State Agriculture director Dan Newhouse has asked Gov. Chris Gregoire to seek federal disaster designation for some crops damaged by the record-breaking rain this spring. Hay, cherries and asparagus are among the dozens of crops that have been affected in Washington state. The disaster designation would include approximately 25 to 30 counties. Once the recommendation [...]
Gov. Chris Gregoire has announced a new state export initiative designed to open additional export opportunities for Washington businesses and create jobs. The initiative complements the National Export Initiative; President Obama’s ambitious plan to double the nation’s exports by 2015. It also commits Washington state to working with the U.S. Department of Commerce as it [...]
Central Washington is known for producing top-quality agricultural products enjoyed by people worldwide. We are the nation’s top producer of apples, pears, cherries, hops and mint and the second biggest producer of potatoes, grapes and apricots. More importantly, the farmers who grow these crops create thousands of jobs throughout central Washington and contribute to the [...]
U.S. Senator Patty Murray met with Mexican Ambassador to the United States Arturo Sarukhan to discuss the impact of Mexican tariffs on Washington state families, jobs and agriculture industry. Murray urged the Mexican government to end the retaliatory tariffs that are harming Washington state families and to use Mexican President Felipe Calderon’s upcoming visit to [...]
The Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan measure co-sponsored by Sen. Janéa Holmquist, R-Moses Lake, that will make it easier for the state’s future farmers to receive the hands-on training and experience they need. The bill was proposed in response to recent Department of Labor and Industries audits of small farms and their internship practices, which [...]
By Senator Mark Schoesler On Feb. 23, the Senate Democrats released their plan for rebalancing the state operating budget between now and mid-2011 when the current budget expires. When combined with tax bills that have already been introduced, it amounts to a declaration of war on agriculture. Here’s why. Senate Democrats are proposing a $300 [...]
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) met with the commissioners of Grant, Adams, Franklin and Douglas counties on Tuesday, Feb. 16, in Ritzville to hear their local concerns. The conversation ranged from health care and cap-and-trade to agriculture and water infrastructure upgrades. “Your region plays a crucial role in Washington state, especially in our economy,” Cantwell [...]
By Larry Ludwig Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Caucus Four resolutions sponsored by the Agriculture and Rural Caucus (ARC) of the Washington State Democrats were adopted at the statewide Jan. 30 meeting of the Washington State Democratic Central Committee in Seattle. The resolutions touched on concerns relating to genetic cloning, electrical equipment used in renewable energy [...]
It was that time of the year again, when the potato industry calls on the capitol and reminds everyone how good $3.5 billion for the state’s economy can taste. Washington potato growers spent Feb. 9 and 10 in Olympia meeting with legislators and agency heads, discussing what’s important to the potato industry. “This is a [...]
By LuAnn Morgan It was a packed house when representatives of Horizon Wind Energy hosted a community meeting in Othello Wednesday, Dec. 23, to discuss the proposed Saddle Mountain Wind Farm. The farm, which will be located along the ridge of the Saddle Mountains in Adams County, will require leasing 4,000 acres from the present [...]
