How the NAFTA renegotiation could impact Washington agriculture
President Trump has been suggesting that the U.S. could withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). For example, The Hill reports that earlier this week, “He told the senators that the United States may need to start the six-month withdrawal process to reach a better agreement with Canada and Mexico. Trump has previously […]
October 17 , 2017 - Emily Makings
Value of agricultural production in Washington down slightly in 2016
According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, agricultural production in Washington in 2016 had a total value of $10.630 billion (down from $10.719 billion in 2015). The top ten commodities by value were apples, milk, potatoes, cattle and calves, wheat, cherries, hay, hops, grapes, and pears. Together, their value accounted for 71.7 percent of the […]
August 02 , 2017 - Mary Strow
Research Council gets national nod for Growth Management Act report
We’re pleased and honored to have received a Certificate of Merit for Most Distinguished Research from the Governmental Research Association, for our 2016 Special Report “The Growth Management Act at 25 Years.” The GRA’s Most Distinguished Research category is for research that is based on the challenge of the subject matter, the degree to which […]
May 10 , 2017 - Emily Makings
Millennium Bulk Terminals EIS and the future for fossil fuel exports
On April 28, Cowlitz County and the Department of Ecology finally released the final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Millennium Bulk Terminals (MBT) project—more than five years after the project was proposed. The EIS is required under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). As we’ve written in 2014 and 2016, Ecology has recently required […]
April 20 , 2017 - Mary Strow
School-siting bill clears state House, heads to governor's desk
Legislation long sought by overcrowded school districts to grant flexibility for building new schools cleared its final legislative hurdle this week. The state House Tuesday approved changes made by the Senate last week to House Bill (or as it’s now known as, Engrossed Substitute House Bill) 1017, which allows school districts – in some circumstances – to build […]
March 29 , 2017 - Mary Strow
Relief may be in sight for school districts with school-siting bill
This year’s contender for the Little Legislation That Could, House Bill 1017, appears to finally be on its way to passage in the state Legislature. The bill, allowing schools to be sited outside of the state Growth Management Act’s officially-designated “urban growth areas,” has been on legislators’ plates for awhile. During executive session of the […]
March 08 , 2017 - Emily Makings
How technology has improved produce
Specialty crops are an important part of Washington’s agricultural economy. “Specialty crops” are defined in federal law as “fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.” In 2015, five of the top ten agricultural commodities in Washington were specialty crops (apples, potatoes, cherries, grapes, and hops). Additionally, Washington ranks among […]
February 07 , 2017 - Mary Strow
January 20 , 2017 - Emily Makings
Not preventing invasive species would be costly
Last week the Washington Invasive Species Council released an economic impact study of invasive species in Washington. The study provides “a snapshot of total economic impact within a single year if no prevention or management activities occurred.” The three worst offenders are apple maggots, rush skeletonweed, and scotch broom. Apple maggot: The larvae of the […]
January 13 , 2017 - Emily Makings
Challenges mount for fossil fuel projects
For several years, oil terminal projects have been in the works at the Port of Grays Harbor in Hoquiam—Westway and Imperium. The Imperium project was canceled by the company in 2016, and Westway is now called Contanda. Yesterday the state Supreme Court issued a ruling that could mean the end of the project. Here’s a […]