Quick Look

Hiring strengthens in June

OLYMPIA–Washington’s economy added 24,100 jobs in June and the state’s preliminary seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment rate stayed constant 5.2 percent from May to June, according to the Employment Security Department (ESD).

Get on board with safety during Paddle Safe Week July 18-24

OLYMPIA–The Washington State Parks Boating Program wants paddlers to have fun – and be safe - on the water. Paddle Safe Week runs from July 18 through July 24. The campaign encourages people to learn about safe paddling practices and how to put them to use on the water this summer and year-round. For more information on the Boating Program, visit http://www.parks.wa.gov/boating.

USDA Awards $12 Million in Record-Breaking Farm to School Grants

WASHINGTON D.C.–The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $12 million in Farm to School Grants this year, announcing awards to 176 grantees (none of which will be spent in Eastern Washington), the most projects funded since the program began in 2013. The department is also releasing new data demonstrating the recent growth of farm to school efforts nationwide. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of school districts and/or local entities responsible for school meals participated in farm to school activities during school year 2018-2019, more than half (57%) of which began within the past three years.

Unemployment claims continue to decreased

OLYMPIA–There were 5,488 initial regular unemployment claims (down 7.4 percent from the prior week) and 340,204 total claims for all unemployment benefit categories (down 0.9 percent from the prior week) filed by Washingtonians, according to the Employment Security Department (ESD) during the week of July 4 – July 10.

Money for county fairs

By Sen. Mark Schoesler

RITZVILLE, Wash.–The Legislature this spring passed a new two-year state capital budget that provides the state Department of Agriculture with $8 million to award competitive grants to state agricultural fairs for access and safety improvement projects. As part of the Senate’s capital-budget negotiating team this year, I was pleased to see the additional fair funding included in the final version of that budget.

Ecology declares drought emergency

OLYMPIA–Record-breaking heat wave exacerbates already dry conditions across state. A historically dry spring and summer, followed by a record-breaking heat wave, have affected water supplies across Washington, prompting the Washington Department of Ecology to issue a drought emergency for most of the state. The only areas excluded from the emergency declaration are Seattle, Tacoma, and Everett.

USDA to Provide Pandemic Assistance to Livestock Producers for Animal Losses

WASHINGTON D.C.–Farm Service Agency will begin taking applications for indemnity program July 20. Livestock and poultry producers who suffered losses during the pandemic due to insufficient access to processing can apply for assistance for those losses and the cost of depopulation and disposal of the animals.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Vilsack announced the Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP) in [recorded] remarks at the National Pork Industry Conference in Wisconsin Dells, WI. The announcement is part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. Livestock and poultry producers can apply for assistance through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) July 20 through Sept. 17, 2021.