*NEW* Washington CattleWomen's Assoctiation is Creating a website!

Please Email our webmaster any ideas you have about what you think this site should offer.

*NEW* Future of Farming Focus Group in Clark County

Focus group participants are selected to represent the range of types of production in the geographic area. If you wish to participate or know a producer who will represent production agriculture at this meeting,

Please RSVP with Carrie Coineandubh:

To learn more, please visit: http://www.agr.wa.gov/fof/schedule.htm

Most importantly, all producers need to be part of the survey: http://www.agr.wa.gov/fof/survey.htm

The Survey will be closed on July 15th, so please help the producers get their voices heard.

Please find attached a message from the US Forest Service; the final Native Plant Materials Policy (FSM 2070). (The announcement and final directive documents)

Import Regulations and Brand Inspection Requirements

Read here

Effects of feeding wet corn distiller’s grains with solubles with or without monensin 4 and tylosin on the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibilities of fecal food-borne 5 pathogenic and commensal bacteria in feedlot cattle. read here

Effects of Dried Distillers’ Grain on Fecal Prevalence and Growth of Escherichia coli O157 in Batch Culture Fermentations from Cattle. read here

Feeding Supplemental Dried Distiller’s Grains Increases Fecal Shedding of Escherichia coli O157 in Experimentally Inoculated Calves. read here

Distaster Assistance Information

here

APPELLATE RULING BACKS USE OF BMPs TO ADDRESS NONPOINT POLLUTION
Date: January 7, 2008 -

A recently issued appellate court ruling appears to back the use of best management practices (BMPs) to address nonpoint source pollution, even if it means state water quality standards are violated.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit ruled Dec. 17 in Center For Native Ecosystems, et al. v. Cables, et al. to back the U.S. Forest Service’s authorization of cattle grazing in a national forest despite environmentalists’ claims the nonpoint source pollution it may create will violate the Clean Water Act (CWA). The court said the use of so-called BMPs shields the service from liability, a move supported by the housing development sector, cattlemen and the timber industry. The ruling is available on InsideEPA.com.

The ruling upholds the water law’s long-time bar on strict requirements for nonpoint sources, which instead seeks to limit nonpoint runoff by the creation of cleanup plans for impaired waters, known as total maximum daily loads, and BMPs.

At issue in the case is environmentalists’ petition to overturn the Forest Service’s approval of cattle grazing at the Medicine Bow National Forest near Laramie, WY.

Environmental groups challenged the service’s plan on several grounds, such as its impact on an endangered mouse species in the forest. The groups also charged that the plan is unlawful under the water act’s section 313(a) because it fails to comply with Wyoming’s water quality standards.

Section 313(a) stipulates that the federal agencies have to abide by applicable state water laws “in the same manner and to the same extent as any nongovernmental entity.”

Local farming and cattlemen’s groups intervened in the case at the district court level, while the American Forest & Paper Association, the National Association of Home Builders and the Pacific Legal Foundation, a property rights group, filed amicus briefs supporting the forest service’s authorization of the cattle grazing plan with regard to claims activists brought under the Endangered Species Act.

Environmentalists argue the service’s decision will cause fecal coliform levels in the forest’s waters to rise above levels established by the state’s regulations. However, the district court in February 2006 held that the forest service’s plan satisfied the conditions in 313(a).

Now the appellate court has upheld that decision on several grounds, largely based on the argument that the forest service is not liable for failing to abide by the state’s water quality standards so long as it has employed the BMPs required under Wyoming law.

The activists had previously argued that the use of BMPs or any other measures cannot shield the Forest Service from liability under the water act so long as breaches of fecal coliform limits continue.

But the ruling notes that Wyoming’s law “contemplates that [the state] ‘control’ nonpoint source violations of water-quality standards with the implementation of BMPs; only if BMPs have not been implemented is the nonpoint source pollution not under ‘control’ and subject to state enforcement action.”

Furthermore, the court notes that nothing in the state’s laws requires the BMPs the forest service implemented to result in water pollutant levels that comply with the state law.

