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WAWG EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
PRESIDENT
Eric Maier • Ritzville
VICE-PRESIDENT
Ryan Kregger • Touchet
PRESIDENT EMERITUS
Ben Barstow • Palouse
APPOINTED MEMBERS
Brad Isaak • Coulee City
JP Kent • Walla Walla
Dan McKinley • Dayton
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HEAT IFE
Volume 55 • Number 1
www.wheatlife.org
The official publication of
WASHINGTON
ASSOCIATION OF
WHEAT GROWERS
109 East First Avenue
Ritzville, WA 99169-2394
(509) 659-0610 • 800-598-6890
In association with:
www.washingtongrainalliance.com
Wheat Life (ISSN 0043-4701) is published by the
Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG):
109 E. First Avenue • Ritzville, WA 99169-2394
Eleven issues per year with a combined August/
September issue. Standard (A) postage paid at
Ritzville, Wash., and additional entry offices.
Contents of this publication may not be reprinted
without permission.
Advertising in Wheat Life does not indicate
endorsement of an organization, product or political
candidate by WAWG.
President’s Perspective
Concerning the budget crisis
By Eric Maier
Having been over in Olympia numerous times in the
past, it was interesting to be on campus and experience
the intensity of the recent protests employed by Occupy
Olympia and the different labor groups. Through their
protests and passion for a cause, they have been able to
disrupt the fluidity of our state’s capital. With the state’s
current budget situation, it is truly going to become very
interesting to see how the current budget debate evolves and just how agriculture
and wheat as economic drivers in Washington State will be affected.
Before they reconvene regular session this month, lawmakers in Olympia
worked throughout December toward managing an anticipatory reduction in
the state’s $1.4 billion shortfall, with $400 million in preliminary budget cuts. The
expected outcome by lawmakers is a $2 billion cut in budget to remedy the loss of
$1.4 billion dollars, while allowing for a $600 million dollar buffer. Along with the
assistance of Governor Christine Gregoire, the state has proposed a bevy of cuts,
fund transfers and delayed state program payments. The implications of these
cuts will be felt throughout Washington with, perhaps, a shortening of the school
year by four days, the elimination of some social programs and early release of
prisoners.
To offset the effect of the cuts, Gregoire has proposed that voters approve a temporary
bill that will increase sales tax statewide to allow for relief from the deficits.
The increase will be a half of a cent added to the current tax rate and would sunset
in three to four years. Agricultural groups have ultimately agreed to remain open
to the idea of Gregoire’s tax increase proposal, provided the executive and legislative
branches still uphold and require an honest and focused budget. They would
like it to be based upon the core functions of state government—which would
include finding every savings and efficiency that can be found—before any new
revenue options would be entertained.
Agricultural research at Washington State University, the B&O tax proposal
and agriculture’s current tax exemptions are still on the table for discussion as
well. The Washington Association of Wheat Growers’ leadership will continue to
monitor these issues of concern. WAWG and other agricultural commodity groups
are advocating and working towards maintaining your current tax exemptions,
maintaining research programs implemented by WSU and holistically minimizing
the anticipated effects of the budget crisis to ensure the success of our industry.
In order for these enacted efforts to come to fruition, all WAWG members,
family farmers and those affiliated with Washington wheat should to be prepared
to become advocates for the industry.
Cover photo: While on a tugboat ride on the Willamette River, the 2011 Wheat Export and Quality Workshop
tour group got a bird’s eye view of their wheat coming and going through the CLD terminal. In the
foreground, a barge unloads its cargo of wheat. In the background, the ocean-going vessel, Wadi Alkarnak
out of Alexandria, is in the process of loading wheat. For more pictures of the tour, see pages 32-33.
2 WHEAT LIFE JANUARY 2012