Save Family Farming

A troubling new proposal from Whatcom County government has put thousand of acres of farmland–and by extension, the farmers that grow food on it–at risk. Fred Likkel, Executive Director of Whatcom Family Farmers, joins Dillon to explain how bad the plan would be for local farming, and how bureaucrats in Bellingham are working to quickly ram the proposal through with minimal review.

With the backdrop of a statewide farm viability crisis and major local concerns about water, State Rep. Kristine Reeves, Chair of the Washington State House of Representatives’ Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, met with Whatcom County farmers and toured a couple of local farms. Reeves, a Federal Way Democrat, joins Dillon to talk about what she learned from Whatcom farmers when sh...

The votes have been tallied, and virtually all the results are in from this year’s election, showing a strong “blue wave” of mid-term wins for Democrats at both the state and federal level. Enrique Gastelum, Worker and Farmer Labor Association CEO, joins Dillon with what farmers’ responsibility is in the wake of the election to keep working toward a sustainable future for a...

Bird Flu has been detected on a Pierce County, WA poultry farm, according to Washington state and local officials, who say that the risk to the public remains low. But what does the illness mean for farmers , especially with times being tight for agriculture across the state? A Southwest Washington poultry farmer–who asked not to be named–joins Dillon to share insight into what a farm...

A misleading UCLA-sponsored report that disparaged Washington state farmers with false accusations continues to draw criticism. Pam Lewison, an academic research expert and the Director of Agriculture Policy at the Washington Policy Center, joins Dillon to expose the report’s fundamental failures and its unmistakable parallels with political activists’ efforts.

Following the tragic news of the death of a Yakima-area dairy farm worker with bird flu, dairies continue to take precautions to protect workers, and experts say the risk to the public remains low. Rick Naerebout, Washington State Dairy Federation CEO, joins Dillon with details on what farms are doing for worker safety and to slow or stop the spread of the virus among dairy cows and other farm ani...

Government leaders have again proposed large, inflexible stream and wetland buffers that could take thousands of acres of farmland out of production, this time in Whatcom County. Sadly, these kinds of proposals made in the name of environmental protection so often fail to consider the harmful, counterproductive environmental impacts the change itself will cause. Rud Browne, a Whatcom County Planni...

A Moses Lake-area farm has taken its fight against the Washington State Department of Ecology all the way to the state’s Supreme Court. Ron and Robin Fode await a decision after the Supreme Court of Washington heard their case Oct. 1. The farmers say Ecology broke state law when it unfairly slapped them with a massive fine. The Fodes join Dillon on the show, opening up about their case and h...

More and more people are interested in eating food grown close to home, and for Washington state residents, there’s a map for that: the online Washington Food & Farm Finder . The Whatcom County-based Sustainable Connections spearheaded the project initially locally, but soon had partners across Washington assembled as the Eat Local First Collaborative , which helped continue to develop t...

A recent activist-led survey claims climate change is to blame for reduced income for farmworkers in Washington state–despite much more extensive Washington State University data showing workers largely pointing to a change in the state’s farm wage laws. Enrique Gastelum, leader of the Worker and Farmer Labor Association, joins Dillon to expose the bunk study’s hidden motivation...

Whatcom Family Farmers’ 11th annual Whatcom Farm Circle event for 3rd grade students all over Whatcom County happens next week at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds in Lynden. Aneka Sweeney and Adam Brayton with event sponsor Whatcom Conservation District join Dillon to talk about how closely connected farming and environmental issues are, and how they’re passionate about showing you...

The latest federal data show income for all Washington state farmers in 2025 jumping from the previous year’s abysmal quarter-billion-dollar loss up to nearly $1.3B in the black. But don’t be fooled–that could actually be a really bad sign. Pam Lewison, Director of Agriculture Policy at the Washington Policy Center, joins Dillon to dig into the numbers and explain how the “...