“Wyoming water-quality rules acknowledge that BMPs, even when implemented, may not necessarily stop nonpoint-source pollution from exceeding water-quality standards,” the ruling says, adding later that “so long as BMPs have been implemented, the state agency has no authority to take enforcement action, and the Forest Service cannot be said to have failed to comply with state requirements.”

Source: Water Policy Report via InsideEPA.com
Date: January 7, 2008
Issue: Vol. 17, No. 1
© Inside Washington Publishers

THE PUBLIC SERVANT QUESTIONNAIRE

read here

Informational meetings are being held in eastern Washington on USDA Rural Development's Value-Added Producer Grant Program in January and February. The Value-added Producer Grant Program can assist with planning activities or working capital. The funding can also be used for renewable energy projects. With the Notice of Solicitation for Applications expected to be published in the next 30 days, now is the time for agricultural producers to find out if they are eligible for the program and how they could benefit from the assistance. Attached are flyers on the classes being held.

Meetings have already transpired in western Washington, but it is not too late for producers to ask for one-on-one assistance from the field offices serving that region. Below is a list of contacts for the state. Thank you for your interest in the program. -Tuana Jones

Northwest Area-
Sharon Exley, Business Specialist
2021 East College Way, Suite 216
Mount Vernon, WA 98273-3610
Phone:(360) 428-4322, Ext. 159
Fax: (360) 424-6172
E-Mail: sharon.exley@wa.usda.gov
Service Area: Clallam, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, San Juan,
Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom Counties

Northeast Area-
LeRoy Debes, Business Specialist
8815 Mission Avenue, Suite B
Spokane, WA 992122532
Phone:(509) 924-7350, Ext. 115
Fax: (509) 924-7787
E-Mail:leroy.debes@wa.usda.gov
Service Area: Chelan, Douglas, Ferry, Grant, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, and Stevens Counties

Southwest Area-
Carlotta Donisi, Business Specialist
1835 Black Lake Boulevard SW, Suite C
Olympia, WA 98512-5716
Phone:(360) 704-7724
Fax: (360) 704-7775
E-Mail:carlotta.donisi@wa.usda.gov
Service Area: Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific,
Pierce, Thurston, and Wahkiakum Counties

Southeast Area-
Michael Rendulic, Business Specialist
1606 Perry Street, Suite E
Yakima, WA 98902-5769
Phone:(509) 454-5743, Ext. 134
Fax: (509) 454-5682
E-Mail:michael.rendulic@wa.usda.gov
Service Area: Adams, Asotin, Benton Columbia Franklin, Garfield, Kittitas, Klickitat, Skamania, Walla Walla, Whitman, and Yakima Counties

Don Wagoner
State Business & Cooperative Programs Specialist/Cooperative Development 1835 Black Lake Boulevard SW, Suite B Olympia, WA 98512-5715
Phone:(360) 704-7729
Fax: (360) 704-7742
E-Mail: don.wagoner@wa.usda.gov

TUANA L. JONES
Business-Cooperative Programs Director
USDA Rural Development
1835 Black Lake Blvd. SW, Suite B
Olympia, WA 98512
360-704-7707 Ph
360-704-7742 Fax
www.rurdev.usda.gov/wa

Committed to the Future of Rural Communities

To learn more about the Animal Unitl Month (AUM), please click the following links.

Using the Animal Unit Month (AUM) Effectively
Stocking Rates and AUM - Frequently Asked Questions

Vaccinations for the Beef Cow Herd (11/20/2007)

http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-0968/

USDA, APHIS, Veterinary Services National Center for Import and Export Protocol for the Importation of Cattle or Bison from Canada

document here

CANADIAN BREEDER CATTLE IMPORT REQUIREMENTS (11/13/2007)

Only cattle born after March 1, 1999 will be allowed to enter and must have an entry permit number and a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection containing the following information:

read here

WA Rangelands 10/24/2007
Riparian Grazing Study

Saunders and Fausch TAFS
Saunders_and_Fausch_2006_Annual_Report

H.R. 2421 and S. 1870 - 10/24/2007

CWA Letter from Arizona Coalition 1007
CWA Letter from broad coalition opposed to Oberstar 1007co
CWA Oberstar 2 pager 1007
CWA Oberstar Background Paper 1007
CWA Oberstar Q & A 1007

