Wheat, barley groups form grain alliance

New executive director: Stronger voice for growers

EASTERN WASHINGTON — Eastern Washington wheat and barley groups are forming an alliance in effort to speak with a united voice.

The Washington Wheat Commission, Washington Association of Wheat Growers and Washington Barley Commission are merging to form the Washington Grain Alliance, which starts July 1.

Wheat commission Chief Executive Officer Tom Mick serves as executive director of the alliance.

"Rarely it happens, but once in a while, you might get a mixed message of one's organization view on an issue as another," Mick explained. "Usually they're very close, but we want to have that aspect out there. We want to have one staff team to administer all three organizations, so if people have a question, it would come to one phone number. It simplifies things. There will be some cost savings; there won't be much to start off with, but in the future there will be."

The three organizations maintain their separate identities and board of directors, Mick said.

"The plan is to take one step at a time and make sure it's firmly entrenched and operating smoothly, and then they'll address the next issue," he said. "At this point, they don't know what the next issue is. Right now, they just want to get one staff team in place and operating efficiently."

The concept of the alliance has been in discussion for about five years, Mick said.

"The last couple years, they've really gotten down to the nitty-gritty," he said.

In an executive committee formed of two members from the organization and using an outside consultant, the process to put the alliance together began.

"You're going to get better efficiency," Mick said. "(Growers) are going to have a stronger voice in issues affecting them, be it marketing, transportation, legislative issues affecting their profitability, etc."

The wheat commission already has the same Spokane office setting as the barley commission. Mick said the Washington Association of Wheat Growers would retain a skeleton crew at its base of operations in Ritzville.

"What the future holds, nobody knows at this time and we're not going to address that issue (of where the alliance is based) until we get the first step taken care of," he said.

There's still quite a bit of work to be done before the alliance starts up July 1.

"A year from now, it's going to be a very strong organization, but the reorganization is going to take some time," Mick said.