With record-high diesel prices, farmers in the throes of harvest season–already facing razor-thin margins–are looking for any help they can get. Bob Larson, Western Ag Network reporter, joins Dillon to discuss the challenges with delivering relief, including the complications with President Trump’s recent executive order allowing expanded use of tax-exempt, red-dyed off-road dies...

The embattled Lower Snake River dams are being accused of killing fish — by a pro-dam advocate! But the reason is not at all what you might expect. Adam Ratliff, a social media influencer known as “The Armchair Engineer,” joins Dillon to explain what – and who – is really to blame for the harm to endangered salmon in the Snake River, and how it’s part of a sinis...

As evidence of the harm Washington state’s farming overtime law is causing farmworkers continues to mount, the state of Colorado has also grappled with the same problem, and state legislators there were able to acheive a bipartisan solution. Democratic Colorado State Representative Matthew Martinez joins Dillon to explain the problem overtime caused for farmworkers in his state, and share th...

A local reporter is uncovering the true history of what used to be a major Skagit Valley crop: green peas. Sophia Gates with Cascadia Daily News extensively researched the new article , and joins Dillon with details on why commercial pea farming has almost entirely disappeared from Skagit County, giving insight into the larger struggles all farmers in the region continue to face.

An embattled Moses Lake-area farm family finally got its day at Washington state’s high court, after suing the state Department of Ecology for breaking the law nearly a decade ago when it slapped the farm with a half-million dollar fine. Ben Tindall, Executive Director of Save Family Farming, joins Dillon with details of what happened at the Supreme Court of Washington on Thursday, Oct. 1 wh...

Farming in Washington state is in crisis, with more farms closing daily as farmers face costs that are often far exceeding what they get paid for their crops. Sadly, this has led to worsening mental health problems among farmers, as they grapple with crushing pressures and a looming sense of failure. State Rep. Tom Dent, a farmer himself, joins Dillon to explain how excessive state regulation has...

A Whatcom County government advisory committee is refusing to walk back false accusations it made against local farmers in its 2026 annual report to the County Council, instead claiming they “allow those contradictions to co-exist,” in a July 24 “Open Letter to the Whatcom County Council.” Mark Stremler, Whatcom County Council member, joins Dillon to share his frustration w...

A new Washington State University study surveyed hundreds of farmworkers across the state, and found that most are losing income thanks to Olympia’s overtime law for farming. Maia Espinoza, Executive Director of the Center for Latino Leadership, joins Dillon to talk about the survey’s results, and how her organization assisted the WSU research effort.

Coming from schools all over Whatcom County, nearly 1,000 third grade students are slated to descend on the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds in Lynden in early November to hear from farmers about local farming. Ellie Corbin, Whatcom Family Farmers’ Education Coordinator, joins Dillon with details on the 11th annual Whatcom Farm Circle and how local businesses and others can support the impor...

Bureaucrats in Washington state have forced a new, strict environmental rule for forestry that would have few, if any benefits while costing farm foresters and the communities they support literally billions of dollars. Dr. Elaine Oneil, Executive Director of the Washington Farm Forestry Association, joins Dillon with an update on how foresters are fighting back, including a recent court win putti...

Family ranchers in Eastern Washington continue to fight for justice after the state Department of Ecology accused them of damaging wetlands and slapped them with massive fines, when they were simply cleaning longtime stockwater ponds. Oliver Dunford, a Pacific Legal Foundation attorney representing Wade and Teresa King and King Ranch, joins Dillon with the latest details in the ongoing legal saga.

The activist author of a misleading new UCLA-sponsored report claims farmers closely following the strict rules for hiring guest workers through the federal H-2A program are actually exploiting a “loophole.” Enrique Gastelum, CEO of the Worker and Farmer Labor Association, joins Dillon to expose the truth about this flawed research and the falsified conclusions its author reaches&#8211...

As the public’s concern about higher food prices–especially beef–is getting headlines and political attention from President Trump, farmers and ranchers are again pushing back against his move to incentivize more beef imports from foreign countries. Austin Allred, a beef producer and dairy farmer based near Royal City, WA joins Dillon with an inside look at the differences betwee...