The Farming Show

The Farming Show


Why WA Farmers Oppose New Forest Stream Buffer Plan

October 20, 2025

The Washington state farming community is speaking out against a new state plan to force large forested buffers on non-fish-bearing streams in working forest lands.

Farmers recognize the dangerous precedent the unscientific proposal would create for forcing similar buffers on farmland, ultimately harming fish while pushing countless family farms in our region out of business (read Save Family Farming’s earlier letter to state officials about this bad idea here).

Dr. Elaine Oneil, Executive Director of the Washington Farm Forestry Association, joins Dillon again with more details and new ways for people to tell Olympia to stop this misguided plan before an expected decision in November.

You can listen to Dillon’s earlier conversation with Dr. Oneil and Whatcom County small family farm forest owner Tom Westergreen here.