peterson Farm Brothers have taken their pro-farming message to millions on YouTube. Now, oldest brother Greg is taking the show on the road, and talks with Dillon about his upcoming performance at the Northwest Washington Fair in Lynden on Aug. 18.

Jon Maberry, 4th-generation berry grower and president of the Washington Red Raspberry Commission, talks with Dillon about the global trade problems that are driving the collapse of the markets for Washington-grown fruit.

The red raspberry market has collapsed and some growers like Landon Van Dyk have been left with no where to sell their fruit, and nothing to do but watch it rot on the bush. Dillon talks with Landon about what this crisis means for the future of the 4th-generation family farm.

Why are Chinook salmon declining while all other Pacific salmon species are at record numbers? Save Family Farming Executive Director Gerald Baron tells Dillon that habitat restoration has been the primary focus with billions spent on improving salmon habitat, but the latest science shows this will not solve the real problem, in fact may make it worse - DETAILS: http://www.savefamilyfarming.org/chinook-recovery.html

The dreaded wireworm is rearing its ugly head in Whatcom County corn crops, burrowing into the crowns of young corn plants and damaging them to the point where some are dying. Elenbaas agronomist Lance Honcoop talks about what he's seeing in local fields, and what can be done about it.

Washington State Dairy Ambassador Program Director Tammi Schoenbachler talks with Dillon about how the longtime program provides unique leadership and professional development opportunities to young women from around the state.

Farming blogger and advocate Krista Stauffer talks with Dillon about how she became a farmer, and why she's passionate about talking about farming on social media and her popular blog, "The Farmer's Wifee" (http://www.thefarmerswifee.com)

Red raspberry prices have been down, and one of the reasons is that fruit from foreign countries is undercutting the market. 3rd generation Whatcom County berry grower Marty Maberry weighs in on why he's worried about the future for his kids and grandkids.

Scientists are studying the DNA of bacteria that is contaminating water and shellfish in Whatcom County to figure out where the contamination came from, and state Rep. Vincent Buys explains how the study was funded despite an unfair roadblock.

Some farmers are leaving their crops in the field to rot because they cannot find workers to bring in the harvest. Q13 Fox reporter Simone Del Rosario joins Dillon to tell the story of a western Washington farm that had to disk under its zucchini crop, and how the growing shortage could spell disaster for family farms in WA.

Housing development continues to crowd Rod Erickson's multi-generational Ferndale dairy, and police officers moved in on a recent evening to shut down a swather cutting grass for feed after a neighbor in the new development called 911 to complain about machinery cutting grass. Dillon visits with Erickson at the farm to find out what happened.

Red raspberry grower and Washington Red Raspberry Commission Vice President Randy Honcoop talks with host (and his son) Dillon about why the Commission is asking growers to vote on some major changes to how they fund the group.

Skagit Farmers' Supply agronomist Steve Groen joins Dillon to explain the challenges of growing great grass crops for cattle feed in northwest Washington.

Whatcom County's family farmers are the real environmental leaders, and our community needs to know that. Whatcom Family Farmers Executive Director Fred Likkel joins Dillon to explain what Real Environmental Action and Leadership (REAL) is all about. Here's an example: http://www.whatcomfamilyfarmers.org/four-mile-creek-restoration.html

Planting season has finally arrived in northwest Washington, and CHS Northwest Agronomist Clay Pehl is on the front lines with farmers making big decisions right now about when to plant, what to plant, and what kinds of crop protection to invest in.

Eastern Washington crop scientist Stuart Turner explains how the EPA falsified a study to blame dairy farming for groundwater nitrate contamination in the Yakima area, and tells Dillon that there's an entirely different story with nitrates. More details here: https://www.yakimafamilyfarmers.org/epas-falsified-science.html

How does a farm's fine go from $5k to $150k? Reporter Don Jenkins tells Dillon how "publicity" not directly related to a Sumas Farm's worker break violations inspired the WA Department of Labor & Industries to increase the farm's penalty by 3,000 percent (yes you read that correctly, three thousand... 30 times larger!). More details here: http://www.savefamilyfarming.org/li-record-fine-out-of-line.html

New technology has created new ways to use dairy manure to feed crops, and WSU Extension researcher Chris Benedict tells Dillon how he's studying its benefit to red raspberry crops

The latest data on dairy markets shows some cause for hope, but as columnist Lee Mielke tells Dillon, there are still plenty of reasons for concern

Whatcom County dairy farmer Rich Appel tells Dillon about Washington Governor Jay Inslee's recent visit to his Ferndale-area farm, and what he told the governor about farmers concerns and what Olympia should do

Seattle documentary photographer Matthew Kennelly talks with Dillon about his latest project, "In The Blood," shooting a farm family in northwest Washington, and how much he's learned about farming

Northwest Washington agronomist Lance Honcoop with Elenbaas Agronomy talks with Dillon about how the wet, cold spring is affecting farming activity in Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish counties

Madilynne Clark, Agriculture Policy Director for the Washington Policy Center, joins Dillon to talk about a phenomenon she calls "farmism," and explains why she believes it's bad for everyone. Her full blog post is here: https://www.washingtonpolicy.org/publications/detail/food-policy-should-put-farmers-and-food-eaters-first-and-farmisms-last

Yakima-area farming advocate Ashley White talks about her journey to understanding farming and the pressures that it's under, as well as the #FARMNOW expo she is organizing.

The EPA-funded "What's Upstream" smear campaign against farmers is back in the news, and Gerald Baron, Save Family Farming Executive Director, explains how an EPA spokesman called out the $570k "What's Upstream" campaign funded by previous EPA leadership to defend the current administration's PR spending

Ever since 1996, Skagit farmers have been left in limbo about access to water needed for farming. Water has become a political tool. There is no lack of water, there is plenty for fish, for farms, for a growing community. But some use the courts and laws to build their political power. More: http://www.savefamilyfarming.org/hirst-fix-except-skagit.html

The head of a local farm group says the Whatcom County Council didn’t follow state law when they updated some rules for farms late last year. More: http://whatcomfarmbureau.org/statement-on-growth-management-act-appeal/ http://kgmi.com/news/007700-whatcom-county-farm-groups-request-critical-areas-ordinance-review/

Longtime dairy columnist and markets expert Lee Mielke talks with host Dillon Honcoop about the latest dive in milk prices, and what the future might hold for dairy producers in Whatcom County as well as around the state and nation.

Host Dillon Honcoop welcomes longtime Seattle columnist Knute Berger to talk about bridging the urban-rural divide

Host Dillon Honcoop welcomes Farmworker Justice Now Labor Policy Adviser Juan Baldovinos to talk about H2A Guest Worker program and the new farmworkerjusticenow.org website in light of recent allegations against a Sumas blueberry farm

Author and Purdue University communications expert Jessica Eise talks with Farming Show host Dillon Honcoop about the challenges the agricultural community faces in telling its story to an urban public increasingly less connected with where food comes from.