The Farming Show

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 young people that important connection.

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 “rebound” may actually be a deeply troubling signal about the future of the state’s farmers.

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 diesel.

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 sinister ploy to advocate for breaching the dams, which would irreparably harm farming in Washington state.

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 achieve a bipartisan solution.

Democratic Colorado State Representative Matthew Martinez joins Dillon to explain the problem overtime caused for farmworkers in his state, and share the story of how a compromise solution was crafted and ultimately passed into law.

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 when the Fode family’s case received its much-awaited hearing before the bench.

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 added even more unnecessary stress for farmers, and what his plan is to try to bring some relief for the people growing food in our state.

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 with the Whatcom County Food System Committee’s handling of the situation, and its apparent inappropriate overlap with the private, activist-led “Whatcom Food Network” group.

The Farming Show previously reported on the situation, and confirmed the false nature of the committee’...

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 important educational event with sponsorships and more.

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 putting the rule on pause as their legal appeal moves forward.

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--not surprisingly, exactly in line with already-existing political lobbying efforts.

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 between what grocery shoppers and farmers face, and what the real long-term solution to high food prices needs to be particularly in Washington state.

Taking aim at the 'Big 4' meat processors, President Trump pledged in a social media post Friday to reduce red tape for farmers and ranchers and allow them to "PROCESS THEIR OWN FOOD." Chelcie Cargill, an eastern Oregon rancher, joins Dillon with reaction to the comments, as well as Trump's previously-announced plan to temporarily drop tariffs on imported ground beef that's angered many American beef producers.

The biggest beef packing house in the Pacific Northwest has been put up for sale by its owner, multinational food giant Tyson Foods. Jack Fields, Executive Director of the Washington Cattle Feeders Association, joins Dillon to explain why the news has beef producers in the region on edge, and how the high cost of farming in Washington state contributes to their uncertain future.

Speaking out to protect Washington’s family farming community through advocacy, outreach, and education is what Save Family Farming is all about--but what specific areas is the advocacy group focused on right now? Ben Tindall, Executive Director of Save Family Farming, joins Dillon with a roundup of hot topics and issues the organization is working on currently.

As massive wildfires continue to burn across hundreds of thousands of acres of timber and grazing land in Washington state, the former longtime stewards of those lands are crying foul, pointing out how ideology-driven land management decisions have set the stage for the disaster now unfolding. Scott Vejraska, an Okanogan County Public Utility District Commissioner, rancher and lineman for the Nespelem Valley Electric Cooperative, joins Dillon with an update on the fires and deeper insight into how a shift in land management philosophy by state and federal agencies created a recipe for disaster.

Wildfire is again wreaking havoc across parts of Washington state, devastating farms and ranches as well as homes and entire communities. While many have been led to believe that climate change is to blame for this destructive new trend of massive fire storms, state mismanagement of forests and rangeland are a major part of this recipe for disaster that's almost never talked about. Rancher Rod Haeberle has grazed cattle in the high country near Okanogan, WA for decades, and joins Dillon to explain the harmful changes he's seen in the state's approach to land management that primed these critical areas...

Whatcom County water users sued by the State of Washington now have less than a year to file their claim in the state Department of Ecology's water rights adjudication in the Nooksack River Basin. Fred Likkel, Executive Director of Whatcom Family Farmers, joins Dillon with an update on the court case, as well as details on a new resource available for water users struggling to prepare their paperwork and court claim.

The annual Northwest Raspberry Festival--known to many as Razz Fest--again took over downtown Lynden to celebrate local raspberries and the people who grow them. Gary Vis, Lynden Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, and Stacey Beier, Washington Red Raspberry Commission Associate Director, both check in with Dillon from the bustling 2026 edition of the longtime event.

A Yakima-based anti-farm activist group's propaganda film raised eyebrows last year after its promotional clips displayed a Washington State Department of Health logo, prompting questions about state funding for its false accusations against farmers. The anti-farm group, We Are ELLA, lied to Department of Health officials investigating the group's violation of DOH logo use policy to create the appearance of state endorsement of its false claims against farming in the Lower Yakima Valley. Ben Tindall, Executive Director of Save Family Farming, joins Dillon with the latest details in the ongoing saga to hold the state and the activist group accountable...

A Whatcom County government advisory committee falsely accused some farmers in the county of breaking federal labor rules in a recent official report. Enrique Gastelum, Worker and Farmer Labor Association CEO, joins Dillon with a closer look at the false claims and the truth about the federal H-2A guest worker program.

Farmers in Skagit County are fighting a proposal to spend tens of millions of dollars to buy up fertile farmland on the Skagit River delta and turn it into fish habitat with questionable benefits. Jenna Freibel, Executive Director of the Skagit Drainage and Irrigation Districts Consortium, joins Dillon to explain why farmers are opposed to the idea.

A government advisory committee in  Whatcom County last week attacked local farming with false claims in the committee's annual report to the Whatcom County Council, falsely accusing local farmers of breaking federal labor rules. Dillon explains the significance of the false narrative, and digs into the backstory to show how a Bellingham-based anti-farming activist, Rosalinda Guillen, is "laundering" false information through an advocacy group and this government committee in an attempt to make her false claims appear legitimate.

