04/04/08 Washington Potato industry invited to Future of Farming session

Farm and Ranch April 4, 2008 Potato growers and others involved in the state's potato industry are invited to a listening session in May to provide input on the Washington State Department of Agriculture's Future of Farming project. Chris Voigt, Executive Director of the Washington State Potato Commission, recaps what the project is about. Voigt: "Last year the legislature appropriated money essentially for the Department of Ag to do a long range plan for agriculture in Washington state and out of the plan hoping to show exactly what it is going to take to keep our farmers farming in Washington state." Voigt says a meeting will be held May 12th in Moses Lake to gather input. Voigt: "Where we are going to invite the potato industry to come and actually meet with the folks that are working and developing the plan and the steering committee. And to give them input directly from the potato industry of what can be done at the state and federal level to help us out and to make sure we have open spaces and can stay in business." That meeting May 12th is at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake at 12:30 p.m. The Washington State Department of Agriculture also has a brief on-line survey on its website as part of the Future of Farming study. A final report from the project is expected in December in time for consideration by the 2009 legislature. That's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today! Good health tomorrow! I'm Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network.