Honey bees, hemp at first ag hearing

By Jacob Rummel,
Source: columbiabasinherald.com

OLYMPIA - The senate Agriculture, Water and Rural Economic Development Committee heard arguments from the public about bills regarding dairy inspection, the tax status of beekeepers, and industrial hemp.

The committee also listened to comments Wednesday regarding a bill that would classify beekeeping as agriculture, if passed. Under the current law in Washington state, beekeeping is considered a service. This reclassification would subject beekeepers to fewer taxes.

Tim Hiatt, a commercial beekeeper from Ephrata, spoke in support of the bill.

"It addresses the need for our in-state beekeepers to have parity both with agriculture in general and with out-of-state beekeepers," Hiatt said.

Ezra Eickmeyer, a cannabis lobbyist who spoke at the public hearing, said he supported Senate Bill 5012, which would authorize the production of industrial hemp, if passed. Eickmeyer did raise one concern he had about the bill.

"One little bit of regulation I think we may want to consider is having some sort of reporting or coordination system," Eickmeyer said.

A database of marijuana farms and industrial hemp producers would help avoid cross-pollination, which would be detrimental to the industrial hemp industry, Eickmeyer said.

Sen. Brian Hatfield, D-Raymond, the bill's primary sponsor, said it isn't sensible for recreational marijuana to be legal, while hemp is not.

Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, chaired Wednesday's committee hearing.

"When I tell people I'm on that committee they say, 'is that three committees?'" Warnick said. "No, it's just one. So, we have a lot of topics to cover."

Hatfield, the previous committee chair, passed the gavel to Warnick with some ceremony before the hearing's call to order.

"It's with great pleasure that I give this (gavel) to my great friend who I've worked with on the prayer breakfast and other issues over the years," Hatfield said.

Warnick said she appreciated this gesture.

"He handed me the gavel in a little bit of a ceremonial fashion, which doesn't always happen," Warnick said. "He pledged to work with me, so it turned out very good."

Warnick said water will be a major priority for her committee.

"We're looking at how we're going to sustain our water quality and quantity," Warnick said.

The Agriculture, Water and Rural Economic Development Committee meets again today.