PODCAST · news
The Farming Show
by The Farming Show
Offering a compelling look at what’s at stake—and what we can do to save family farming in Washington state and beyond..
Episodes
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Are the Lower Snake River Dams Killing Fish? The Answer is Surprising
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...
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How Olympia Can Learn From Colorado’s Farmworker Overtime Fix
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 acheive a bipartisan solution. Democratic Colorado State Representative Matthew…
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Why Skagit County Pea Farming Collapsed
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,...
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SCOW Justices Skeptical of WA Ecology’s Excuses for Attacking Farmer
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…
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WA Rep: State Overregulation Harming Farmers’ Mental Health
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...
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Whatcom County Committee Refuses to Recant False Claims Against Farmers. This Council Member Isn’t Pleased
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...
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Study: WA Farm Overtime Law Harming Farmworkers
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…
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1,000 Third-Graders Are Coming To Lynden To Learn About Farming. How You Can Support The Huge Field Trip
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...
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New Rule Could Set A Dangerous Precedent. How Farm Foresters Are Fighting Back
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...
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Why This WA Ranching Family Deserves a Jury Trial
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…
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“Loophole”? Misleading UCLA Study Disparages WA Farms Following Law
The activist author of a misleading new UCLA-sponsored study 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…
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Food Prices: WA Beef Farmer Explains What Actually Needs To Happen
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...
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Will Trump Food Processing Pledge Help PNW Farmers & Ranchers?
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...
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WA Ranchers On Edge As Pasco Beef Packing House Put Up For Sale
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...
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Labor, Water & Accountability: Save Family Farming’s Focus Right Now
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…
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Public Official, Rancher: Wildfire Devastation Resulted From Ignoring Longtime Land Stewards
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....
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WILDFIRE: Why State Mismanagement is to Blame for Unfolding 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...
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New Resource Helps Whatcom Water Users Get Ready for Court Case
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...
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Lynden’s ‘Razz Fest’ Celebrates Local Farming
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...
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State Confirms Anti-Farm Activist Group Lied About Propaganda Film
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...
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Expert Confirms False Claims Against Whatcom Farmers
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…
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Skagit Dam Deal Threatens 1,300 Farmland Acres
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...
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Whatcom Gov’t Committee Makes False Accusations Against Local Farming
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…
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Ignorant Political Decisions A Problem For WA Dairy Farmers: Columnist
“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.
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WA Farmers: It’s Time For Olympia To Fix The Problems It’s Caused
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,...
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Excellent Planting Season Weather Bodes Well For Whatcom, Skagit Farmers
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…
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“Some Of The Craziest Cases”: Independent Journalist Tackles WA Gov’t Mistreatment Of Farmers
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…
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Why These Farmers Are Headed To WA Supreme Court
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...
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Is This WA Agency Breaking State Law By Penalizing Farmers?
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…
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How WA Farms Should Prepare For Immigration Enforcement Activity: Experts
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…
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Why We Have To Protect Farmers To Protect Farmland
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...
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Drought? Top Expert Challenges WA Declaration
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...
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Why Dairy Farms Are Producing Beef Calves
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…
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Fuel Surcharge Scandal: Putting WA Gov’t On Notice For Funding Anti-Farm Activism
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...
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Data Confirms Olympia Largely To Blame For WA Farming Crisis
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…
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How High Fuel Prices Are Funding Anti-Farm Activists
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,”...
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Push for Collaborative Whatcom Water Solutions Gains Momentum With Council Vote
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...
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Why Farm Critics Don’t Understand WA Farm Labor Struggle
Pundits and social media commenters from both the political left and right are criticizing WA farmers over labor issues, as farmers sound the alarm about worker shortages, Olympia’s costly labor regulations, and now the added pressure of the federal immigration crackdown. Scott Dilley, Public...
