02/25/08 Ag and the House budget

Washington Ag February 25, 2008 That supplemental operating budget unveiled last week by House Democrats in the Washington Legislature did not include the tax exemptions and reductions agriculture was seeking this session. The Washington State Farm Bureau says the reduced revenue outlook for the state sank those proposals, so that changes in the tax treatment of on-farm propane, off-farm auctions, beekeepers, grain haulers, nutrient management, and biomass and anaerobic digester equipment, are probably dead for this year. The Farm Bureau's John Stuhlmiller says one program agriculture wanted that gets funding in the House budget is the Field of Dreams Program. Stuhlmiller: "Giving kids who come to work on farms, giving them guaranteed education tuition credits for college if you work so many hours on the farm trying to increase the connection between young folks and, to get them on the farm and experience that and help provide that labor from in in state as well." There is 125-thousand dollars to run the program and 350-thousand for the tuition credits. The House budget also has 50-thousand dollars in on-going funding that would be provided to compensate landowners for crop and livestock damage from wildlife. I'm Bob Hoff.