Big water win for cattlemen
Washington Ag Today April 6, 2010 Last week’s dismissal of a lawsuit challenging a state law exempting stock water wells from permits and withdrawal limits was a relief for all cattle producers in Washington. In tossing the lawsuit against Easterday Ranches and its new feedlot in Franklin County, a Franklin County Superior Court Judge said the state statute establishing the stock water exemption is “ clear and unambiguous.” Jack Field, Executive Vice President of the Washington Cattlemen’s Association says the judge’s words send a strong message that this issue is just as clearly interpreted today as it was in 1945 when the stock water exemption law was passed. However, Field says two things bear watching. Field: “The plaintiff can always appeal the decision and secondarily we need to be prepared for a challenge in Olympia next legislative session. We are thinking the legislative challenge will hopefully be a little bit tougher for the environmental community now with the judge dismissing the lawsuit.” Field says the court decision will have an interesting impact on a legislatively authorized working group that was created to address the stock water issue. Washington State University Cooperative Extension reports a damaging infestation of winter grain mite in a Timothy grass field at Vallyford in Spokane county with other reports of widespread infestations in Kentucky bluegrass fields in the county. Farmers are advised to immediately check their fields. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on Northwest Aginfo Net.
