The Washington State Dairy Federation

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Since 1892

 

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"Beef Day"

at the Legislative

Beef Day was February 28th, 2008 at the capitol in Olympia.  This is a joint effort between the Washington Cattlemen's Association, Washington Cattle Feeders Association, and the Washington State Dairy Federation.

           

              

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January 3oth, 2008

Dairy Day at the Legislature and Washington Livestock Legislative Reception gain Recognition from State Legislators!

 

SENATE RESOLUTION

8714

By Senators Rasmussen, Jacobsen, Hatfield, Schoesler, Morton, Shin, Kohl-Welles, Swecker, Honeyford, Spanel, Holmquist, Haugen, Sheldon, Fairley, McAuliffe, and Roach

            WHEREAS, The dairy farmers of Washington are working hard to provide safe, nutritious dairy products for the families of Washington state; and

            WHEREAS, There are approximately 485 family dairy farms in Washington state with approximately 235,000 dairy cows; and

            WHEREAS, Washington state ranks tenth in total milk production in the United States with 5.6 billion pounds annually; and

            WHEREAS, Washington ranks second in milk production per cow with 23,055 pounds of milk; and

            WHEREAS, Milk is the second highest dollar-valued agricultural commodity produced in Washington, valued at 688 million dollars; and

            WHEREAS, Dairy farming has an annual economic impact of 3.5 billion dollars; and

            WHEREAS, Milk processing jobs help employment growth in Washington. Every 1 million dollars in finished milk product is responsible for twenty jobs in our state; and

            WHEREAS, Washington state dairy farmers lost more than 700 animals during the December 2007 storm worth millions of dollars; and

            WHEREAS, The Washington State Dairy Ambassadors for 2007-2008 are Ambassador Kalin Fohn of Mount Vernon and alternate Ambassadors Whitney Chamberlain, representing Grant/Adams Counties, and Tasha Daniel of Yakima Valley; and

            WHEREAS, Dairy Day at the Legislature is January 30, 2008, when the legislators will visit with the dairy producers of the state and enjoy ice cream bars that will be handed out by the Washington State Dairy Federation and the state and county Dairy Ambassadors;

             NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate acknowledge and honor the women and men whose work on dairy farms throughout Washington has contributed much to the strength and vitality of our economy, the character of our communities, and the general well-being of our citizens; and

            BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Washington State Dairy Ambassador Kalin Fohn, alternate Ambassadors Whitney Chamberlain and Tasha Daniel, and the Washington State Dairy Federation.

I, Thomas Hoemann, Secretary of the Senate, do hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of Senate Resolution 8714, adopted by the Senate January 30, 2008

THOMAS HOEMANN

Secretary of the Senate

 

SENATE RESOLUTION

8715

By Senators Rasmussen, Hatfield, Schoesler, Morton, Shin, Jacobsen, Spanel, Swecker, Honeyford, and Kohl-Welles

            WHEREAS, On January 30, 2008, the livestock industry, affectionately referred to as the "Barnyard Coalition," is convening its Joint Legislative Day in Olympia to meet with leaders of state government; and

            WHEREAS, The state livestock and related livestock feed industry comprise approximately thirty-six percent of the value of production of Washington State's agriculture industry, the state's number one industry; and

            WHEREAS, This group is an informal but influential group that works with other state leaders to coordinate the state's efforts toward high priority issues including food safety, environmental stewardship, livestock disease control, and, last but not least, maintaining the viability of farming and ranching for future generations;

            NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Washington recognize the efforts of the "Barnyard Coalition" to address important public issues, and to express great appreciation for the hard work of the livestock industry because we know that a quality and affordable product does not just magically appear on the grocery store shelf; and

            BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to representatives of the "Barnyard Coalition."

