05/19/08 Wash Wheat Commission adopts record budget; WAWG on farm bill

Washington Ag May 19, 2008 "Remember this one. It may be the biggest in a long time&maybe forever." Those words were spoken by Washington Wheat Commission Chairman Hal Johnson following the Commission's adoption last Thursday of a record large six-million 596-thousand dollar budget for fiscal 2008-2009. The Commission's percentage assessment on producer and landlord wheat sales has brought in increased revenue with the high wheat prices allowing for the record spending on research, marketing, education and grower services. Nearly half the budget funds research at Washington State University. Although it is in the spending plan Commissioners did not commit to 1.5 million dollars to WSU for a targeted research endowment. If given to WSU the Commission couldn't get the money back if it wanted to. If it used the Washington Wheat Foundation it could and that option is being explored. With a new farm bill becoming close to reality, what does the Washington Association of Wheat Growers think of the legislation Congress has passed. Uhrich: "It's about as good as we are going to get. I think farmers will be happy with it overall." Wheat Grower's President Randy Uhrich. The direct payment rate remains the same as the last farm bill but will be paid on about two percent less of a producers base acres for crop years 2009 through 2011. I'm Bob Hoff.