Saving Water Rights & Top Spuds

A bill to help water users in Washington has passed the Legislature and is now awaiting the governor’s signature. The current law is known as “use it or lose it,” meaning if you don’t use your water right for five or more consecutive years, you could lose it, but it can take years for the Department of Ecology to process applications to change or transfer a water right. House Bill 1381 would prevent a water right from relinquishing while the DOE is reviewing an application.
Representative Judy Warnick, who sponsored the bill, says having to wait in line is not a valid reason for someone to lose a water right.

WARNICK: “If the department doesn’t make the determination, you’re not penalized for that. We’re trying to encourage people to use the water they need and not use the water that would affect their water rights because of the relinquishment options.”

Once again McDonald’s Japan and JR Simplot have joined together in recognizing potato growers in the Columbia Basin who have helped them to provide high quality product to an increasingly competitive international market. At a dinner held in their honor in Moses Lake the top five farms who produce premium potatoes for McDonald’s french fries and hash browns in Japan were recognized for their support of the industry and their high quality raw product. Receiving awards were Radach Farms; Piper Farms; Schneider Farms; Warden Hutterian Brethren; and Friehe Farms. Chris Voigt, Executive Director of the Washington State Potato Commission said,  “Our Japanese customers demand the highest quality possible and that’s why they choose potatoes from Washington State.”

I’m Lacy Gray and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Northwest Ag Information Network.