I, Thomas Hoemann, Secretary of the Senate, do hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of Senate Resolution 8715, adopted by the Senate January 29, 2008

THOMAS HOEMANN

Secretary of the Senate

 

WSDF 2006 Legislative Report

 Tax Exemptions

·      HB 2457-Farmers with annual gross sales of agricultural products of $10,000 or more are exempt from sales and use tax on the purchase of replacement parts for farm machinery and equipment. The exemption covers machinery and equipment designed for the purpose of growing, raising, or producing agricultural products. Farmers must apply with the Department of Revenue for an exemption certificate. The certificate must be renewed every five years. The exemption includes parts for farm tractors and farm implements but not other farm vehicles. Replacement parts for aircraft, hand tools, hand-powered tools, and equipment with a useful life of less than one year are not included. This bill takes effect the first of July.  Hearings are currently being conducted to determine rules.

·       SHB 2424- Diesel and aircraft fuel used by farmers for non-highway farm activities is exempt from sales and use tax. The exemption also covers diesel and aircraft fuel used for soil preparation services, crop cultivation services, and crop harvesting services. The exemption does not cover fuel used for home heating. This bill became effective when the governor signed it the first week of March.  Exemption form must be supplied to your fuel supplier. 

 Animal Identification (Developed by all livestock groups, aka the “Barnyard Coalition”)

·       HB 3033- Study and advisory committee to determine and recommend how to move Washington State to a more responsive form of animal identification. Included an $85,000 appropriation for study and evaluation of other states and countries and their animal identification programs. Requires report back to Legislature by 12/06.

·       SB 6376 - Increases brand fees to $1.10 for individually identified animals and $1.60 for unidentified animals. All affected livestock organizations developed this legislation, and agreed that increasing fees, while not their favorite option, was the only responsible solution until we develop a better animal identification system. Currently the brand program provides the only animal ID and ownership system and is the only (if imperfect) system for tracing and tracking animals in the event of a disease outbreak.

·       HB 2651 - Disclosure of Animal Information - Individual animal identification and disease testing information is now confidential, except an animal tested and confirmed with a “reportable” disease (logic: contagious diseases, such as Foot and Mouth dictates we need to know quickly.) This bill will protect any non-reportable testing results a producer or his veterinarian may have submitted to WSDA or to the WSU disease diagnostic lab.

 Farm Plan Confidentiality

·       SB 6617 - After several years of our association trying to pass a law to protect the confidentiality of the information in a farm plan, we got some help from several groups. The Conservation Districts, the Cattlemen, and several individual farmers from Island County asked Senator Mary Margaret Haugen to introduce the bill. We gained support from the environmental community and the newspapers. The Governor signed the bill.

Energy Production Policy (Methane Digesters)

·       HB 2352 - Increases net metering provisions to 100 kW. Currently most proposals for Methane digesters are above this level, but some interesting micro turbine technology may make smaller digesters, in the 100kw range feasible soon.

·       HB 2939 - Energy Freedom Fund (included in the state budget) allocated 25 million dollars for construction loans for fixed and mobile facilities for ethanol, bio diesel and methane digesters. These loans must go through a public entity such as a Conservation, Port or utility district or a tribe. Two dairy projects may use these funds this year.

 Unemployment Insurance

·       ESSB 6585- Last fall most farmers should have received a significant reduction in their Unemployment Insurance rates. This lower rate will last through the end of 2007 as per an agreement between legislators, labor and business; this agreement was codified in a bill and signed by the Governor. (WSDF Legislative Specialist, Chris Cheney, was one of four people representing business.)

 Other Dairy Management Issues

·       SB 6377 - The legislature responded to a outbreak of E-Coli caused by an raw milk from an unlicensed “Cow-Share” dairy farm in Southwest Washington last winter. The bill strengthens the requirement that milk provided to the public must be produced on a licensed, inspected dairy farm according to federal laws. The bill does not ban the sale of raw milk; it creates a study group to consider how to improve the licensing process for small farms and how to assist producers in learning proper bacterial testing procedures. 

·       SB 6371- Dead animal carcass disposal now includes, but is not limited to, burial, composting, incinerating, land filling, natural decomposition, or rendering.

·       HB 3222- Expands the Dairy Nutrient Management tax exemptions to include investments for nutrient management activities on all types of livestock farms. 

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Last Update:  05/22/2008