Shows
The Farming ShowNoted Environmentalist, Whatcom Farmer Advocate Agree: Water Rights Lawsuit Not WorkingA prominent–and sometimes controversial–local environmentalist is changing his tune on the massive water rights lawsuit the state has launched in Whatcom County.“It is completely unable to deal with the kinds of issues we’re talking about,” said Eric Hirst, joining with Fred Likkel, Executive Director of Whatcom Family Farmers to talk with Dillon on The Farming Show about the water rights adjudication now underway in Whatcom County Superior Court.2025-04-2100 min
The Farming ShowWhatcom Water Rights Court Summons Arrive In MailThousands of Whatcom County residents were perplexed in the past week after being asked to sign as they received a piece of certified mail--a mailing they quickly discovered was a packet of legal paperwork notifying them they are being sued by the State of Washington to prove their water rights in court.
Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers' Executive Director, talks with Dillon as they explain what people need to know about receiving the court summons, and what they should and shouldn't do with the water rights claim form it asks them to submit.2025-03-2419 minSave Family Farming ShowWhatcom Water Rights Court Summons Arrive In MailThousands of Whatcom County residents were perplexed in the past week after being asked to sign as they received a piece of certified mail--a mailing they quickly discovered was a packet of legal paperwork notifying them they are being sued by the State of Washington to prove their water rights in court.
Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers' Executive Director, talks with Dillon as they explain what people need to know about receiving the court summons, and what they should and shouldn't do with the water rights claim form it asks them to submit.2025-03-2419 min
The Farming ShowLocal Water Talks Collapse, Underscoring Need For NegotiationsA major breakdown in behind-the-scenes talks is plunging the future of Whatcom farmers and other water users into even deeper turmoil and uncertainty, underscoring the need for a collaborative process as the only way to save salmon and local farming.
Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers Executive Director, joins Dillon with the behind-the-scenes details, and what they mean for Whatcom County's future.2025-03-1139 minSave Family Farming ShowLocal Water Talks Collapse, Underscoring Need For NegotiationsA major breakdown in behind-the-scenes talks is plunging the future of Whatcom farmers and other water users into even deeper turmoil and uncertainty, underscoring the need for a collaborative process as the only way to save salmon and local farming.
Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers Executive Director, joins Dillon with the behind-the-scenes details, and what they mean for Whatcom County's future.2025-03-1139 min
The Farming ShowYou Won't Believe The Latest Whatcom Water Rights Court SquabbleThe latest hearing on the state's massive Whatcom water rights lawsuit spent court time debating whether to use single- or double-sided printing for court forms mailed to local water users.
Fred Likkel, Executive Director of Whatcom Family Farmers, joins Dillon with an update, and explains how the ridiculous point of conflict between state and county officials is emblematic of the fundamental flaws in the water rights adjudication process.2024-12-1419 min
The Farming ShowUPDATE: More Delays for Whatcom Water LawsuitThe state's 'adjudication' lawsuit against all Whatcom water users is already encountering snags, even before the actual legal case is officially underway.
Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers' Executive Director, joins Dillon with the latest on the legal process, as well as sharing several updates relating to water and farming in Whatcom County.2024-10-0839 min
The Farming ShowCourt Holds First Hearing in Massive Whatcom Water LawsuitAs local farming advocates have predicted for years, the state's water lawsuit in Whatcom County is already facing big delays from legal challenges and the state Department of Ecology's inaccuracies.
Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers' Executive Director, joins Dillon with details from the first court hearing since Ecology officially filed the case in May.2024-07-0119 min
The Farming ShowWater Rights Educational Event Planned in Lynden March 27After a standing-room-only event this past fall, Whatcom Family Farmers is hosting another informational event to help people prepare for the upcoming water rights adjudication in the Nooksack River Basin.
Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers' Executive Director, joins Dillon with details and why people--particularly farmers and private well owners--should attend if they want to protect their access to water.2024-03-2618 min
The Farming ShowBracing for Upcoming Whatcom Water Lawsuit, Hundreds Gather in Lynden to Learn from ExpertsLocal residents packed a meeting this past week featuring experts outlining how they can protect their water access, as a state lawsuit on water rights in Whatcom County is expected to begin this coming spring.
Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers' Executive Director, joins Dillon to talk about some of the biggest questions and concerns people have as the court case looms.2023-11-2820 min
The Farming ShowFarmers, fish advocates outraged over stream restoration contract debacleFarm Service Agency authorities have abruptly put hundreds of existing local stream restoration projects in jeopardy, pulling federal support last week due to a bureaucratic error two decades ago.
Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers' Executive Director, talks with Dillon about what he's uncovered so far on this developing story and how it will impact salmon recovery locally, not to mention the finances of many Whatcom County family farms that had participated in the fish restoration efforts.2023-08-2921 min
The Farming ShowWhatcom farmers struggle as wells run dryDrought continues in Whatcom County, and some wells--including at least one that supplies a local water association--have gone dry.
Fred Likkel, Executive Director of Whatcom Family Farmers, joins Dillon with details on how that's affected some local farms.2023-08-2820 min
The Farming ShowWhatcom Farmers Call Out BC Water Pollution Coming Across BorderPolluted water coming from BC is fouling Whatcom County's Nooksack River Basin, and local farmers are sounding the alarm. Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers' Executive Director, joins Dillon with details on the pollution, and how changes north of the border likely led to the ongoing problem.2023-06-1321 min
The Farming ShowWhy "Barn Lights" is the Name of Save Family Farming's Latest Outreach Campaign"Will the Last Family Farmer Leaving Washington Please Turn Out the Barn Lights?" was the headline on a recent Save Family Farming piece in the Seattle Times, borrowing from a phrase that goes back 50 years in Washington state.
Gerald Baron, Save Family Farming founding director, and Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers' director, join Dillon to explain the new public outreach campaign to inform the public of the true extent of problems currently pushing family farms out of the Evergreen State.2023-05-0120 min
The Farming ShowSalmon restoration effort supported by tribes, farmers dies following Inslee oppositionDespite a bi-partisan effort--embraced by tribes and farmers--to create a program to help protect streams and salmon, WA Gov. Jay Inslee's opposition to the concept appears to have killed the proposal.
Fred Likkel, Whatcom Family Farmers Executive Director, joins Dillon with details on the political confusion that remains after the broadly-supported bill was torpedoed in Olympia.2023-02-2821 min