Washington State’s commitment to renewable energy is evident through recent legislation, including the signing of House Bill 1216. This bill streamlines the process for developing renewable energy projects, making it easier and faster to build wind and solar...
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Agricultural Law, Land Use, Environmental Law
Can farms add petting zoos to monetize their domestic animals?
Agricultural enterprises often develop slowly, sometimes over multiple generations. At times, those who invest in farmland may have to readjust their business plan because the crop they intended to grow is no longer profitable enough or because their margins are...
Will your Washington business require a water right?
Washington is a state rich in numerous natural resources, including groundwater and surface water, as well as ocean coastline access. To better ensure the protection of its wealth of natural resources, the state imposes numerous restrictions on the business use of...
A community needs to accept your plan to change zoning
Maybe your organization purchased a specific property because the price was incredible, or perhaps you purchased the land initially with the intention of developing it for one kind of project but have since realized that a different project would be more profitable....
Businesses need more planning when turning fruit into alcohol
Washington has the perfect climate for growing many kinds of fruit, and agriculture remains a major contributor to the overall state economy. Wheat, apples, cherries and onions are some of the top crops in the state, and they can be a solid source of revenue. Of...
How will the IRA affect the agriculture industry?
Earlier this month, federal lawmakers passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law. This new law addresses many issues relating to inflation and climate actions – as well as many efforts to support the agriculture industry. So, what are the critical elements of...
New Proclamation Concerning the Health of Agricultural Workers
On May 28th, Governor Inslee issued Proclamation 20-57, Concerning the Health of Agricultural Workers. This proclamation prohibits any agricultural employer from continuing to operate (effective June 3) unless it complied with all provisions of the Agriculture...
New Paid Leave for Agriculture Employers – Effective August 18
On Thursday of last week, Governor Inslee issued Proclamation 20-67 which imposes a new two-week paid leave program on agricultural employers that have been excluded from the federal paid leave program (FFCRA) because they have more than 500 employees. The Governor’s...
USDA Announces 2019 Trade Aid to Farmers
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a $16 billion trade aid program for American farmers in response to the trade and tariff impacts on the agriculture industry. This additional trade aid strategy supplements the USDA Market...
U.S. Senate Passes Legislation to Legalize Hemp
On June 28, the U.S. Senate passed its 2018 Farm Bill that includes provisions to legalize hemp as an agricultural commodity for the first time since the 1930’s. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell initially proposed the Hemp Farming Act of 2018 as a stand-alone...