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Farming Author: Washington State “At the Tip of the Spear” With Farm Loss
Government data showed Washington state losing an average of two farms a day even before farmers in the state sank to last in the nation for profitability, losing nearly $400M in 2024, with 2025 numbers not expected to be any better. Brian Reisinger, a Wisconsin farmer, farming advocate and…
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In Western WA Visit, Federal Leader Spotlights Support Available For Farming, Food Infrastructure
Farming is struggling in Washington state, and Save Family Farming has joined other leading advocates calling attention to the the region’s troubling loss of food and farming infrastructure contributing to local farmers’ dim outlook. Bill Briggs, U.S. Small Business Administration Deputy...
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Rising Fuel Prices Hit Farmers Already Struggling With WA State Costs
While farmers aren’t excited about higher fuel and fertilizer bills resulting from the recent conflict in Iran, the additional cost wouldn’t be as big of a threat to farms in Washington state if it weren’t for the costly decisions in Olympia that have already pushed many farms across the state to...
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ICE Farmworker Arrests Leave Small Whatcom Farmer Reeling
A Whatcom County berry farmer is opening up about the recent ICE arrest of two of his key employees, voicing concern about the impact federal immigration enforcement activity is having on local farming. Randy Kraght, who owns and runs Barbie’s Berries with his wife Barb, tells Dillon he’s worried...
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Olympia Legislator Wants to Help WA Farming with “Washington Farm Bill”
As word spreads of the farming viability crisis unfolding here in Washington state, leaders are beginning to talk more about efforts that could help the farming community. WA State Rep. Kristine Reeves, D-Federal Way, joins Dillon to share her perspective as House Agriculture & Natural Resources...
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Judge Extends Deadline for Whatcom Water Users
Big news for water users in Whatcom County preparing to file their court claims in the state’s water rights adjudication lawsuit: a court ruling has pushed back the filing deadline for many people, creating a single due date of June 1, 2027 for everyone. Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers‘...
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As WA Farms Struggle, New State Refrigeration Rules Add Millions In Costs
Most food grown in Washington needs to be kept cool before it ends up on our plates, so refrigeration systems are critical for food and farming production across the state. While almost all farmers and others years ago changed storage refrigeration equipment to technology that protects the…
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WA Farming Is Struggling More Than Ever. What’s Save Family Farming Doing About It?
The latest data is painting a clearer picture of what Washington’s farming community has already been feeling in recent years: farming in this state is struggling more than ever. Ben Tindall, Executive Director of Save Family Farming, joins Dillon with more on what the statewide farming advocacy...
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Whatcom Dairy Ambassadors Share Lessons From Community Advocacy
The Whatcom County Dairy Ambassador and her alternate are about to wrap up their term and pass on the torch. Ambassador Maddie DeLange and Alternate Sarah Van Berkum join Dillon to share what it’s like to advocate for dairy farming and dairy products in schools and at events all over the local...
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Should a Farmer Who Violates Water or Air Quality Rules Go to Prison?
Five to 10 years in prison was the penalty lawmakers in Olympia considered enacting for people who break certain water or air quality laws in Washington state. Farmers feared a mistake on the farm could be mischaracterized as a deliberate criminal act under the proposed change. Thankfully, the...
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Whatcom Farm Expo to Celebrate 10 Years
For 10 years, the Whatcom Conservation District has been hosting the Whatcom Farm Expo. Alexi Guddal, District Outreach & Education Specialist, joins Dillon with details on the annual local event that’s grown bigger than ever.
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WA State’s Anti-Farming Actions On National Radar
The State of Washington’s false accusations and abusive tactics against King Ranch caught the eye of top federal officials, including U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, and other state attacks on farming are also getting the attention of leading national authorities. Shad Sullivan, a...
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Farming Show have?
The Farming Show currently has 252 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Farming Show about?
Offering a compelling look at what’s at stake—and what we can do to save family farming in Washington state and beyond..
How often does The Farming Show release new episodes?
The Farming Show publishes regularly with 252 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Farming Show?
You can listen to The Farming Show on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Farming Show?
The Farming Show is created and hosted by The Farming Show.
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