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WAWG Discusses High Costs, Profitability, Dams with Governor, White House by Matthew Weaver Capital Press, April 7, 2026

WAWG asked Ferguson not to take part in litigation following
President Trump's revocation of the Biden's federal agreement

Washington Association of Wheat Growers leadership met with both Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson and White House officials in recent months to discuss key agricultural issues.

WAWG met with Ferguson and White House officials in January. More recently, WAWG executive director Michelle Hennings and President Gil Crosby attended the National Ag Week gathering at the White House March 27 as part of a National Association of Wheat Growers delegation.

The meetings have been a result of developing relationships on the state and federal levels, Hennings said.

"That's our job -- to get into difficult meetings and have that conversation, and being welcomed to where at least they listen," Hennings told Capital Press.

Top priority is the high price of fuel and fertilizer as a result of the Iran war.

"I can't stress enough how much we need to try to bring these input costs down," Hennings said. "We need a solution to that; we're not going to be able to sustain any of this for very long, if at all. We need a solution, we need it fast."

Governor's office

It's been years since WAWG was last able to meet with the governor, Hennings said.

"Inslee would just not really meet with us," she said of former Washington Gov. Jay Inslee.

Ferguson and his staff have had an open door for WAWG, Hennings said.

"We didn't have a lot of time with him, but he seemed receptive and wanted to hear what is happening with the wheat industry, basically, ‘What can I do for you?'" Hennings said. "The governor's staff has been very open about wanting to learn what's happening with ag."

WAWG discussed with Ferguson the fact that Washington farmers rank last in the nation in terms of profitability.

The biggest point WAWG made was that input costs exceed the price farmers receive for their crop, Hennings said.

She pointed to impacts from the state's Climate Commitment Act and overtime law changes.

"We've just had all of these things come down on us in the last three or four years, which all of a sudden took us from a profit to a negative," she said. "It's really concerning that we're 50th in the U.S."

Action is needed on a state level, she said.

"Farmers need assistance now, they need changes now," Hennings said. "We could be waiting one to five years – we need changes now."

Hennings expects future conversations with Ferguson and his staff regarding agricultural issues.

"Some of these bills that are presented, I don't think that the first question on their mind is, ‘How does this affect farmers?'" she said. "With a state that is so agriculture-dependent, that should be a question, for food security."

White House

WAWG has had "really good access" to the Trump administration, Hennings said, discussing input costs, low prices and current high fertilizer prices.

Conversations have included potential further bridge assistance payments to help farmers with the higher fuel and fertilizer prices, Hennings said.

Lower Snake River dams

WAWG has discussed the dams on both the state and national level, Hennings said.

The association asked Ferguson not to take part in litigation following President Donald Trump's revocation of the Biden administration's federal agreement with Tribes and the states of Washington and Oregon.

"That didn't come to fruition, which is disappointing," Hennings said.

WAWG has kept the Trump administration in the loop about regional impacts of Judge Michael Simon's recent order increasing spill over the dams, and its effects on transportation and power generation.

"They're very energy-focused, they also know we rely on that system for transporting our wheat," Hennings said.

Transportation is also one of farmers' top cost considerations, she noted.

Next steps

WAWG will continue conversations with both Ferguson's office and the White House, Hennings said.

"We're going to keep advocating on behalf of the wheat farmer," she said. "We are going to keep being in front of them so that we're not forgotten."

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