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The Only Hop Farmer in Congress Discusses Trump, Dams, Low Prices, High Costs by Matthew Weaver Capital Press, September 3, 2025

The Trump administration stopped the process the Biden administration
had begun to work towards dam breaching, so that's a positive thing.

SUNNYSIDE, Wash. -- Hop harvest began on Rep. Dan Newhouse's family farm on Aug. 25, a Monday, and workers and equipment were in full swing on Friday afternoon sorting the earthy green crop.

Newhouse, R-Wash., was fresh from speaking during the Beer Institute's hop roundtable discussion in Yakima the day before, where he noted that he is the "only hop farmer in the entire U.S. House and Senate."

Newhouse is a third-generation Yakima Valley farmer. His grandfather began farming more than 100 years ago. Son Devon and daughter-in-law Halley now manage day-to-day operations on the 850-acre family farm in Sunnyside, Wash.

They raise hops, grapes, tree fruit, alfalfa and some corn.

Newhouse tries to be involved "as much as possible," but "being in Congress, that doesn't leave a lot of room at times."

A former state representative and Washington State Department of Agriculture director, Newhouse was elected to Congress in 2015. He currently sits on the House Appropriations Committee and the House Agriculture Committee.

Newhouse spoke to Capital Press on his farm the afternoon of Aug. 29. The interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Q. What did you most hope to convey about hops during the roundtable discussion, as a hop grower yourself?

Newhouse: I think the Beer Institute's goal was to draw some attention to the hop industry, the nature of that part of agriculture.

The three Northwest states are the primary sources of hops in the United States, and actually in the world. So it's a unique thing and one we're very proud of, something people don't really appreciate or understand fully. It's always good to tell the story about hops.

Q. How is harvest going for your farm? 

Newhouse: We're in some aroma varieties that are a little on the light side, but the quality is really good. It's been some warm weather to get started with, so that makes it a little uncomfortable in the afternoon. Things are looking good at this point.

I like to be optimistic, but it's a real challenging year for producers. Input costs are high, the prices we're getting for things are historically low. It's a big challenge. Everything seems to be down at the same time.

Usually, one of the values of being diversified is something is usually doing OK, but that doesn't seem to be the case this year. It's a tough spot for a lot of people to be in this year, whether it's apples, hops or wine grapes. We're struggling just like everybody else.

Q. As a farmer, how do you feel President Trump is doing on behalf of farmers?

Newhouse: I think we need to be patient. He's working very hard on some of the trade deals that are going to be very helpful for agriculture. We've had some major announcements, but anticipating a lot more, we're hoping for a lot more.

Obviously, people are getting anxious because harvest time is here, and we need those markets available to us. Every opportunity I get, I try to make sure the agriculture industry is top of mind for our trade negotiators and the president.

It's an uncertain time. We need every available market, we need access. Hopefully, that's coming. But I think the president has spoken very strongly on some of the things that are important to agriculture, generally.

He's been very positive about labor force issues, and I'm hopeful we can get some good legislation passed that will help solve some of the labor issues we face, the challenging issues of labor shortages and costs.

Q. You've said you feel good about the chance to pass the Farm Workforce Modification Act.

Newhouse: I think we have an opportunity, if we can convince enough of my colleagues that this is the time.

Reforms to our ag labor visa programs will really be part of the solution for solving our border challenges, if people have a legal avenue to come to the country. I think that would be a much preferred pathway to come and work.

As it relates to water, particularly the hydroelectric system we have in the Northwest, the president's been positive about that.

As you know, that impacts agriculture a lot: Transportation, the barge system, available water for irrigation for some parts of the state and power costs.

Q. Is the risk of breaching the Snake River dams completely gone?

Newhouse: I wish I could say it was completely gone. As of right now, during this administration, obviously the effort to breach dams has subsided substantially. The Trump administration stopped the process the Biden administration had begun to work towards dam breaching, so that's a positive thing.

It's something we're going to have to continually work against. There's a lot of people who still believe that breaching is the right thing to do.

Salmon and dams can and do co-exist. It's up to us to make sure that's always the case. We have to do everything we can to ensure that salmon have every chance possible. It's incumbent upon us to continue receiving the benefits the dams provide.

Q. How likely is a farm bill by the end of the year?

Newhouse: House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson was just out recently. I think he told me that over two-thirds of the farm bill was included in H.R. 1 (Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill). So that's a good thing.

Farmers need a modern farm bill and all of the things it encompasses -- safety net crop insurance, conservation -- need to be up to date.

The chairman is determined to get a "skinny" farm bill, what's left, done as soon as possible. There's a lot of things we have to do in September as Congress, before the end of the year. We can work on the skinny farm bill while we're doing those other things.

Q. (What's the) message to farmers?

Newhouse: I understand it's a challenging time. But as farmers know, the only thing constant is change. Things will get better. We're going to try to do everything we can in Congress to provide that opportunity for things to get better.

It's going to take a lot of determination on the part of people in agriculture to get through this low spot. But I'm confident that we will.

Related Sites:
Trump's comments

Related Pages:
Analysts: Trump Unlikely to Continue Snake River Dam Breaching Push by Matthew Weaver, Capital Press, 11/8/24
If Snake River Dams are Breached, What Would Happen? We Must Get Our Message Out by Editorial Board, Tri-City Herald, 12/14/18