06/02/08 Livestock disaster programs deadline; CPoW on farm bill

Washington Ag June 2, 2008 Cattle Producers of Washington leader Lee Englehardt says they are glad to have the new farm bill. Englehardt joined Senator Maria Cantwell and other agriculture industry representatives at a news conference in the Tri-Cities last week to talk about the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008. Englehardt: "The big one for us of course is mandatory country of origin labeling. Mandatory country of origin labeling is something we have worked diligently with the Senator on for a long time. I am glad the 2002 law is now going to be implemented. It is going to be a positive for the consumers of this state because they will now be able to check their food, where it comes from, how it was produced and be able to follow it through more than they have in the past." Englehardt said it was also important that this farm bill for the first time includes a livestock title. The Washington State Farm Services Agency says livestock producers have until July 18th of this year to enroll in the 2005 to 2007 Livestock Compensation Program and Livestock Indemnity Program. Sign up began in September 2007 for the two programs that provide aid to livestock producers who suffered eligible livestock or livestock feed losses because of a natural disaster between January 1st of 2005 and December 31st of 2007. I'm Bob Hoff.