12 CapitalPress.com
January 22, 2016
Cattlemen to discuss hot topics over barbecue
Wolves, water
quality issues loom
in coming year
By MATTHEW WEAVER
Capital Press
The Washington State
Cattlemen’s Association will
serve up grilled beef and con-
versation during a barbecue
planned for this year’s Spo-
kane Ag Expo and Pacific
Northwest Farm Forum.
The association will offer
samples mid-morning, start-
ing at roughly 10:30 a.m. or
11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3,
said Mike Poulson, farm fo-
rum chairman.
Jack Field, executive vice
president of the association,
said the event offers a good
chance to interact with people
involved in agriculture.
“I’m sure we’ll be talking
to anybody that has an open
ear about issues that are
in front of us,” Field said.
“We’re looking forward to lis-
tening and talking. We’re ex-
cited to be there and looking
forward to a fun day.”
Possible subjects include
the state’s draft concentrat-
ed animal feeding operation
regulations or wolves and the
state’s wolf advisory group,
Field said.
Wolves and water quali-
ty are the big topics in 2016,
Field said. Water quality
could include the state De-
partment of Ecology’s water-
shed assessments, non-point
pollution rules or total maxi-
mum daily load rules.
Field also said he hoped
for an update on legal chal-
lenges to the Environmental
Protection Agency’s Waters
of the U.S. rule.
“Water quality cuts across
livestock or row crop pro-
ducers,” Field said. “That’s
something I think everybody
understands.”
The Spokane Ag Expo
gives ranchers an opportunity
Capital Press file
Jack Field, left, executive vice president of the Washington Cattlemen’s Association, slices a bit of
tri-tip fresh off the grill for Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, during Beef Day at the state Capitol in
this file photo. Field and the cattlemen will offer beef samples to attendees of the Spokane Ag Expo
and Pacific Northwest Farm Forum starting at about 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3. They also hope to
encourage a discussion of issues impacting ranchers in Washington state.
to connect with the industry,
Field said.
“It speaks volumes when
you look at the number of
vendors and producers that
are there — just the over-
all impact it has on Eastern
Washington and Washington
state as a whole,” he said.