Cheatgrass white paper 10/24/2007

Cheatgrass whitepaper and the Grazing Land Assessment

WOLF INFORMATION

Wolf Management Plan
Public Scoping Meeting Listening Post Comments - read here

New material for chapter 5 and wolf website

I'm forwarding two pieces of information to you regarding wolves and the wolf plan. First, we've just posted on the WDFW wolf webpage the public comments received about wolves at the listening posts at the statewide scoping meetings held in August. Here's the link: http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/diversty/soc/gray_wolf/meeting/scoping_meeting091407.pdf

Update on USFWS wolf delisting & wolf kill issue

http://www.cbbulletin.com/Free/234423.aspx

Wolf Plan Public Meetings and Scoping Notice

Attached please find the news release announcing the 7 public scoping meetings which will take place August 14-23, and the SEPA scoping notice for the wolf conservation and management plan.

Wolf Article on Fox News - http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,291469,00.html 8/1/2007

"Who ya gonna call" 8/1/2007
As promised we placed a "who ya gonna call" message and information on our wolf website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/diversty/soc/gray_wolf/index.htm. Check it out it's in right hand corner above the wolf's head. We are also working to get this as direct link on the front page of the WDFW general website so that cattle producers and other citizens can contact us easier with wolf information or incidents.

Working group named to develop state wolf plan

Eighteen citizens have been selected as members of a working group to guide the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) in developing a plan for conservation and management of gray wolves that are expected to make their way to this state from growing populations in neighboring states and Canada...

Read more...

Other information here: http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/diversty/soc/gray_wolf/index.htm

Short History of Public Lands

Courtesy of: NCBA Public Lands Coucil, Jeff Eisenberg

Age and Source Verification: Implications for Cow-Calf Producers 8/27/2007

handout

Livestock Marketing Information Weekly

Changes weekly - Please find attached the current livestock markets newsletter. The current and past two newsletters are available at http://animalag.wsu.edu.

Newsletter

Country of Origin Labeling Program 7/29/2007

COOL language in Farm Bill here (language is available on pgs. 715-721.)

Trust Land Exchanges - Isolated parcels or other trust lands with little or no income potential – or those not suitable for long-term natural resource production – are identified for ‘disposal’ at public auction, or for transfer, or exchange for properties of equal value with more suitable management characteristics. For more information on these, visit http://www.dnr.wa.gov/htdocs/amp/transactions/exchanges.html

Nancy Phelps
US Forest Service, PNW
Regional Manager for Invasive Vegetation Program
503.808.2914
www.fs.fed.us/invasivespecies/

This article is available on the Web at http://www.montana.edu/cpa/news/nwview.php?article=4718

ESA Information

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Will Not Conduct In-Depth Review To Consider Listing Columbian Sharp-Tailed Grouse
Columbian Sharp-Tailed Grouse: Question & Answer Sheet
Map

Farmers - take advantage of new tax exemption programs

Farmers Need Certificate to Obtain Sales Tax Exemption on Farm Machinery and Equipment Replacement Parts

OLYMPIA, Wash., June 7, 2006 — Beginning July 1, eligible farmers will no longer have to pay sales tax on the purchase of replacement parts for farm machinery and equipment, but only if they obtain a tax exemption certificate from the Department of Revenue.

So far, only about 500 farmers have applied for the certificates, while as many as 30,000 may qualify. The certificates must be presented to retailers prior to purchase to receive the sales tax exemption.

The Department encourages farmers to download certificate applications from http://dor.wa.gov/docs/pubs/specialnotices/2006/sn_06_farmreplacementparts.pdf - Replacement Parts

and submit them to the Department for approval. Farmers who do not have Internet access can call 1-800-647-7706 to obtain applications.

Care should be taken to provide complete supporting documentation, such as a complete federal schedule F or form 1120S for corporations and partnerships. Incomplete applications cannot be approved.

To qualify for the exemption, farmers must annually sell at least $10,000 in agricultural products that they've grown, raised, or produced. The exemption is expected to save farmers about $8.4 million per year.

WSDA Livestock Rules and Regulations

Click here to read the .pdf