Ag and Rural Caucus for September
Recording link: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/lP8yija1k6JFDiLzdCzmqhVKs4plhrRWx6EymWBsJqUdUSNZvFOhTFecGmrutYVy.7wrWkycJlOPGOLox
| Better Practices 6:30 pm Thursday 5 September LD Primaries – What did we learn? Roundtable discussion https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88689149657?pwd=R3dXbFRpYVUyeGVhb3ErTFI0QXlpZz09 Policy Briefing 6:30 pm Thursday 19 September Voluntary Stewardship Program: Why it is important Dan Wood, ED, Washington State Dairy Federation John Stuhlmiller, ED, WA State Water Resources Association https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85907982157?pwd=MU4vV3E3VGZ5VU02dnhvZjg2b3hKZz09 Paste link into browser. |
| A Model It is easy to underestimate the significance of VSP. It is commonplace that voluntary farmer compliance to protect the .)environment works better than fighting for years in the courtrooms. As an administrative tool, it is singular in bringing conflicting parties together, and it was seen as a model at the time: “The Program created in the bill is truly voluntary and is unlike anything that has been previously tried in Washington… it may prove to be a model that can be applied in other states.” (Emphasis added.) Dean Takko’s HB 1886 passed the House 92-5 and the Senate 48-1. The lone Senate dissenter was a Democrat. VSP has not removed conflict; it is a means of managing conflict. There remains tension between environmental advocates and farmers. Environmental advocates want to see measurable results documented in exchange for their legal forbearance. Farmers counter that their contributions on the ground are real but unappreciated and may take time to have measurable effect in the rivers and streams. Add in the conservation districts who are in the middle and charged with making VSP work for both the environmental community and their farmer clients. Join John Stuhlmiller and Dan Wood Thursday as we talk about how VSP came to be and how it has evolved. Don 16 September 2024 |
| A Unique Accord VSP has its roots in the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community v. Skagit County in 2007. Drawing on the Growth Management Act (1990), the court held that counties were required to regulate agriculture to achieve the GMA protection of critical areas. [Source is VSP website – not court document.] The Swinomish decision came after the failure of I-933 the previous year. I-933 talked about property rights and regulation. I-933 spoke for private property rights for farmers, among others: “The people find that over the last decade governmental restrictions on the use of property have increased substantially, creating hardships for many, and destroying reasonable expectations of being able to make reasonable beneficial use of property.” This background of litigation and public initiative led the legislature in 2007 (SB 5248) to enlist the Ruckelshaus Center to come up with a framework to achieve “’a successful agricultural economy and a healthy environment’ for Washingtonians.” The names of Dan Wood and John Stuhlmiller were on the Center’s letterhead of its eventual report. John wrote in the Center’s 2010 transmittal letter to the governor: “The agriculture and critical areas controversy has been long and expensive and will continue to drain resources from valuable efforts to support agriculture and the environment if we do not implement this unique accord.” (emphasis added) Learn more about how VSP came to be, and listen to Dan and John discuss its life history…Thursday the 19th. Don 13 September 2024 |
| A Personal Interest Dean Takko, former state legislator from LD 19, dropped in on our Better Practices session last week. This was not unusual since Dean is a regular participant. He was a bit disappointed, though, because he wanted to hear about VSP. He was an author of the original legislation in 2011 and wanted to know how it is working on the ground. On Thursday the 19th, Dan Wood and John Stuhlmiller, both keys to the VSP origin story, will help us understand how VSP has worked so far and what is in its future. Dean will be paying attention. Next up – Swinomish v. Skagit County, and I-933. Don 10 September 2024 |
| VSP: What is it? Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP). What is it? Why did it start? Is it working? Where is it going? A lot of questions. The good news is that there are answers to at least a couple of the questions. Thursday the 19th Dan Wood and John Stuhlmiller will brief us on what we know about VSP and what is still open. Dan and John were at the beginning of VSP and you can see their photos under VSP leadership. You can get a head start on your homework for this Policy Briefing by googling VSP. Otherwise, I will feed you teasers in the run-up to our session. Don 9 September 2024 |
| State Meeting in Yakima 28 September Good news. ARC is on the State Meeting agenda. And more good news…Kathie Schutte, Pend Oreille chair, will host this “meet-and-greet” social session. I will be out of the country at the time and Kathie has graciously agreed to sit in for me. We meet each other on Zoom twice a month for ARC work but it is always good to reinforce with face-to-face contact. Come and shake hands and exchange smiles. Talk about what is happening in your neighborhood. Brain storm possible program topics. Have fun. Don 7 September 2024 Saturday 28 September Time Location Agriculture and Rural Caucus Meeting 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Room I |
Our Better Practices roundtable is on the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm.. Use the link above for 2024.
Our Policy Series is on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm. Use the link above for 2024.
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