"Plowing Blind" reads the headline on dairy markets columnist Lee Mielke's latest article, which quotes Save Family Farming Executive Director Ben Tindall. Mielke joins Dillon to discuss the struggle and give an update on dairy markets.

Much has been made about the struggles facing Washington state farmers right now, with overbearing regulation causing massive cost spikes that are driving farmer take-home pay $400M into the red. But just complaining won't solve the problem. Ben Tindall, Executive Director of Save Family Farming, joins Dillon with a focus on moving toward real, actionable solutions for the growing WA farming viability crisis.

Despite surging costs and some market headwinds, farmers in Whatcom and Skagit counties have one reason for optimism: the 2026 planting season featured outstanding weather, helping crops get off to a great start. Blake TeVelde, a local agronomist, joins Dillon with a report "from the field" on how this year's growing season is shaping up for dairy, potato and berry farmers in the area.

Time after time, Washington state agencies have abused their authority and taken steps to harm the farming community. Charlie Rankin, an independent journalist based in North Carolina, has taken notice of the problem, and joins Dillon to talk about what he sees from his vantage point, particularly in the Washington State Department of Ecology's heavy-handed and potentially illegal actions against farming.

Without following its own rules, the state of Washington nearly a decade ago fined a Moses Lake-area family crop farm more than a half-million dollars over a water technicality and arbitrary missed deadline. Although it's cost them most of their farm and almost put them out of business, the the farmers wrongly targeted by the Washington State Department of Ecology have fought back, and now their case will officially go to the highest court in the state. Ron and Robin Fode, along with attorney Luke Wake of the Pacific Legal Foundation, join Dillon to explain how they were able to...

Slapping farmers with huge fines for how they're using water has become common practice for the Washington State Department of Ecology in recent years, putting some farms out of business and even going so far as to threatening to take one Spokane-area farmer's land. But, John Stuhlmiller, Executive Director of the Washington State Water Resources Association, tells Dillon that Ecology's punishing actions appear to break a state law--a law that Stuhlmiller helped write.

It's not just the farmworker community that's worried about the ongoing federal immigration crackdown. Farmers face the possibility of immigration enforcement activity and the fear of raids and arrests interfering with critical harvest seasons. Eamonn Roach, a Pasco, WA-based immigration attorney, and Enrique Gastelum, CEO of the WA-based Worker And Farmer Labor Association (WAFLA) joined Save Family Farming Executive Director Ben Tindall on a recent online live stream sharing important background on why immigration enforcement poses a threat to farms, and how they can prepare. Dillon shares a portion of that conversation on The Farming Show, and the full recording...

Farmland is a precious, dwindling resource that contributes many positive things to the environment, to the economy and even the culture of our communities and our nation. But unfortunately, many people's understanding of how to protect it is mistaken. Addie Candib, American Farmland Trust PNW Regional Director & Western Managing Director, joins Dillon to explain the real challenges of protecting farmland and farmers, especially with the growing viability crisis for farming here in Washington state.

Washington state's farmers are among the first to worry when the "D" word is used--will drought limit the amount of water they have available to grow their crops? Cliff Mass, prominent meteorologist, blogger and University of Washington professor joins Dillon to explain why he's skeptical of the Washington State Department of Ecology's recent drought declarations, and says there's reason for optimism for farmers and others worried about the state's water supply.

Most dairy farms raise the famous Holstein or Jersey breed of cattle for strong milk production. So why are many of those dairy cows giving birth to calves that are Black Angus--a breed famed for top-notch beef? Lynne Wheeler, a partner at Acme, WA-area Coldstream Farms, joins Dillon with details on the growing "Beef on Dairy" phenomenon, and how it's even helped keep many dairies afloat financially through seasons of low milk prices.

Public records and an official complaint filed with the Washington State Department of Health--following an anti-farming activist group's use of the department's official logo on propaganda videos--have begun to uncover a troubling trend of public dollars being used to support political attacks on farmers in the state. Ben Tindall, Save Family Farming's Executive Director, joins Dillon to share how he's responding to the Department of Health, putting it on notice for allowing the extremist group We Are ELLA to use money paid by motorists and energy users and intended to fight climate change to instead fund false accusations against farming.

Farming in Washington is seeing a decline not paralleled in any other state, putting the blame for the downfall squarely on policy decisions in Olympia. Pam Lewison, Director of the Center for Agriculture at the Washington Policy Center, tells Dillon several specific data points confirm state-level policies are largely behind Washington state's nosedive to last place in the nation for farmers' take-home pay.

Filling up in Washington state right now is even more painful thanks to the Climate Commitment Act surcharges on top of already-high fuel prices. But most people don't know that some of the extra cash they're paying for fuel is going to activist groups using it for "community storytelling," including at least one anti-farm group that's producing political propaganda films rife with false accusations against WA farmers. Todd Myers, Director of the Center for the Environment at the Washington Policy Center, joins Dillon with details.

Local farmers have been clear from the beginning: the only way Whatcom County's water crisis will be solved is through a collaborative process, despite the Washington State Department of Ecology's water rights litigation in the Nooksack River Basin known as an adjudication. Fred Likkel, Executive Director of Whatcom Family Farmers, tells Dillon the Whatcom County Council recently gave that perspective a nod with a unanimous vote on a set of changes to the local growth plan acknowledging the importance of community collaboration.